HOW TO SHIMMY

The shimmy can be one of the most challenging moves for the beginner belly dancer . It is also one of the most important to master. It may seem very strange at first to move your body in this way but eventually it will be completely natural and you will be able to shimmy through all kinds of movements.

Belly dancing is a dance of isolation, When doing hip movements like the shimmy, your upper body should be as still as possible. And when doing upper body movements such as rib cage slides, your lower body does not move.

STEP ONE: Start by keeping your knees slightly bent, your feet should be less than shoulder width apart. Now move your hips up and down, concentrate on stretching down with one hip while contracting the other, do this slowly and evenly to music. Now concentrate on isolating your hip as much as possible so that your upper body is not involved. Use your gluteus medias muscles to move your hips. Remember to keep your knees soft.

STEP TWO: Once you feel comfortable with the slow version try double timing to the music.Remember to keep it even on both sides and to the beat.  It's a good idea to have a coin belt at this stage so that you can hear the rhythm of the shimmy. Again it is important to isolate the hips so that there is no  movement on top.You can do this by bending at the knees,  and using those glutes.( You will feel those muscles being taxed if you are doing it properly).

STEP THREE: Now that you have it a little faster the next step is to try to keep it even while balancing on one foot and then the other eventually walking as you shimmy. Remember to keep it even and do not move your upper body. There should be no bouncing or shoulder movement.

Practice your shimmies whenever possible.keeping it loose yet controlled. Eventually you will add arm movements as you shimmy and other moves such as hip circles figure eights etc.

Have fun! Keep Dancing!