DANCE BASICS:

Fatima   ©

?? You want me to do what????!

With any artistic endeavor the proper tools make the job a lot easier. The same goes for dance.
Technique and having your basic elements firmly embedded in your dance routine not only make dancing safer but more enjoyable and easier in the long run.

Learning these basics is like learning the notes and scales necessary to music or learning your alphabet and vocabulary before you can write. Hard work on drilling in the technique and practice, practice, practice.

It is difficult to explain a dance movement in written form. The very essence of the step is physical. NOTHING can compare to learning from a teacher, live and in person, to direct you, correct you and encourage you in your dance pursuit.

I hope that for all my students and others that you will use this page as a review of your basic technique.  The elements described here are class notes from the Introductory Class Level I and are meant to compliment the verbal & physical instruction received in class.

As always, warm up and ensure proper stance and body alignment for the safe execution of these dance elements. 

REVIEW OF BASIC STEPS LISTED BELOW

What is that step called?

How do I do it?

Scales? You want me to practice scales???

To read about Fatima Smiley's story and Fatima's Laws go to:

Fatima's Story 

REVIEW OF BASIC STEPS:     INTRODUCTORY: LEVEL 1

DIRECTIONS: 

  • front/forward - body facing the audience or movement is executed in frontal direction
  • back/backward -back is to the audience or movement is executed in backward direction
  • diagonal - body is angled to the audience or movement is executed in a diagonal direction -- diagonals can be done  to the front or back
  • profile --  side of body faces the audience
HIPS:
  • slides:   feet flat, knees relaxed, slide hip side to side - do not twist - parallel to floor
  • twists:   feet flat, knees relaxed, twist hip to front and back - parallel to floor
  • lifts:      knees relaxed, straighten leg and lift hip - do not twist (consider this move a hip shrug like you would shrug your shoulder)
  • drops:   feet flat, knees relaxed, exaggerate knee bend to "drop" hip below  level line (feel the extension of the waist)
  • circles:  knees relaxed - trace an imaginary circle around your  feet  -- parallel to floor  -- circles can also be  perpendicular to the floor in single hip work
FLICKS:
  • any slide, twist, lift or drop done with a 'sharp' accented motion. Flicks can be done to the side,   forward, backward, up or down.
FIGURE  8'S:
  • FORWARD FLAT 8:    twist hips , swing back hip to front, you should be on the opposite diagonal  from start,  slide hips to back and swing back hip  to front. - parallel to floor
  • BACKWARD FLAT 8: twist hips , swing front hip to back, you should be on the opposite diagonal   from start,  slide hips to front and swing front hip  to back. - parallel to floor
  • SIDE 8:     slide  hip out to side, lift same hip  up, slide  back into centre,  drop hip down.  Repeat to  other  side., hips perpendicular to floor -- no twisting
  • MAYA:   lift hip up, slide out to side, drop down, slide back to centre   repeat other side  --perpendicular to floor  -- no twisting
  • FORWARD HIP ROLL (8):   lift hip, twist to front, drop down, bring back to centre repeat to other  side --  perpendicular  to floor
  • BACKWARD HIP ROLL (8):  lift hip, twist to back, drop down, bring back to centre. Repeat other  side. -- Perpendicular  to floor
HIPSIT:     
  • Knees relaxed --weight on the back foot  (feet in modified 4th position) -- twist  unweighted hip slightly up to centre front --  knees have straightened ,  bring hip back to start  position with an  emphasis on the "sit",
SHIMMIES:
  • shoulder:  small, rapid back and forth  pushes with  front of shoulder
  • Shake shimmies (hip):   emphasis behind,  this shimmy starts at the knees  done  by small back & forth movements that sets up vibrations from knee to hip.  This is what  hissi ya wiz is all about. Let your legs work, be gentle on your back.
  • Twist shimmies (hip):  rapid, tiny twisting movement of hips
  • Hip Lift shimmies:-   rapid, alternating, tiny hip lifts (add a "scooter" or foot shuffle walk)
TRAVELLING STEPS:
  • SINGLE HIP LIFT:   travel across the floor using a continuous hip lift on one hip
  • TWO-STEP:   travel across the floor using a single hip twist.  The accent on this step is on the front flick.  The weight alternates with this step.  Step on the same foot as the working hip
  • BASIC EGYPTIAN:  weight on back foot, forward (slight up) hip flick on unweighted foot, step onto forward foot, bring back foot forward and repeat
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