Right Hip Dominate

[NandaDncer]

This never used to be a problem for me but I had an injury with my left knee last year and since the subsequent rehab I am now back dancing and I have noticed that I have been Very right hip dominate to the point that there are moves that I can't even do on a left lead... I just can't get my body to do it properly.

Apart from looking uncoordinated, I hate being a lop sided dancer...

Has anyone got any suggestions for exercises to kick start my left side muscle memory? I am not keen on repetitive drills but if that's what it takes...

Maybe creating a warmup routine for my practices with everything on a left lead and drill it for a while? Would that work?

I think it's also a strength thing as I noticed a difficulty engaging glutes and hammies during fairly standard moves... so has anyone got some really good strengthening exercises for that area?

All I can think of if Morocco talking about dancers that lead with one hip more than the other end up with odd sized hips...

[wigglewhiz]

I'm left hip biased - according to Amira al Kattan "This is the Egyptian way". Something tells me that if I was right hip biased, THAT would have been the Egyptian way.

I think everybody has a strong hip and a weak hip - I think there's always a disparity (which seems unrelated to your writing hand bias or left/right brain bias or anything else you care to think of!). However, I think it gets worse if we have an injury that causes us to then have to favour one side for a while - or just that laziness thing where you use the good hip to look impressive!

For me, the only thing that help is PURPOSEFULLY practising on the weaker hip. Nothing particular, just the usual moves I would normally do - but starting on the right, finishing on the right, repeating on the right, travelling to the right, etc etc. I still feel my left is much stronger than my right, and when I improv (which is most of the time), everything comes more naturally to the left and as such I use it more. I need to think a little about the right, keep it in mind that it's there. I feel like such a CLUTZ when we do right-sided things in class, because my balance is worse and my transiotions are rougher. So if I'm left to myself, in class I also favour the strong hip... and allow myself to practise clutzily on the right at home.

[wigglewhiz]

PS - I don't have odd-sized hips. They're big all over.

[NandaDncer]

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

I'm left hip biased

Ooo, like Fifi! Cool

For me, the only thing that help is PURPOSEFULLY practising on the weaker hip. Nothing particular, just the usual moves I would normally do - but starting on the right, finishing on the right, repeating on the right, travelling to the right, etc etc. I still feel my left is much stronger than my right, and when I improv (which is most of the time), everything comes more naturally to the left and as such I use it more. I need to think a little about the right, keep it in mind that it's there. I feel like such a CLUTZ when we do right-sided things in class, because my balance is worse and my transiotions are rougher. So if I'm left to myself, in class I also favour the strong hip... and allow myself to practise clutzily on the right at home.

Yup, that sounds like me at the moment... and you're right I think I am just going to have to make extra effort with all my lefty hip/lead stuff.

I just need some ideas on how to incorporate it into my current dance schedule.

[beafarhana]

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

I'm left hip biased - according to Amira al Kattan "This is the Egyptian way". Something tells me that if I was right hip biased, THAT would have been the Egyptian way.

I distinctly remember Maggie Caffrey *very strongly Egyptian trained* saying she'd been told, that for the Egyptians "the left hip is more beautiful". One day I mayn watch all my Egyptian dance performance vids to do a Right/Left check. If I did ever become that geeky (and I'm not ruling that possibility out ), I would of course post my results here.

[Nat242]

When I played soccer and Aussie Rules Football - my left leg was always preferred. With belly dancing, my left hip is better, smoother, more precise. I tend to completely neglect my right arm when I dance, it just kind of follows me around.

I think the only answer is the one you already know - drilling your left hip. Or perhaps, simply lead *everything* in your warm ups and drum solos with your left hip, leading on your left side, and see if that triggers improved integration.

Good luck, and don't worry. We're all lopsided!

[jilyan]

I used to be very left hip dominant, all my choros were like that too. But after drilling with Original A-Z which mostly steps from the right foot first found I had evened out.

So I think if you create a left leading warm up routine it will help you a lot, along with strengthening and flexibility exercises.

[NandaDncer]

Can you recommend any strengthening exercises Jil?

My glutes (well, the left side heehee) are weak as. And since I didn't set out to deliberately strengthen them in the first place I don't know how to fix it now!

xx

[zumarrad]

It all depends on how you drive them, I suppose, but if you do hip drops like I do - namely, using the opposite buttock/adductors to do 90 percent of the work - drilling hip drops on the right would do it. I mostly only use adductors now, but you can do it with a butt cheek clench instead.

Ooh, or you could just squeeze your left butt cheek all day.

[Nat242]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Ooh, or you could just squeeze your left butt cheek all day.

Nanda dancer - I hope you have a day job sitting down! Otherwise your left butt cheek could attract a lot of attention.

[jilyan]

Nanda I don't think you should squeeze the glutes at work ... I don't want to hear about huge accidents on construction sites!!!

Yeah I can show you some stuff ... but remember Rose is a proper Personal Trainer at Fitness First these days, she's fan-freakin-tastic. I know it's a long hike for you but you may be able to organise a once-off and get her to make you a program.

Or (plug plug) you could sign up for Rose's Bellydance Bootie Camp!!

[Taj]

Of course, here in the States, if anything related to you leads left, you're liable to be put on the no-fly list or some such Homeland Security corral.

[amity]

Be carefull! You can build your muscles that go over your hip to your back too strong on one side, causing it to pull and injure your back area.

....just from personal experience....

[NandaDncer]

Originally Posted by jilyan

Nanda I don't think you should squeeze the glutes at work ... I don't want to hear about huge accidents on construction sites!!!

Yeah I can show you some stuff ... but remember Rose is a proper Personal Trainer at Fitness First these days, she's fan-freakin-tastic. I know it's a long hike for you but you may be able to organise a once-off and get her to make you a program.

Or (plug plug) you could sign up for Rose's Bellydance Bootie Camp!!

Oh Yer... I can see it now

"Butt clenching Bellydancer: The real workplace hazard"

Re Bellydance Bootie Camp: Is there a link to more info...?

[HotDogYogini]

I thought the Bellydance Bootie Camp was any Suhaila Salimpour workshop. There's one of the DVDs in her basic series which has seated butt clenches with the legs wide apart, alternating butt clenches included. Maybe do twice as many on the left for awhile. Make sure you stretch out too. Forward bends & easy twist sequence from yoga would be good afterwards. Some of the seated hip openers are good for the butt too.

[tamrahennatx]

I'm very left-hip dominant, although I'm trying to be more even. All of my skirts with one slit must have it over the left leg, though. I've also noticed that most costumes from Egypt have the slit on the left.

Funny thing is, my left glute is weaker than my right. Go figure?

[tattood1]

i had a teacher say that egyptian is left sided too & i noticed many choreos i've learned were. i'm soo lefty now i get asked if i'm left handed. now for students i try to choreo right sided to make it easier for them. tina