Scroll down for Belly Dance Related Links

On this page you will find answers to some of your questions and links to sites that are belly dance related.  For students in the Saturday morning belly dance instruction class, I will list music and steps that we do in class so that you can print them out and use them for practice at home. The steps here are not considered a choreography. They are drills to fun music, and combinations of moves learned in this particular class. As you continue studying Middle Eastern Dance you will advance to learning choreography with Dolores," Riskallah Riyad." Dolores is an expert choreographer who has over 30 years of experience with dance. For more information on choreographic workshops with Dolores,  go to her workshops page.

The combination for 9:30 am class to track 3 (Dis Moi Porquoi) on The Very Best Of North Africa Disk 2 With or Without a Veil Enter with a walk in a figure eight, ending facing front. No count here just walk until the beat starts. 2x8 Hip drops starting on the left hip traveling back 2x8 Out or Ghawazee hip walk (out up downs) starting on the right traveling forward. 2x8 Facing left diagonal, Kashlimar step (R,L,R,L,R,L,RLR) Count is (1234567&8) change to the right diagonal on the RLR (which is also the 7&8 count. 2X8 Repeat the above but using opposite feet (L,R,L,R,L,R,LRL) and facing right diagonal 2X8 Hip rolls or hip drop travels to the right. 2X8 Repeat to the left 2x8 Repeat to the right 2x8 Repeat to the left Snake Rhythm starts again Repeat above sequence with  exceptions Exceptions are - Hip drops traveling back for 1X8 instead of 2X8's Ghawazee hip walk traveling front 1x8 instead of 2x8's Kashlimar remains the same with 2x8 to the left diagonal and 2x8 to the right diagonal Hip drop travels to the right and left remain the same or you can do them in a circle when you are ready to advance from the straight line. Snake (you will know when and how long to snake, the music will tell you) Repeat Hip drops Repeat Ghawazee 2x8 Shimmy 4x8 Triplets traveling 4x8 Hip drops to the right and left again. Walk End with snake movements or whatever you would like to end it with. Definition of Ghwazee on Wikipedia.org

The Riskallah Riyad Dance Theatre Company-Official web site

Joy of Movement  A beautiful dance shop in Ridgefield.

Shira.net is loaded with useful information and directories  You can also find techers from all over the world here, which comes in handy when you are traveling abroad.  

Belly Dance Classes.net

IAMED

Member of the Belly-Dancing.info Network

Twists With A Back Accent This may be helpful in learning this sometimes difficult move. Its all in the count.

Traveling for 8 counts to the right and then 8 counts to the left Foot Position - On the balls of the feet. R foot is forward. R hip is forward Now step R L On the step L the R hip twists back. Here is the count and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7, hold the (and) then step on 8 (Step 8 is the change over to switch to the other side.) Here is what your feet do starting on the and as you look at the R L  line below - say out loud and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 hold 8 R L R L R L R L R L R L R L  hold the and  R Here is what your hips do On the ands your R hip is forward, on the numbers 1234567 your hip is twisting back Step 8 is the change over so that your ready to go in the other direction. You should now be on the R foot with the L foot free to go in the opposite direction. You will need to be quick here because the and is the next step. This part will take practice. It's important to say it out loud when you  practice this step at home Now to the left The L hip is now forward and twists back when you step onto the R foot L R L R L R L R L R  L R  L R  hold the and  step L