Belly Dancing Basic Elements- Travelling Steps

internet source: Belly Dancing
Egyptian Basic
  1. Start w/ both feet flat.
  2. Keeping the LF flat, touch the RF in front w/ only the ball of the foot.
  3. Return to starting position
  4. Switch sides. Keeping the RF flat, touch the LF in front w/ only the ball of the foot.
  5. Add the hips: each time the foot touches, the corresponding hip flicks up.
  6. Add the Egyptian Basic arm style: one hand on the forehead or behind the head and the other arm extended straight out.
  7. Put altogether: when you touch w/ RF, extend the R arm and place the L hand on the head. When you touch w/ your LF, extend L arm and place R hand on the head.


Pharaonic Walk
  1. Stand w/ R side at a 45’ angle to the front and head held up. Raise arms above head. Cross hands at the wrists so palms meet in prayer position.
  2. Pointing toes, lift L knee until foot is almost level w/ R knee.
  3. Slowly and deliberately extend and straighten leg and place foot flat on the floor, toes first.
  4. Repeat, stepping and lifting R leg.


The Indie Cross Step (also the V-Step, can be danced w/ two or four counts)
  1. Cross RF over the L, placing the RF flat on the floor.
  2. Bring L leg out and touch the ball of the LF to the side.
  3. Cross the LF over the Rm placing it flat on the floor.
  4. Step the RF out and touch the ball of RF to the side, Continue crossing and stepping out with flat-ball, flat-ball
  5. Add the hips: lifting the corresponding hip each time your foot goes out to the side.
  6. Add the arms: placing one hand on the head and extending the other arm out to the side, over the leg that is out.
  7. Put altogether:
    1. Cross the RF over L, bringing the LF out to the side while lifting the hip and bringing the L arrm out, R hand on the head.
    2. Cross the LF over R, bringing the RF out to the side while lifting the hip and bringing the R arm out, L hand to the head.


Shuffle
  1. Face the front wall, feet approx two feet apart w/ RF flat and weight on the ball of LF. The R arm is out and slightly bent, the L arm bent w/ L hand at the R shoulder.
  2. Bend L knee, causing the L hip to drop.
  3. Straighten L knee, lifting your hip as you Shuffle toward the R. Be sure not to lift either foot off the ground at any time.
  4. Repeat to travel sideways. Then switch sides.


Skip Step
  1. Standding on the balls of both feet, bring the RF fwd
  2. Bring the LF fwd to meet it.
  3. The step fwd w/ the RF again
  4. Switch feet and repeat w/ the L. All ball steps.


Scissor Step (can be done either flat-footed or on-toes, travelling or in-place)
  1. Stand wi/ all weight on L leg.
  2. RF fwd, shifting weight to the R as stepping to the front.
  3. Rock weight back on to the L as you lift RF to step back.  
  4. Rock weight onto RF once again. Switch sides.
  5. Add the arms:
    1. Standing on LF, step fwd w/ RF, bringing R arm out and L arm over the chest
    2. Step back w/ RF, and bring the R arm over the chest and the L arm out to the side.
    3. Switch sides while switching footwork.


Ghawazee Slide Step (or Gypsy Step, used as a travelling step and/or hip step)
  1. Lift R leg and step fwd about 60cm.
  2. Shift body weight onto RF. step 1 & 2 should take only one count.
  3. Slide LF fwd until it is about 10cm behind R heel for count two.
  4. Finally, for count three, transfer weight onto back foot, then step fwd again w/ RF. Pause for the fourth count.
  5. Beginning another four counts, step fwd w/ LF, passing the R. Glide RF 7.5-10cm fwd to the L, and then step fwd again w/ LF. Repeat the entire movement from step 1.


Debke (vine)
  1. Using one count for each step, begin by crossing LF in front of R; stepping almost parallel to curren stance.
  2. Then w/ RF, step directly sideways to the R.
  3. W/ LF, now cross behind R, stepping parallel.
  4. Step one more time I the R w/ RF. Touch the floor lightly w/ th tip of the toe. This sequence should take four counts.
  5. Cross RF over L, stepping parallel.
  6. W/ LF step directly sideway to the L.
  7. W/ RF, step behind L.
  8. W/ LF, step again to the L, touching the floor lightly w/ the tip of toe. This sequence should take up the final four counts.
  9. Adding arms:
    1. raise your arms, bending at the elbows until hands are parallel to head. Bend wrists brill plans are flat and facing the ceiling.
    2. When stepping to L, look at that direction and keeping arms stiff, raise arm about 7.5 cm higher than your L.
    3. When stepping to R, return R arm to its original level and raise the L while looking R.


Kashlimar
  1. Step fwd w/ RF. As transferring weight fwd, lift LF slightly off the floor.
  2. Now reverse direction and step down w/ LF. Rock back weight and lift RF slightly off the ground. Continue shifting centre of gravity back and step about 60cm behind your LF w/ your R.
  3. When all weight is on R leg. Lift LF slightly. Place it down and rock fwd. Transfer weight to LF.
  4. Step fwd w/ RF until it is back in its original position.
  5. Adding arms: easy, relaxed arm movements are best for this gentle travel step. When stepping fwd gently swing arms to the front, leading w/ wrists. When stepping back, gently swing arms behind you, again leading w/ wrists.


Arabesque (completely different from the Arabesque in ballet, stay low to the floor, kicking the leg slightly to flick the bottom of skirt, arms to the sides)

  1. Facing diag R, step flat on to RF
  2. kick delicately w/ LF. The L hip faces diag while the leg is turned out, knee facing front and toes pointed.
  3. Switching feet, step on the LF
  4. Step w/ RF again, continuing in the diag to the R.
  5. Switch sides.

Get back to the 'Kandykane's Dance Learning Notes' or go to the 'Dance Glossary'.
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