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| internet source: Belly Dancing |
- Working w/ four counts, dip down and fwd slightly, while stepping 15-30cm across your RF w/ L. Rise high onto the ball of RF. Begin an ascending snake arm on the R, leading w/ elbow toward the ceiling and keeping L arm in basic.
- Pivot on both feet until you are facing the back of the room w/ R arm high above head, still leading w/ elbow.
- Lower R arm and lift your L, continuing to lead w/ elbows back to basic. W/ LF, quickly step across your R, pivoting until you are once more facing the front of your dance space.
- Begin a descending R snake arm and an ascending L, at the same time pivoting on your feet until you are once more facing front. Most of weight should be on L leg. Follow through and finish arm movements on the L and R.
Three Point Turn (also Suzy Q)
- Begin count one by stepping out 60-90cm to the R w/ R leg.
- Cross L leg in front of R, passing it by about 60 cm for a second count.
- As placing LF down, pivot on feet until facing the back wall.
- Sweep R leg behind L leg, passing it by about 60cm. As placing R leg down, simultaneously pivot on feet until facing front wall again for count three. Pause for the fourth count, then try a three-point to the L.
- Adding arms: bring arms together at chest level as pivot to the back wall, and separating them when turning to the front wall.
Three Point Drop
- Perform the three point drop after the three point turn. On the last step as placing the RF down, transfer 70% weight onto it.
- Bend knee and slide LF away so to have a full lunge supported by R leg. Drop head gently but fully fwd. sweep L arm down in front until Palm is on the floor. Simultaneously swing R arm high up behind you. This slide and drop replaces the fourth beat pause in the original turn.
- Then taking a full four counts, flop head up and peer straight ahead, while slowly beginning to rise from the lunge.
- To come up, gradually lower R arm. At the same time, drag LF in to meet R until back to the starting position. Repeat this in the other direction, lunging onto the LF and sliding back w/ the R. R arm should be fwd, w/ hand touching the ground, while L is raised straight up behind body. Rise up slowly as before, gradually dropping L am and sliding RF in.
- Accentuating the face: as lifting head dramatically from the drop, try looking very serious for one lift, then joyful for the next. Can put a gleam of mischief in your eyes or even a lokbof shook or dismay.
Dervish Turn (many associate the whirling dervish with frantic speed, but the real dervishes start slowly, then build up pace as the whirl. Will be dizzy as dancer cannot spot)
- Stand w/ feet flat and parallel on the ground. Tilt head to one side and raise arms to the sides so they are parallel to the shoulders. To start, hands in basic position. Begin spinning slowly as evenly, using small steps. After two rotations, switch R hand from basic to offering and speed up a little.
- After one more rotation, begin to roll head around the shoulders as spinning.
- If air is long and neck muscles are strong and flexible enough, flip hair around as the head circling on the shoulders.
- Pick up speed until whirling really quickly for three or four more rotations. Continue to whip head and hair around.
- When ready to finish the turn, stop rolling head and slowly come to a halt. As doing so, retire R hand to basic ad lower arms to chest level.
- Carefully flip your head back, tossing hair back over shoulders for a terrific finale.
Barrel Turn
- Begin by spinning slowly to the R, making small steps. As body begins its second turn, drop R arm in a circular sweep downward and raise L arm in circular sweep upward.
- W/o breaking the momentum, sweep R arm up and L arm down as body continues turning to face the back wall.
- As spinning fwd, continue the downward sweep of the L arm across lower body, while circling R arm high over the crown of the head.
- Keep spinning and circling arms while gaining in speed.
Halo Turn
- Begin by spinning slowly, using small steps, around to the L. As body begins to turn, drop L arm in a circular sweep downward and raise R arm in a circular sweep upward. Continue to sweep arms around until facing the back wall and both arms are up in the air circling toward the R.
- As spinning fwd, begin sweeping R arm in a arc downward, crossing in front of the body, followed by the L. Keep spinning body and circling arms while gaining in speed.
Get back to the 'Kandykane's Dance Learning Notes' or go to the 'Dance Glossary'.
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