Mesmerizing Belly Dance - Foundations 2

Explore how to coordinate hand, arm, leg, and feet positions with belly dance moves, using drills to practice traveling and in‑place sequences so you feel freer and more natural.

Master foundational hand movements in belly dance, including wrist circles, hand figure eights, and hand ripples, with tips on direction, palm orientation, and expressive tempo.

Master ballet-inspired arm positions for belly dance, from first to fifth, with elbows rounded and varied up and out placements, including overhead palm press and Hy-Vee variations.

Learn essential leg positions for belly dance, including low figure four (passé), side and back variations, and a graceful leg extension with a 90/10 weight distribution.

Learn the demi point: stand the leg away from the audience, free leg on the ball of the foot. Practice Rella Vai Vai on the balls of the feet.

Engage in wrist circle drills across various arm positions to build rhythm and fluidity in belly dance technique.

Practice drill 2: hand figure 8 in different arm positions, shaping your own look and style in belly dance foundations 2.

Engage in drill #3 to master hand ripples in different arm positions for belly dance foundations.

Review and refine belly dance fundamentals by practicing hand, arm, leg, and feet positions and explore extensions like lunge or demi point while varying hand speed and ripple circles.

Explore five traveling belly dance moves, including side together, side step, tetch or step, tab cross tap, grape vine, and balance steps; practice and integrate them with moves for freedom.

Master the side together side traveling move from a neutral, weight-balanced stance. Step to the side, bring the other foot together, then step again to travel, building this foundational movement.

Step from a neutral position with one leg, place the ball of the foot to tap, and alternate to begin the egyptian basic.

Master cross-tap and continuous cross steps in belly dance, exploring forward, backward, and side movements, weight shifts, and arm flourishes to add dynamic style.

Learn the grapevine technique by crossing behind and in front, traveling left and right, with step-by-step footwork and clear transitions shown in multiple angles.

Engage in a four different directions step touch drill to practice belly dance footwork, starting with weight on the left foot and tapping with the right, including quarter turns.

Perform a grapevine drill in both directions, starting with small steps, then larger steps, moving behind and in front, with optional hip twist or stability, and on the toes.

Learn ballet-inspired balance drills, including tendu progressions, toe-point extensions, front, side, back taps, and arabesque holds to strengthen the standing leg, improve line, and engage the gluteus maximus.

Explore two side-to-side movement options, practice traveling drills and balance, vary timing, and integrate chest shimmy and chest raise and release to build body memory for upper-body moves.

Introduce six belly dance moves—horizontal and vertical rib circles, chest arc, undulation, and reverse undulation—with five drills and traveling upper-body sequences from front, side, and back to master each move.

Move through horizontal rib circles to form a smooth, large chest circle around your body, engaging the abs as you circle counterclockwise and clockwise.

Perform vertical chest circles, counterclockwise and clockwise, tracing a big circle with your chest to engage the upper abs and improve range of motion, keeping hips out and shoulders level.

Execute a drill of horizontal rib circles in four-count phrases. Then practice traveling by turning left and right in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

Practice vertical chest circles in both counterclockwise and clockwise directions, with four counts each, while coordinating with horizontal movements and travel to master in-place and in-motion rib work.

Combine horizontal rib slides with a chest cross to master right-left-up-down sequences, delivering sharp, distinct chest movements in belly dance foundations.

Practice chest cross drill in demi point with one hand up and the other out, using two counts per side and one count per movement, at a comfortable pace.

Learn a chest arc from the waist to the chin, contracting the chest to trace a shallow arc, then push forward and up toward a full chest undulation.

Master external undulation by rolling the torso up and down along front and side, coordinating hip movement with chest roll, and expanding chest range of motion for a smoother curve.

Practice undulations drill through eight-count and four-count sequences, culminating in demi pointe work and controlled range of motion, then extend with x-like extensions, switch sides, and maintain a weighted leg.

Master reverse undulation in belly dance by guiding the pelvis through an arc, lifting with the pelvis, engaging the abs, and circling downward for a fluid forward motion.

Practice eight-count reverse undulations in demi point or flat feet, gradually integrating leg extensions and upper-body movement, with optional two-count timing and half-time progressions for control.

Explore horizontal rib circles, vertical rib circles, and a chest arc, the beginnings of undulation and reverse undulation, through drills that emphasize smooth transitions as you change directions.

Master upper body belly dance moves, including shoulder rolls, thrusts, shimmies, chest drops and raises, with four drills and multi-angle demonstrations. Prioritize technique before adding traveling steps, piece by piece.

perform shoulder rolls by moving the shoulders forward and back, solo or with one or both arms; add a sneak or snake arm for a flirty touch, then alternate.

Practice alternating shoulder thrusts in belly dance, moving the shoulders forward and back, keep the hips disengaged, and maintain a straight torso while varying tempo.

Learn to perform shoulder shimmies as an accent movement, using forward presses from the shoulders, with one-arm or two-arm patterns, and faster tempo for emphasis.

Master the chest shimmy in belly dance foundations 2 by alternating forward chest movements, keeping the hips minimized, and shaking the chest back and forth to add expression.

Execute the shoulder thrust drill with four-count, two-count, and one-count sequences, including shoulder lifts and leg extensions from the front and back. Practice a figure-4 shoulder thrust to improve control.

Practice shoulder and chest shimmy drills with traveling steps, cross taps, and forward and backward movements, adding leg extension and balance poses for dynamic belly dance.

Perform a chest drop from a neutral standing posture by contracting downward, dropping the chest, and returning to neutral, then releasing.

Practice chest drop drill with four-count, two-count, and one-count sequences, emphasizing abdominal contraction and building up to quick repetitions through side-to-side practice.

Practice a chest raise with three drops to engage the upper abs and control your drops. Focus on range of motion, timing, and precise lift and drop sequences.

Practice the chest raise and three drops drill with counted sequences, mirroring in four directions, and explore arm placements toward the audience or to the side while forming figure-4 poses.

master waterfall arms by pulling them down, riffle them backwards, or ripple them forward to create a cascading waterfall effect, moving from the side with a demi point.

Trace your body with your hands to create a fluid arm trace that accents the music, moving top to bottom and back up with ripples, hand circles, and figure eights.

Practice waterfall arms and arm trace with adjustable tempo, and enrich the routine by adding undulations and a flowing body trace for varied, pretty moves.

Practice shoulder rolls, thrusts, shimmies, chest drops, waterfall arms, and arm traces; develop smooth isolations and transitions in both directions, use a mirror for feedback, then combine them into sequences.

Explore three upper-body and challenge combinations from moves learned so far, with a reference document outlining sequences. Practice facing the side and away, using eight-count patterns and later sixteen-count variations.

Learn to fuse a horizontal rib circle with a vertical chest circle in belly dance, transitioning from horizontal to vertical with momentum, and explore different arm positions for balance.

Master the upper body combination with Kabbani waterfall arms, chest raise, and drops, then vary timing, softness vs sharpness, and angles to personalize your belly dance.

Learn an upper body combination featuring a chest shimmy, an undulation, and precise weight shifts, with left-right transitions and grapevine patterns for coordinated belly dance movement.

Execute the upper body challenge by performing horizontal rib and chest circles in opposite directions, then add side sidesteps and horizontal slides with quarter and eighth turns.

Combine undulation and reverse undulation in the upper body challenge, practice four-count sequences, and explore timing variations and foot positioning for expressive belly dance.

Combine moves learned so far into various combinations to practice cool sequences. Access the documented combinations and challenge combinations resource for a good review and large body moves.

Explore lower body moves in section 7, including hip circles and a pelvic circle, with forward and backward hip actions, reinforced by three drill sets.

Move with hip circles by placing weight on the foot inside the circle and tracing the right or left hip clockwise or counterclockwise. Differentiate hip circles from pelvic circles.

Learn a hip circle drill to classical music in a decorative waltz rhythm, with six counts per side, switching directions and legs.

Move through low and medium run days with circular footwork, keeping the toes pointed and the knee flexed to build balance, thigh strength, and smooth arcing kicks.

Drill low, medium, and high six-count sequences, switch patterns and legs with the music, and embrace high run days that engage the quads for a strong workout.

Explore hip crescents in belly dance, tracing half circles forward and backward as you shift weight across the feet, turning and wrapping the arms to add movement.

Master the pelvic circle by linking forward and backward crescents, guiding your hips around a circle with a book on your head, a level chest, and coordinated arm motions.

Practice hip crescent drills in all directions with precise counts, balance, and posture. Move through forward, backward, and side crescents, first four counts, then two, with deliberate weight shifts.

Master the pelvic circle drill with eight-count rotations in both directions, practice four-count segments, add arms, and travel with side steps to build control and rhythm in belly dance foundations.

Review lower body isolation drills, including hip circles, pelvic circles, and arm integration, while practicing simple traveling moves before tackling grapevine, step touch, and other complex steps.

Explore four more lower body moves, including a hip lift, hip pivot, egyptian basic, and a three-quarter shimmy, with front, side, and back drill sets.

Perform a hip lift from a demi point, lifting the hip up and down with lift and release, keeping the toe extended and ball of the foot on floor.

Explore hip pivots in belly dance foundations, linking hip lifts with a circle around the standing leg, weight shifting, and controlled release to create fluid motion.

Master the Egyptian basic in forward and back travel with step tap and hip lift, maintaining weight on one leg while demi-pointing to lift the hip.

Perform the hip pivot drill by turning in a circle with four counts, then two counts, then one count, switching directions while pivoting on the standing leg.

Practice the Egyptian basic drill with traveling steps in circles to the left and right, switching clockwise and counterclockwise while lifting the hip, starting with either foot and traveling straight.

Master the 3/4 hip shimmy up by coordinating right-left-right-left timing with purposeful pauses, knee flexion, and controlled weight shifts through contract release and traveling steps.

Practice three-quarter hip shimmies in place, then travel forward and backward with the movement. Move in a circle and use alternating steps to deepen control and comfort.

Review four lower body moves—hip left hip pivot, Egyptian basic, and three quarters shimmy, along with practice drills. Focus on smooth transitions, isolations, and solid steps to enable traveling movements.

Section 9 introduces three lower-body move combos from earlier steps plus a challenge combining upper- and lower-body moves, with a reference document and front, side, and back demonstrations.

Master the lower body combo #1, combining crescent forward and back with pelvic circle while traveling. Focus on hip action, knee flexion, and controlled arms.

Learn the lower body combo #2 by combining two hip circles with four hip pivots in eight counts, starting on the right and switching sides with quick foot shifts.

Learn a lower body combo of three quarter steps on each side with cross taps, counting one two three, and add arm flourishes to boost energy.

Learn a 16-count belly dance challenge by combining four 4-count moves—the egyptian basic, chest cross, horizontal chest circle, and pelvic circle—with smooth transitions and momentum, while experimenting with arms.

Practice the challenge combo #2 (32 counts) featuring a pelvic circle, reverse undulation, chest circle, and snake arm, with energy moving from the pelvis upward and directions switching.

Combine the moves you've learned into varied combinations, practice balancing by starting with each leg in different directions, and document progress with the PDAF as you prepare the next choreography.

Sequence the learned belly dance moves into a choreography for section 10 introduction, building from introduction to first group to second group, set to sexy blues music or another track.

Learn the introductory belly dance choreography: eight-count arm trace facing away, then turn to the audience for cross taps and a vertical chest circle.

Perform group one choreography of 32 counts, starting with chest drop and weight on left leg, then snake arms, undulate, hip figure eight, pelvic circle, vertical chest circle, waterfall arms.

learn a group belly dance routine built on eight-count segments, featuring cross steps, weight shifts, chest shimmy, undulations, grapevine, and shoulder work, culminating in an explosion and pelvic circles.

Group three runs an eight-count sequence with a counter-clockwise circle, chest drops and lifts, weight shifts, and four hip pivots ending facing a left diagonal, then a pelvic circle.

Learn group four choreography across four eight-count phrases, including hip pivots, figure four, cross steps, and pivot turns, with weight shifts, smiles, and smooth transitions to the music.

Group 5 choreography features egyptian basics, three-quarter hip shimmies, a grape vine, and a final pose, ending facing front after a leftward transition.

Join a follow-along choreography session in this belly dance foundations course, guiding you as you acknowledge the completion of a career milestone with Agrafena.

Review the choreography section and print the ptf to study arm holds, stance, diagonals, and audience alignment, while enjoying the royalty-free blues music as you wrap up and move on.