| American Tribal Style Handbook - Check for updates! |
[Oct. 30th, 2007|11:43 pm] |
American Tribal Style – Steps and Cues
Good posture: Ribcage lifted, with NO arch in low back, to take the tension out of the low back and shift the stability to the ribcage. With feet flat, bring heels close together, soften knees, weight on heels, release tailbone. Shoulders back and down using the muscles between your shoulderblades. Pull shoulder down and elbow up to form a small curve in the arm.
Note: Numbers in parentheses indicate how many beats a step takes, so if you see (4) you should count the step as 1, 2, 3, 4.
All moves and cues are described as close to FCBD format as possible unless otherwise noted.
The only non-FCBD moves included are ones that seem to have inspired one of the FCBD moves, or ones are directly related to FCBD moves such as Double Maya (GC) vs. Taxeem layered with a shimmy (FCBD) or the Chico Four Corners (FCBD) vs. Amaya (GC) Box vs. Ghawazee Box (Hipnosis).
FAST STEPS
Arabic Basic (2)
Pre-cue: Bring arms up to 5th position.
Cue: Both hands press straight down in front of the body.
Performed on the balls of the feet with the right foot leading, the weight of the body is rocked continuously from the front right foot to the back left foot. Keep the knees soft and your head level. The count is “and-1-2.” On the “and” lift the chest slightly, and as you rock back onto the ball of the left foot, relax the chest and tuck your hips under. The hip motion will come naturally as you rock, so focus more on the chest lift on the “and-1.”
Arms: After the arms press straight down, lift from the elbow to bring the arms out to the sides and back overhead into 5th position.
Arabic Turning (8)
*FCBD turns with Arabic, but the cue is from Hipnosis. FCBD will sometimes turn without the arm signal, and will sometimes lower one or both arms without turning.*
Cue: With both arms overhead in 5th position, already in Arabic Basic, lower the right or left arm to a 45 degree angle at shoulder height. If you lower the right arm, you will turn right. If you lower the left arm, you will turn left.
Lower your arm to signal the turn on the “and-2” of the Arabic Basic. If you are turning right, the 1 and 2 of the Turn will be Arabic Basic to the front right corner of your box. The 3 and 4 will be Arabic Basic to the back right corner of your box. The 5 and 6 will be Arabic Basic to the back left corner of your box. The 7 and 8 will be Arabic Basic back at the front left corner of your box, giving you two beats to catch up or cue a different move.
If you want to switch from a right turn straight into a left turn, make sure to bring your right arm back up to 5th on the “6-and” i.e. simultaneous with the chest lift just before you step on the right foot at the front left corner of your box, and drop the left arm on the “7-and” just as you rock back onto your left foot.
Arabic Hip Twist (4)
Cue: With arms at shoulder height, and the left arm bent slightly in front of the chest, the arms will continue to fluidly float ever so slightly away from the body, thus distinguishing the move from the Turkish Shimmy.
This step is round and fluid, as opposed to the Turkish shimmy, which is sharp and angular. Take one Arabic Basic on the 1, 2. Then step the right foot out to the side and swivel the right hip back and front on the 3, 4.
Arms: Hold your arms at shoulder height, with the left arm bent slightly in front of the chest, palms turned out for the 1, 2. The hands do a soft floreo on the 3, 4 as your hip twists.
Arabic Hip Twist Half Turn (8)
Arabic Hip Twist with a Flourish (8)
Cue: Head looks right on 1.
The first four counts are the same as the Arabic Hip Twist. On beat 5, step the right foot forward and pivot to the back. On beat 6, shift your weight back to the left foot, and on 7 step on the right foot to turn back to the front. Don’t be too concerned about getting the feet exactly on the beat. You want the turn to look smooth, not broken up, but the foot steps will help you take 4 beats for the turn.
Arms: Counts 1 – 4 are the same as Arabic Hip Twist. On beats 5, 6 and 7, bring the arms overhead with a delayed floreo. If you are going to continue Arabic Hip Twist, with or without the flourish, bring the arms back down to shoulder height on the “8-and.”
Arabic 1-2-3/Arabic Drops (8)
Cue: Arms at shoulder height, in 2nd position. From the shoulder to the elbow, the arms are straight out to the sides. From the elbow to the wrist, the arms are tilted slightly upward, with the palms facing forward.
Take two Arabic basic steps, and then remaining in place on the balls of both feet, drop your torso three times as you bend your knees to change levels downward; then pull yourself up to starting position. These drops are diminutive of the undulations in the Arabic Basic, so try to get a chest lift and a hip tuck from each drop. Most of the time, however, the music is too fast to actually see a chest lift and a hip tuck in each drop. The count is 1, 2, 3, 4, drop, drop, drop, up.
Arabic Shimmy (2)
Layer a ¾ shimmy over the Arabic Basic, lifting the right hip up-down-up as you step forward and the left hip up-down-up as you rock back.
With arms (8)
Set-up: Start in the Arabic Shimmy with the arms overhead.
Cue: Step to the left with the right foot on 1 to face the left wall and drop the right arm in front of your body and down to your hip.
On 2 rock back onto the left foot. On 3 step back to the front with the right foot as you bring the right arm back overhead. On 4 rock back onto the left foot. On 5 step to the right with the right foot to face the right wall and drop the left arm to the left hip. On 6 rock back onto the left foot. On 7 step back to the front with the right foot as you bring the left arm back over head. On 8 rock back onto the left foot.
With arms and turn (8)
Cue: Glance over the right shoulder on 1 and 2.
On 3 step back to the front with the right foot as you bring the right arm back overhead. On 4 rock back onto the left foot. On 5 step the right foot in front of the left and pivot to the back on 6. Step the right foot forward on 7 and pivot back to the front on "and-8".
Arms: 1-4 same as Arabic Shimmy with arms. On 5, as you step the right foot across to prepare for the turn, finish bringing the right arm overhead and drop the left arm down to the left hip.
Arabic Orbit (40)
Note: for two dancers only
Cue: From Arabic, the leader will lower her arms to shoulder height, take a small step backward and glance over her right shoulder at the follower.
The follower then takes a small step foward so the two dancers are very close together. Dancers continue in arabic around the center point between the two dancers in a 360 degree turn back to the front. This full turn takes 12 counts, including the cue and the step together.
Then both dancers lift the arms overhead and pivot 180 degrees to face the back. This takes another 8 counts and the pivot should begin around 4.
The leader steps up behind the follower and they move in a 360 orbit until they are facing the back again. This takes another 12 counts.
Then both dancers will lift their arms overheaad and pivot 180 degrees back to the front. This takes another 8 counts with the pivot beginning around 4.
Water Pot (8 set-up + 8 step)
Set-up: 4 counts of Arabic. Drop the right arm to shoulder height on 1 and 2 and back up overhead on 3 and 4.
Cue: On beat 5, 6 bring the right arm down to the right hip, pressing down with the palm and keeping the elbow lifted. On 7, 8 drop the left arm to the left hip.
The turn moves to the right for beats 1, 2, 3, and 4; and to the left for beats 5, 6, 7, and 8.
For each beat you will step on the flat front foot and each “and” you will step on the ball of the back foot. On the “and” between 12 and 13, raise up on the balls of both feet so you can step on the flat left foot on 13.
On beats 1, 2, and 3, you are doing a full turn to the right from the front right corner of the box; on beat 4 you rock front to back at the right corner of the box and on the "and" you switch sides; on beats 5, 6, and 7, you are doing a full turn to the left from the front left corner of the box; on beat 8 you rock front to back at the left corner of the box.
Arms: For the turn to the right, the hands remain down at the hips with the palms turned down toward the floor. For the turn to the left, the arms come up overhead, palms turned up toward the ceiling with the wrists flexed sharply inward toward each other.
Repeat cue: To repeat the turn simply press the hands back down to the hips. You do not need to do the set up to do more than one turn.
Turkish Shimmy (4)
Cue: With arms at shoulder height, bend the left arm at the elbow in front of the body.
Step to the front left corner of your box with the right foot. Step back on your left foot, then back again onto the right foot. Step forward on your left foot to re-center. The left foot stays in place as you rock forward and back. Count one beat for each step. 1. Step forward right. 2. Step back left. 3. Step back right. 4. Step forward left.
Arms: As the right foot steps across the arms reach behind, to the right. When the weight shifts to the left, the arms release back to center, both at a 45 degree angle in front of the body. As you step back onto the right foot on the 1-count, the arms shoot out forcefully to the right once more. Arms are sharp and angular.
With Arms and Turn (8)
From the standard Turkish Shimmy, walk the arms overhead on the first 4 counts by pressing out to the right and up on 1 and 2 and up and to the left on 3 then overhead on 4. On the next measure of four, bring the right arm out to the side, down, and back up through the front. Repeat with the left arm for another count of four. You may repeat this arm motion as many times as you’d like.
To turn, step to the left front diagonal on the next 1 and 2. Turn to the right back diagonal on 3 and bring the right arm back overhead on 4. On 5 and 6 step to the right back diagonal and turn back to the front on 7 bringing the left arm back overhead on 8.
Egyptian Basic (4)
Cue: With arms in 5th position, flip the right hand inward so that both palms are facing the front left corner of your box.
With 90% of your weight on the flat left foot, bring the right foot forward with a small swivel on the ball of the foot to move the right hip. Repeat on the left. Keep your shoulders straight, keeping the swivel in the hips relatively small.
Arms: Remaining in 5th position, hands pull away from each other, pressing the shoulder blades down to create tension between the hands. If the right hip is twisting, the right hand will be slightly behind the left; if the left hip is twisting, the left hand will be slightly behind the right.
Egyptian Half-turn (8)
Cue: Release the shoulders to follow the swivel of the hips. The arm movement will naturally get larger.
Between the 3 and 4 count of Egyptian Basic, just after swiveling the left hip forward, swing your left foot behind you and pivot to face the back wall. You are turning on the upbeat between 3 and 4. Be sure to plant your left foot as soon as you are facing the back so you will be ready to step on the right foot on 5, which corresponds to the 1 beat of Egyptian Basic.
Note: You may not go back into Egyptian Basic from Egyptian Half-Turn.
Calibrated Spins (16)
Set-up: 8 counts of Egyptian Half-Turn.
Cue: On the next Half-Turn, as you face front, drop the arms to shoulder height.
As you complete the Egyptian Half-turn to the back bring the arms back up. As you turn back to the front go straight into 4 2-count full turns with arms at shoulder height.
Note: If the spins are followed by 8 more counts of Egyptian it is assumed you will follow that with another 8 counts of spinning.
Egyptian Full-turn (12)
This must be cued from the Egyptian Half-turn. The first 8 counts, therefore, are the same as the Egyptian Half-turn. On beat 9, you are facing front. As you take the first step to swivel the right hip, exaggerate the body twist even more so that the body is almost facing the left wall of your box. On beat 11, swivel the left hip forward, and push off hard to complete the entire full turn to the left on the “and-12.”
Note: choose a step with a strong arm cue to cue out of the full-turn.
Ghawazee Basic (2)
*FCBD uses this move, but the name comes from Hipnosis Tribal*
Cue: Arms are at shoulder height, in 2nd position, curved slightly forward with the elbow lifted.
With your heels close together, lift the same hip as the weight-bearing leg as you step from side to side. Right, left. Arms remain in 2nd position, curved slightly forward.
Note: This step can easily become a shimmy just by speeding it up, right, left, right, left, etc. Ghawazee Basic Shimmy is done in place with both feet right next to each other.
Double Back (8)
Cue: Arms to high 1st position: shoulder height, rounded forward in front of the body as if hugging a tree. FCBD use a bit more arm movement in the cue that seems to include the right arm shooting out to the front and the left arm drawing slightly back and up, but for our purposes, simply bringing the arms to high 1st position should be sufficient.
On 1 step the right foot forward to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip. On 2 step the left foot forward to the front left corner of the box and bump the hip. On 3 step the right foot back to the back right corner of the box and shift the weight to the right leg as you drop the left hip twice.
On 5 shift your weight back onto the left foot (which should still be positioned at the front left corner of the box) and bump the hip. On 6 step the right foot forward to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip. On 7 step the left foot back to the back left corner of the box, and shift your weight to the left leg as you drop the right hip twice.
Arms: On the “1-and-2-and”, the right arm pulls up overhead and back behind the right ear, as the left arm floats down in front of the body at shoulder height. Arms stay on the 3, 4. On the “5-and-6” arms float out to 2nd position. On the “and-7” the right arm curls forward in front of the body and the left arm raises overhead. If you are doing this move more than once, on the “1-and-2” as the right arm travels forward and up and the left arm travels down the hands should pass each other just above eye height.
With Half Turn (16)
Cue: Head looks right on beat 5 of a regular Double Back
Turn to face the back of the room on 1, 2. Land with the left foot slightly forward and the weight on your right leg. Drop the right hip on 3, 4. On 5 shift your weight back onto the left foot (which should already be positioned at the front left corner of the box) and bump the hip. On 6 step the right foot forward to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip. On 7 step the left foot back to the back left corner of the box, and shift your weight to the left leg as you drop the right hip twice on 7 and 8. Turn to face the front of the room on 9, 10. Land with the left foot slightly forward and the weight on your right leg. Drop the left hip on 11, 12. On 13 shift your weight back onto the left foot (which should already be positioned at the front left corner of the box) and bump the hip. On 14 step the right foot forward to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip. On 15 step the left foot back to the back left corner of the box, and shift your weight to the left leg as you drop the right hip twice on 15 and 16.
Arms stay the same as the regular Double Back.
Shimmy Step (2)
Cue: Arms are at shoulder height, in 2nd position, curved slightly forward with the elbow lifted. Arms are slightly more forward and less rigid than for Ghawazee Basic.
Lift the same hip as the weight-bearing leg: up, down, up on the right; then shift the weight to the left leg and lift the left hip up, down, up. At full speed, each up, down, up will take only one beat.
Sub-cue and Arms: Hands float softly from side to side, following the weight shift from right to left, as if running your palm over the curve of a ball. The movement is only in the wrist and hands. Shoulders and elbows remain still.
Ghawazee Three-Quarter/Slow Shimmy (4)
Same as Shimmy Step, only half-time, so the count is 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and. On the “1-and-2-and” the right hip goes up, down, up, pause. On the “3-and-4-and” the left hip goes up, down, up, pause. Hands continue to float softly from side to side, following the hips.
Ghawazee Shimmy Combo
8 counts of Ghawazee Shimmy.
16 counts of Ghawazee Shimmy Quarter Turn (i.e. 2 turns).
(may add another move or a fade here)
8 counts of Ghawazee Shimmy.
16 counts of Ghawazee Shimmy Half Turn (i.e. 4 turns).
Sunanda (16)
Cue: Face the left wall of your box and hold both arms straight out in front of the body.
Starting in the shimmy, the feet are stepping continuously right, left, right, left, always starting with the right foot on the 1-beat. The feet step 1 and 2 as the body turns to the left, 3 and 4 as the feet and body return to the front, 5 and 6 as the feet turn to the left again, 7 and 8 as the feet turn to the front again. On 1 and 2 bring both arms straight out in front of the body at shoulder height. On 3 and 4 leave the left arm out to the side and sweep the right arm up to frame the face. On 5 and 6 the right arm drops back to shoulder height and then sweeps back up to frame the face on 7 and 8. The move repeats on the right side for beats 9 – 16.
Chico Four Corners (16)
Cue: Shift in body orientation to the front right corner of your dance box. The right arm drops down in front of the body and then out to the right side once the hand reaches shoulder height.
Remain on flat feet. As you cue, step the right foot to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip on 1, 2. Step the left foot to the back right corner of the box and bump the hip on 3, 4. Step the right foot to the back left corner and bump the right hip on 5, 6 and then step the left foot back to the front left corner of the box and bump the left hip on 7, 8. Repeat for counts 9 – 16.
Arms: on 1, 2: left overhead and right out to the side. On 3, 4 bring the right overhead and draw the left arm down in front of the body and out to the side at shoulder height. On 5, 6, bring the left arm back overhead and draw the right arm down in front of the body and out to the side at shoulder height. On 7, 8 bring the right overhead and draw the left arm down in front of the body and out to the side at shoulder height. Let the gaze follow the horizontal arm.
Note: This move is very similar to the Ghawazee Box (8) taught by Hipnosis. The FCBD Chico Four Corners seems to have a more energetic hip, with a very slight twist to each bump in performance while the Ghawazee Box utilizes a sharper bump at each corner. Arms for the Ghawazee Box are as follows:
Cue: With the right arm pointed straight out to the side at shoulder height, lift the left arm overhead as you step the right foot to the front right corner of the box and bump the hip twice.
Arms: As you continue around, bring the right arm up overhead and keep both arms in 5th position with the palms turned out and the wrists bent toward each other for beats 3, 4, 5, & 6. On the 7 as you step the left foot to the front left corner, keep the right arm overhead and drop the left out to the side. If you want to cue out of the turn, drop the right arm down on 8 and then cue into the next move. If you want to keep turning, bring the left arm right back up on the 8 and lower the right arm again on the “and-1”
I believe the Ghawazee Box Hipnosis teaches was inspired by the Amaya Box taught by Gypsy Caravan (Vol. 5), which is identical to the Chico Four Corners except for the body orientation. Amaya Box starts with the first two bumps with the right foot on the front of the box, body facing the left side of the box, the 3,4 happen with the left foot on the right side of the box, body facing the back, the 5, 6 happen with the right foot on the back side of the box, body facing the right side and finishes the last two hip bumps with the left foot on the right side of the box facing forward. Arms are identical to Chico Four Corners.
Pivot Bump/Choo-choo (?)
Pre-cue: Arms in 5th position.
Cue: Right arm travels down in front of the body, moving out to the right side once the hand reaches hip-level.
Pivot Bump and Choo-choo are basically the same step, except that the Pivot Bump turns you in place while the Choo-choo travels to the right. Start with 90% of your weight on your flat left foot with the ball of the right foot propped next to the instep of your left foot. Add just a little more weight to the right foot, letting your right hip bounce up on each beat.
Arms: After the cue, the right arm travels down in front of the body and then floats up and out to the right side at shoulder height. The left arm remains held overhead, and the right arm is held out to the right side at shoulder height.
Alternate Arms: Once you are already in the Pivot Bump, you may bring the right arm overhead, and drop the left arm down at a 45 degree angle in front of the body.
Reach and Sit (2)
Cue: With arms at shoulder height, both arms held at a 45 degree angle, give a slight wind-up by moving both arms a little to the left before shooting them out to the right side and folding the left arm in front of the body.
Start with 90% of your weight on your flat left foot with the ball of the right foot propped next to the instep of your left foot. Drop the right hip slightly back on the “and”, and then twist it forward on 1 by swiveling on the ball of the right foot. The lift happens on 1, the sit on 2.
Arms: The arm movement is very similar to the Turkish Shimmy, except for the small wind-up to the left that mimics the wind-up of the hips. The arms shoot out to the right, reaching, as the right hip swivels forward, and relax back to the left as you sit.
Up2Down3/Forward, Forward, Drop, Drop, Drop (4)
As you begin to pivot counterclockwise, push the right hip up and up on the 1 and 2. Then in place drop the right hip down three times in quick succession on the 3-and-4.
Note: FCBD has no cue for this move, but uses it when the beat of the music calls for it so that everyone can sort of hear it coming. Hipnosis, however, uses S-arms as a cue: the left arm held overhead, the right arm curved and straight down at the right side, and they call this move the Typewriter.
Choo-choo Arc (8)
Start off in a basic Choo-choo with the right arm extended horizontal and the left arm lifted overhead. Continue the hip bumps in place, angled so that your right hip is toward the front of your box.
Cue: Drop the left arm across the front of the body until it reaches the right arm. Both hands press down to signal the actual turn.
As the hands press down, press your weight down on the ball of the right foot to pivot to the back and swiftly swing your right foot around so you can push yourself back around to the front.
Arms: Drop the left arm across the front of the body until it reaches the right arm. Keep your shoulders pressed back. Then drop both arms as you pivot in place, bringing the hands down and across the hips from right to left. Lead with your wrists. As you get back to the original position, lift the arms back and overhead, letting the right arm float down to its original position.
Single Bump/Choo-choo Singles (2)
Cue: With arms at shoulder height, both held at a 45 degree angle to the body, move both arms slightly to the right, giving a little push as you begin the first hip lift.
Draw a little triangle on the floor with your feet by stepping out and forward with the right foot, simultaneously lifting the right hip up on the 1 count. Then step the right foot out and back and lift the left hip on the 2nd beat. You can travel with this by scooting the left foot each time you step on the right foot.
Arms: As you push up and forward with the right foot, pull the right arm back. As you push up and back with the right hip, release the arm slightly forward.
Single Bump Half Turn (16)
This turn swings from the front left corner to the back right corner. You have to be in the Single Bump to set up the turn. Arms are the same as for the Single Bump.
On an emphatic beat in the music, swing the right hip toward the front left corner and then swing halfway around to the back right corner. So you bump forward on 1, pivot on 2, bump forward on 3, pivot on 4. In general, you would compete 8 half-turns before moving on to another step.
Double Bump/Choo-choo Doubles (4)
Cue: Curve the left arm softly in front of the body at a 45 degree angle, lifted just above shoulder height; pull the right arm strongly behind your head.
Draw a little triangle on the floor with your feet by stepping out and forward with the right foot, simultaneously lifting the right hip up on the 1 and 2 count. Then step the right foot out and back and lift the left hip on the 3rd and 4th beats.
Arms: Both arms are held up, right arm behind the ear as the right hip comes up and forward, then released to the front so that the curve of the elbow is just below your chin as the hip goes back and up. The left arm is passive, falling softly to the front of moving softly back as the right arm moves. The left arm does not travel behind the head.
Shoulder Shimmy (?)
Cue: Arms at shoulder height, in 2nd position. From the shoulder to the elbow, the arms are straight out to the sides. From the elbow to the wrist, the arms are tilted slightly upward, with the palms turned up to the ceiling.
Regular: Right, left, right, left, etc.
Triplets: Right shoulder goes: front, middle, front, back, middle, back
Left shoulder goes: back, middle, back, front, middle, front
With Hip Drops
Cue: From the Shoulder Shimmy, drop both arms down into low first behind the back. As the arms press back and downward the move is cued. The arms float back up into 2nd position to cue back into Shoulder Shimmy.
As soon as the arms start to press down and back from the shoulder shimmy, drop the right hip once for each beat.
Note: In FCBD format, Hip Drops can only come out after the Shoulder Shimmy. FCBD does not cue into the Hip Drops without doing Shoulder Shimmy first.
SLOW MOVES
Taxeem
This is a continuous weight shift from right to left with a simultaneous contraction of the oblique to lift the hip. This will form a lateral figure 8 with the hips. Imagine that you are standing between two panes of glass – one in front, one behind – so that your hips cannot swivel front to back, but can move only side to side. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Hips go down, out and up.
Reverse Taxeem (Maya)
Same as Taxeem except you are sending the hips up and over instead of down and up. This is a continuous weight shift from right to left with a simultaneous contraction of the oblique to lift the hip. This will form a lateral figure 8 with the hips. Imagine that you are standing between two panes of glass – one in front, one behind – so that your hips cannot swivel front to back, but can move only side to side. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Hips go up, out and down.
Double Maya
*This is not an FCBD-format move. It does correspond to the way FCBD layers a shimmy over the Reverse Taxeem, however. Double Maya comes from Gypsy Caravan. The cue comes from Hipnosis Tribal.*
Cue: With arms at shoulder height in 2nd position, turn the palms up to the ceiling.
Add a hip drop before the hip roll on each side, so the pattern is drop the right hip, roll the right hip, drop the left hip, roll the left hip, and repeat. This adds a staccato accent to the Reverse Taxeem. This move can be used for fast or slow music.
Walking Taxeem
Note: Aim to complete at least one and a half to two and a half full Taxeems for each step you take.
Bodywave
The bodywave and bellyroll are companion movements. The bodywave uses the spine to create a large undulation from the shoulders down to the hips while the bellyroll uses only the abdominal muscles to created the undulation, without any motion in the spine. The bodywave should give the illusion of a continuous upward movement.
To perform a Bodywave, shift the ribcage and shoulders forward off the center, letting the hips shift back without curling the tailbone up. Lift the ribcage then shift through the center and back as if trying to touch the wall with your shoulders. Do not let your lower back tighten up, but bring the ribcage back to center to release the tension in the hips. Return the body to center position and repeat.
Deep Bodywave
The extra arch should come from the back and abdomen muscles. You should NEVER put stress on your lower back. Push your ribcage forward, keeping your head centered. Then roll back, taking the head with the upper body, keeping the neck in line with the rest of the spine. Build up to this slowly and be sure not to over do it.
Walking Bodywave
Note: Aim to complete at least one and a half to two and a half full Bodywaves for each step you take.
Ribcage Rotation
This movement should be very muscular and subtle. It is a vertical circle drawn with the ribcage. Hold your hips still as your ribcage lifts as far as you can to the right front. Then contract the muscles between the shoulder blades to lift the ribcage up. Lift the ribcage as far as you can to the left front, and let the bottom of the circle smooth out as you move back to the right without letting your shoulders sag.
Torso Rotation
Cue: reach to the forward left corner with the left arm just above shoulder height, letting the upper body lean into the reach
This movement draws a horizontal heart shape, starting in the front and ending in the front. Keep the hips still. Shift the entire torso, including the head and shoulders, slightly ahead of center. Then shift the torso the left, back, right, and then ahead of center before moving back to a neutral position. Use only the muscles that lift the ribcage and be very careful not to put any pressure or strain on the low back. The head should remain level.
Torso Twist
Cue: ???????? waiting for tribe...
This is a counterclockwise turn with a torso rotation. Starting with both feet facing forward, shift the weight to the left foot. Pick up the right foot and place it perpendicular to the left foot so that the toes of the left foot are pointing at the arch of the right foot and the toes of the right foot are facing the left wall of your box. Pivot on the ball of the left foot until both feet are parallel again.
As you pick up the right foot, lift the right elbow and shift the weight of the torso to the left. As the feet become parallel, the torso shifts to the back and the arms are neutral. Stay in place to finish the torso rotation to the right and front.
Arms: As the body’s weight shifts to the left, turn the right elbow up to the ceiling. As the body’s weight shifts to the back, both elbows are neutral. As the body’s weight shifts to the right, raise the left elbow, and as the body shifts to the front the elbows are neutral again.
Circle Step
Cue: Right arm down at the right hip, left arm held up at shoulder height at a 45 degree angle.
FCBD turns right with the Circle Step. The lower body makes a large hip circle from the left to the right as the feet step around to the right in a circle.
Starting with both feet facing forward, shift the weight to the right foot. Pick up the left foot and place it perpendicular to the right foot so that the toes of the right foot are pointing at the arch of the left foot and the toes of the left foot are facing the right wall of your box. Pivot on the ball of the right foot until both feet are parallel again. As you lift the left foot, push the hips to the back right and around clockwise back and to the left. Hips push from the left, around the front to the right as you pivot on the right foot. Allow the ribcage to compensate for the hip motion so as the hips are pushed forward, the ribcage is tilted up and the shoulders leaning back.
Reverse Turn
Cue: sharp overhead floreo, then drop the right hand to the right hip.
Cross the right foot behind the left and look over your right shoulder. Without lifting the feet, pivot around clockwise ending at the front left corner of your box. Arms come to shoulder level and then split apart, right overhead, left at shoulder height in front of the body.
Note: you may wish to add a bodywave at the end of the turn.
Propeller Turn
Set-up: Lift both arms up into 5th position. Hold the left arm in place and drop the right arm horizontal to shoulder height. Bring the right arm back up overhead. Then hold the right arm in place and drop the left arm to shoulder height. Bring both arms overhead. Then drop the right arm again.
Cue: Exaggerate the lift in the right elbow.
Facing the front left corner of your box, with the weight on the left foot, step across on the right and untwist the feet. Follow through by sliding the right foot forward again toward the front left corner of your box.
Arms: Plunge the right arm through to the right hip as you step the right foot forward and begin to untwist the feet. As you finish the turn, draw the right arm up in front of the body and start to lower the left arm in front of the body. Arms split and frame the body with the right arm pulled back behind your ear and hold the left arm at a 45 degree angle at shoulder height as you plant the right foot.
Corkscrew Turn
Set-up: Lift both arms up into 5th position. Hold the left arm in place and drop the right arm horizontal to shoulder height. Bring the right arm back up overhead. Then hold the right arm in place and drop the left arm to shoulder height. Bring both arms overhead.
Cue: Drop both arms back down to shoulder height. Then lift both arms back overhead, and plunge both arms straight down in front of the body. This plunge is softer than the plunge for Arabic, with the right hand in front of the left, palms facing out and down.
Facing the front left corner of your box, with the weight on the left foot, step across on the right and untwist the feet. Follow through by sliding the right foot forward again toward the front left corner of your box.
Arms: Lift the arms back up to 5th position as you step the right foot forward. Plunge both arms straight down in front of the body as you begin to untwist the feet. Remember, this plunge is softer than the plunge for Arabic, with the right hand in front of the left, palms facing out and down. As you finish the turn, draw both arms out to the side and back up into 5th position as you plant the right foot.
Wrap Around Turn
Pre-cue: Arms come down to 2nd position.
Cue: Cross the right arm in front of the chest, drop the left arm behind the back, arms and hands energetic.
Using a floreo, wrap the right arm across front of the body and drop the left arm behind the left hip at the same time as you cross the right foot in front of the left foot. Pivot 180 degrees, and press the arms straight out to the sides in a reverse floreo. Bring the arms up to 5th, cross the right hand in front of the left, and press your hands down to the center as with the corkscrew turn while completing 1 and a half turns to end up back at the front.
Note: Black Sheep Belly Dance has a very similar movement called the Spanish Turn. The set up is the same: Using a floreo, wrap the right arm across front of the body and drop the left arm behind the left hip at the same time as you cross the right foot in front of the left foot. Pivot 180 degrees, and press the arms straight out to the sides. Then, raise the arms overhead into 5th position, and back down to 2nd. Repeat to turn back to the front.
Sahra Turn
Pre-cue: Arms overhead in 5th position.
Cue: Body twists to the left as the arms come down to the left hip, wrists turned in toward each other, palms out.
Step the right foot in front of the left as you cue with the arms. Swing the right foot behind you into a full turn.
Arms: Start by bringing the arms overhead and plunge both arms down to the left hip, angling the right shoulder forward. Swing the right arm up and overhead as if you have a plate balanced on your hand at the same time as you step across and pivot into the full turn. Pause with the hands resting at the left hip. Softly bring the right arm up overhead, leading with the wrist. Then drop the right arm leading with the elbow and letting your gaze follow your right hand, and let the left arm float up overhead. Step backwards to the right in another full turn, and pause again with the hands resting on the left hip. Softly bring the right arm up overhead to frame the face and finish with two floreos.
Barrel Turn
Start with the hands overhead. The right arms sweeps down in an arc as the right foot crosses the left foot. This is the cue. The upper body tilts slightly into the turn. Keep the elbows lifted as you turn to face the back and sweep the right arm up to meet the left. Exaggerate the ribcage lift as you are facing the back, looking up at your hands. Soften and lower the left arm and step around with the right foot. Finally, sweep the left arm across the front of the body and back up to fifth to finish with a floreo.
Camelwalk
Cue: as you rise up on the toes, bring the left arm straight up and plunge the right arm straight down. As a pre-cue there seems to be a slight movement of the left arm down and the right arm up just before the actual cue, almost like a wind-up.
This step can travel slowly to the right or stay in place. This step is arrhythmic, but it can be thought of as having four segments. Three of the segments take place on the ball of the right foot, all the weight forward. The last segment takes place on the flat left foot. During each segment, the knee of the supporting leg is lined up over the toes.
Step out to the right and draw your center over the right foot. Then bend the right knee and drop straight down as far as possible. As you drop, with NO WEIGHT on the left leg, slide the left foot out to the side with the toe pointed. When the weight is active on the right foot, turn the left foot on a slight angle so the side of the big toe brushes the floor. Be sure to have NO WEIGHT on the left foot to avoid injury. Draw straight back up. With the head level, and the left leg straight, draw the left leg in under the center of the body until it touches the right foot. Shift your weight completely onto the left foot. As you re-center, let your body even out with a small torso rotation.
Arms: As you take the first step forward on the right foot, press the right arm straight down and let the left arm float up over the head. As you bend the right knee, plunge the left arm down and let the right arm float up. As you stand, plunge the right arm down again and let the left arm float up.
EMBELLISHMENTS
Hand Floreo
Lift your left arm to shoulder level, elbow lifted, palm facing inward. Imagine that you are using your thumb and middle finger to pick up a small hourglass. Lift through the wrist and turn the hourglass over to set it down upsidedown. Then release your hand back to a neutral position. To reverse, start with your palm facing outward, pick up the upsidedown hourglass, and turn it right side up before releasing the wrist. Practice this with your right hand as well.
Arm Undulations
Arm undulations take place shoulder height and higher, never dropping below the ribcage. The arm rotates forward at the shoulder, and then lifts up being led by the elbow as you squeeze the shoulder blade down, letting the contraction travel down the arm to the fingertips. Think of this as a very small, controlled Snake Arms.
With your arms in basic position at shoulder height, shoulders pressed down and back, elbows and upper arms curved forward:
Start on the right. Roll the right arm forward, rotating the shoulder and upper arm. Lift the elbow towards the ceiling and press the shoulder blade down, rolling the shoulder back as the elbow releases down and the movement travels down the arm to the finger tips.
Repeat on the left. When you are ready, stagger them so that the left shoulder begins to roll forward as the right elbow releases down. |
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