Thread: Help identifying this shimmy

Can some one break down this shimmy in the video?
At 1:04 she does it, also at 4:00 she does it for a while, you can see how she started it. It looks to me like a circle shimmy layered over a fast figure 8?


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjJrDY5PkeU&feature=related]YouTube - ‫نجيب ولد بني ملالnajib wald beni mellal‬‎[/ame]

I think it's an inner vertical circle. I mean, like an african circle...

Here's a thread I started about morrocan dance. See the first dancer. She does some slow moves one can identify better:

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...can-dance.html

I see the circle but what about the side to side movement? It doesn't look like a vertical figure 8?

I'm thinking maybe she's doing the fast little pelvic circle while just loosely swinging her hips side to side. The layering makes it look kind of like an 8.

I love that shimmy! I tend to execute it with a little more core control and it might be a good way to begin just to get the pathways of the movement solidified before taking it to warp speed like in the video clip.

It looks like she may be travelling with the movement in the clip, but standing still, try the following…
1) R Up hip or hip accent up and out to side (hips are uneven)
2) Forward/Up hip accent (contracting the low abs - hips are even)
3) Neutral pelvic position (hips are even - I've also seen some people use a back lift/tilt for Step 3)
Then repeat on the opposite side

The transition between all 3 positions can feel really awkward at first, but with slow practice it will eventually happen. You might find it easier to practice this as a “3/4” shimmy to 4/4 music (with a pause after each step 3)instead of musical ¾ shimmy to ¾ or 6/8 music like in the clip where the 1-2-3-1-2-3 is even and constant.

Good luck and have fun! ~Zanbaka

Zamira... I can also see the figure eight / swaying pelvic circle comparison.... it does look like that, but with percussive accents. I also like doing a slow smooth version of the 3 steps.... it's very unusual looking!

It looks similar to a move that Jillina and Heather from Sahlala do - fast omis with a hip twist - one complete omi per side of twist??? Maybe?

Originally Posted by toria_dances

I see the circle but what about the side to side movement? It doesn't look like a vertical figure 8?

To me it looks like the hips are coming to the front a little bit, it's not directly a vertical figure 8. It's a figure 8 pattern but the hips come to the front. Because it's so fast there isn't a large range of motion as you would see if the move was slower.

One more theory :)

It looks like a horizontal figure eight, back to front, and when the movement comes forward she's adding an accent with a pelvic lift, which is really typical in Moroccan shaabi. Also, the stance is wider than in orientale.

Originally Posted by Sadiyya

It looks similar to a move that Jillina and Heather from Sahlala do - fast omis with a hip twist - one complete omi per side of twist??? Maybe?

IAWTAC

Yes..but can someone tell me what I am looking at? What is this....that is an ancient Harmony guitar...but other than that...what is this and where is this?

This is Moroccan Schikhatt dance

Thanks!

Fun! I love to watch Moroccan dance.