Thread: traveling backward horizontal figure 8

Well, that's what it looks like to me. Can someone explain the mechanics of this move (foot placement)? Here is a "hurried" version of the move at 00:48 and 01:04. I would like to know what it would look like performed to a slower rhythm. If you have examples from youtube, please post. Thanks for your help!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cAgITwr2sKU

It looks to me like a retreating camel/undulation where the stepping-back foot crosses behind you, so your body has to twist (as it does when you are doing a figure 8 horizontal).

Foot placement- it's three steps- back, forward, back. Or, if you prefer, RLR, LRL, moving backwards. The first step of the three is on the 1 of the 4-count, or again, if you prefer, on the Dum of the rhythm.

So, lets say you're stepping R first: on 1 you do a big flat-footed step behind you, crossing the R foot a little over to the L, which twists your body to face the R front diagonal; on 2, step the L foot in place (i.e. it's in front of the R foot; on 3, step the R foot in place (i.e. it's still crossed behind you); and on 4 you don't step, but you can be swinging your L foot round & back, so it's ready to step the next count of 1, following the pattern above, but having changed sides.

Then you have to figure out how you're going to add the undulations, and the hip slides/extensions that make it look more figure 8-ish.

Hope that makes sense.

Oh what bliss! we haven't had one of these threads for ages, I've missed them. Well done for stepping up to the plate Bea

Thanks for helping me figure this out, Bea. I followed your step instructions. This is exactly what I was looking for; technique behind the move. You are a jewel (Oh wait, that's another move)!

Watching the movement at :48 it looks like a 2x 4 count combination.

The first combo:
Is moving backwards with 3 steps evenly spaced over the first 3 counts R L R and a L contra arabesque (though small, is more of a lift/hold) on the 4th.
The movement weaves backward to the L then R each for approx two counts.
The L hip is pushed to L with the upperbody leaning R in countermovement.

On the second:
There is a 123step (or a triple/triplet) back LRL which spans 2 counts with a transition stepchange back R on 3 and fwd L on 4 ready for the turn to R with R lead.
The movement weaves backwards to the R for 2 counts while the transition stepchange steps back to the L diagonal.
The R hip is pushed out to the R with the upperbody leaning L in countermovement.

Hannan Sultan is a beautiful dancer, she may pop in to explain the move herself?

Thanks Nanda! I hope she does, I would really like to get some info on this move. I know Hannan learned with Aziza and this looks like (to me anyway) a "Aziza" signature move .

Hi, Sorry, I don't know how I missed this post! ,s:: Thanks for the complements!

That is a move I learned from Aziza, who said she learned it from Momo Kadous.

Both of the explanations from Nanda and BeaFarhana are very good. I am impressed!

Here is how I explain this move in class:

The underlying foot work is one foot behind he other(so the weight goes on the R), step diagonally out (L), step in place (R).
The movement on top of the foot work is an undulation that starts in the chest. That undulation starts when you step back on the R.
The undulation continues down to the belly as you step out (L).
There is a pause in the undulation as you step in place (R).
As Nanda says, the upper body leans away and the hips push out.
It is also possible to do two undulations; one when you initially step back, and a second on the step in place. I always stay on my toes in general, but you can do this flat footed to start.

You could also do the foot work with a figure 8 for a Farida Fahmy look. To do that, cross step the right foot behind the left and twist the left hip to the back. Each half of the figure 8 will be done on ONE set of RLR, so you need a complete set of RLR, LRL to make an 8.

cheers,
Hannan

love this move, thanks for breaking it down ladies!

great move, and lovely videoclip, too!

It kinda just looks like a pas de burre (traveling backwards a bit) with an exaggerated horizontal figure 8 and a slight lean, no?

Originally Posted by SummerSahar

It kinda just looks like a pas de burre (traveling backwards a bit) with an exaggerated horizontal figure 8 and a slight lean, no?

I was thinking the same thing (except in my head I spelled it padabure, which looked really wrong).

You can do the move with more or less undulation or figure 8'ing for different looks. I think I did a little of both in that video.

I like to play with variations when I teach, so these days, I'm teaching it with more undulation, but it still has a hip twist in the transition that gives it the figure 8 look. I'm also doing it with the front foot held in an arabesque on count 3 before putting the front foot to the back on 1, which also looks nice. (thanks, Alissa!)

You could certainly call the footwork a pas de bourrée.

The step I described above, "the underlying foot work is one foot behind he other(so the weight goes on the R), step diagonally out (L), step in place (R). " fits with the definition of a pas de bourrée.

A pas de bourree can take different forms in different dance styles. My jazz teacher and Raqia Hassan have different favourite pas de bourrée , but they always consist of three steps. In ballet it is usually used as a linking movement. However in the movement being discussed here, it is the base upon which bellydance movements are layered.

Here is the definition of a pas de bourree from thefreedictionary.com: n. pl. pas de bourrée
A small stepping movement, often executed on pointe, in which the dancer either skims smoothly across the floor or transfers the weight from foot to foot three times as a transition into another movement.

happy pas de bourreeing.......l;,