Thread: How do you teach / did you learn the "Sohair Zaki downs"?

Originally Posted by Lauren_

After we practice that Frankensteiny movement on both sides, I have them put their weight down when they put the foot down. Now we're making sure the knee is soft but staying at the same degree of microbend. So they're stamping their weight onto the right foot, say, but initiating that movement with the downward push of the right hip.

What is a "Frankensteiny movement"? ..c::

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I like the hip tilt approach, but how do you keep the emphasis from becoming the contraction of the obliques on the opposite hip, rather than the down motion of the weighted hip? I find that when I over-utilized my obliques for this move, it becomes muddy on me.

I use a stick or cane held horizontally at about hip level (to emphasize the movement). I show them what "up hips" look like and then the "down hip" utilizing the stick/cane as a lateral line seperating the upper and lower planes. There is a visual difference and once this is learned there are fewer times of confusion as to which the student is doing (even from their perspective).

The essence of this movement is in the s-line curve of the body. Try the movement on your body and instead focusing on the outer hip, think about how the movement passes through the center on the weight transition. Pulling the unweighted pelvic bone into the navel. Also note: the thighs are together and the unweighted thigh actually crosses in front of the weighted thigh with a bent knee. Please let me know if this helps.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I just snorted tea all over the monitor. Thanks! ..l;,..l;,..l;,

me too!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

How do you layer a shimmy onto this?,f:: I cannot fathom the vaguest idea but I see it being done..cr.:

Originally Posted by Phoenixrising

The essence of this movement is in the s-line curve of the body. Try the movement on your body and instead focusing on the outer hip, think about how the movement passes through the center on the weight transition. Pulling the unweighted pelvic bone into the navel. Also note: the thighs are together and the unweighted thigh actually crosses in front of the weighted thigh with a bent knee. Please let me know if this helps.

Thanks for this tip, it is extremely helpful, the movement should feel like it originates on the inside not the outer part of the hip but instead, inside by the navel, thats where it's shifting.... it took me a while to get that. Also I notice that Suheir Zaki does have one thigh/knee going in front of the other , it almost looks like a tiny kick if you look at her feet, it's quite visible in the video where she's dancing on those little platforms in the green dress. I am positively obsessed with learning this. I'm working at it for hours ..
I need help help with layering a shimmy on it. How is that done?

Hadia explains it really well. I won't even try to paraphrase her 'cause she's the best. I'm pretty sure it's in her Ultimate 4 DVD set. PLUS, she'll help you NOT pinch your siatic (sp?) nerve that always happens if this move isn't done exactly right. Not only is she a gorgeous Master teacher but she's a physical therapist too. If anyone can help you protect your body AND dance your best it's her.

I got the shimmy finally!!! It was really an accident. I was thinking I did it by a knee shimmy but I was not. I got it by adding a tiny shimmy right between the switch from down hip to down hip..... I'm still working on it but every so often I get it...

I didnt realize I had been posting these dumb comments in the Instructors section ..l;,. Back to student section, I go,f::

This is such a fantastic thread! I just want to thank you all for all the great descriptions and the like - this move has been absolutely mystifying me!