Tech Talk: Walking Shimmy's

Why is that when I say to a Beginners class we’re doing the walking shimmy drill, they look like you’ve condemned them to watching re-runs of Egoli……it’s really not THAT difficult (says me who’s forgotten how hard it was when I started).

Yes, it can be quite a daunting task to conceptualize especially when you’ve already discovered that one half of your body doesn’t always respond the same way as the other half…..oh, the joys of Belly Dance. I mean most women consider themselves masters of multi-tasking. This however puts multi-tasking at a whole new level.

So…how do you keep the ‘shake’ going while trying to walk forward (Ok, not even going to mention the ‘backwards’ one)….

Step 1:

You need to make sure that you have mastered the basic hip shimmy…so standing with your feet flat, hip width apart. Start you basic hip shimmy but s-l-o-w-l-y.

Step 2:

While keeping your hip shimmy nice and even (don’t get one hip doing double time and the ‘other’ one hardly anything) try transferring your weight over to one foot, keeping the shimmy nice and even, then come back to center, then go the other way.  If it gets all jerky and you start feeling all spastic, transfer your weight back to both feet, wait till your shimmy is even then try again.

Step 3: once you have mastered being able to transfer your weight from one foot to the other without ‘losing’ the shimmy you’re ready to try lifting the foot off the floor when you transfer your weight. You can either tuck the foot behind the leg your weight is one or you can stretch it out in front of you with your foot off the floor. Now try alternating the feet slowly at first and then a bit faster.

Step 4:

So now you can transfer your weight from one foot to the other while keeping the ‘shake’, albeit s-l-o-w-l-y at first. Now you are ready to take that first step….so start your hip shimmy, then slowly lift the right foot off the floor keeping the shimmy nice and even, step forward onto your right foot. You can pause here to center your weight again until you are confident enough to take the next step. Then picking your left foot up, with your weight on your right side, step it forward…..and there you go….shimmy walking forward....one step at a time.

Remember practice make perfect….I doubt even the best of us had the co-ord’s to get this right first time. Take it slowly at first and as you grow in confidence with yourself and your movements you can start making the shimmy and the walk faster.

I have added a short ‘How to’ video by the graceful, very talented Irina Akulenko so you can see how it all gets put together. 

*Teachers all have different ways of demonstrating / teaching steps but in the long run our aim is provide you with the building blocks to use to perfect your skill as a Belly Dancer, whether it be for fun, fitness or professionally. There is a wealth of knowledge out there in cyber-space, at workshops and classes, so never be scared to learn new things.

Happy Shimmying!!