Mesmerizing Belly Dance - Foundations 3

Begin with a warm-up to prepare the body, then learn the four basic Arabic belly dance moves, while maintaining good posture and relaxed shoulders throughout.

Shift weight with belly dance footwork from flat to ball of the foot, starting with the left, move side to side and avoid dropping back.

Master Arabic 3 footwork by maintaining a constant count while changing weight on every step, transitioning from flat ball to side steps to form hip circles.

Learn Arabic four belly dance footwork with flat and ball positions, practicing counts 1–4 from both starting feet to improve balance and foot control through drills.

Practice Arabic one and Arabic two drills using Barbuda drums rhythms, in-place and traveling footwork patterns set to a four-four Massud rhythm for a slow, guided movement.

Drill #2 for Arabic 3 and Arabic 4 guides you through footwork, travel, and sway patterns, including front flat-foot steps, crossovers, and side-to-side movement.

Review the four basic arabic patterns 1–4 with drills to ingrain them, focus on warming up and posture, and prepare to integrate these moves with foundations 1–2 and footwork.

Learn new belly dance moves in section 3, including hip downs, shimmy downs, hip drops, balladry and melody kicks, swades, and Maia's, with drills between moves.

Master hip downs by keeping weight on one leg and driving that hip straight down, then shift weight and drive the other hip down in sequence.

practice drill #3 hip downs to master right and left hip downs, quarter-turns, alternating legs, and traveling steps forward, back, left, and right for rhythmic belly dance control.

Master the 3/4 hip shimmy by driving the hip down, lifting on the weighted leg, and sequencing 1 2 3 while switching sides, with mirror feedback and drills.

Perform the 3/4 hip shimmy down drill starting with the right leg, moving forward and back for eight counts across three sets in the mirror, then add Arabic footwork.

Execute deliberate hip twists to create hip sprinkles, moving in up and down patterns with forward, side, and back angles. Alternate sides to build dynamic hip rhythm.

Perform hip sprinkles by isolating the hips with a steady upper body, twisting your lower body while moving up and down, and switching sides to build comfort and control.

Learn hip drops in belly dance by shifting weight to the opposite leg to free the active hip. Drop and lift with controlled weight placement and prepare for ballot kicks.

Practice drill six hip drops from side drops, switch sides and directions, work in an inner circle with count patterns, and include hip lifts and the drop block transition.

Learn the Choo Choo Shimmy by building on the basic hip up pattern, gradually increasing speed, staying on the balls of your feet, and creating different figures while traveling.

Explore drill #8 choo choo shimmy in mesmeric belly dance foundations 3, emphasizing how community and group dynamics support cohesive movement.

Master vertical hip figure eights in belly dance by flexing knees, shifting weight, and guiding the hips down and around in a swaying motion.

Engage in drill #9 to master sway through four-count and two-count patterns, count-along with right-side steps, mirror feedback, weight shifts, and arm optional movements.

Move the Maya hips in vertical figure eights for belly dance foundations, lifting up and around. Shift weight between sides, keep knees flexed, and avoid twisting hip to build power.

Practice drill #10 Maya by counting four counts per side as you move the right hip up and over, maintaining posture and foundations and footwork.

Review the core lower body moves, refine posture and range, and experiment with arms to make moves your own. Practice drills and traveling footwork to seamlessly layer new steps.

Combine Arabic footwork with upper body moves, including horizontal rib slides and circles, as you travel, switch directions, and perform chest figure eights and undulations.

Drill 11 explores horizontal rib slides with Arabic 1-4, pairing chest slides with footwork and travel for fluent belly dance technique.

Practice timing challenges for Arabic rib slides with 1 2 sequences, switch starting sides, and vary top and bottom patterns to build one foot control and overall drill variety.

Perform horizontal red rib circles with Arabic 1-4, starting on the right, weaving in chest circles with a chest wrap. Travel left and right with coordinated timing.

Explore two timing changes for horizontal rib circles, starting with Arabic counts, and practice in both directions, traveling, and varying timing to refine the movement.

Practice vertical rib circles with Arabic 1-4, coordinating footwork and chest movements, and progressively add the chest wall and traveling patterns across varied directions.

Learn to perform vertical rib circles with timing changes, counting in fours to the beat, and switch rhythm while exploring varied arm positions through practice.

Practice chest figure eight with Arabic footwork, choosing a preferred variation and pairing with Arabic one two four. Travel left and right, starting with different feet to create twisting movement.

Practice drill #15 teaches undulations integrated with arabic footwork, focusing on smooth top-body undulations paired to arabic steps 1, 2, and 4, with coordinated counts and transitions.

Learn reverse undulation, tilting the pelvis up and over and rolling forward into the chest, while performing Arabic 1-4 patterns and traveling left and right with steady hips.

Practice reverse undulations with timing changes using Arabic four-counts and circle. Add arm movements and a smile to build rhythm and fluidity.

Review upper body moves with Arabic footwork, including horizontal and vertical rib circles, chest figure eights, undulations, and timing drills, with practice drills provided as a pdf.

Focus on rigorous lower-body drills while keeping the upper body still, with intentional arm positions. Combine Arabic 1-2-3-4 with hip slides, circles, pelvic tasks, crescence, and Maia's movements, adapting timing.

Coordinate hip horizontal slides with foot movement, isolating the top from the bottom while practicing Arabic counts 1-4; start half-time, mirror-check alignment, and gradually improve timing.

Master horizontal hip circles paired with Arabic footwork, following 1-4 counts and timing changes to travel in both directions, starting with the left foot.

Master hip twists with Arabic footwork through timed drill sequences, follow-along counts, and varied timing changes to build rhythm, balance, and core control.

Master drill 20: hip ups with Arabic footwork, emphasizing weight transfer and hip isolation. Vary timing with Arabic counts to express different moods in belly dance.

Engage in drill #21 to master hip downs with Arabic footwork, coordinating hips and beat for sharp, synchronized movements on both sides.

Develop precise pelvic tuck and Arabic footwork through count-driven drills, maintaining a stable torso while exploring timing changes, traveling steps, and side-to-side practice.

Master hip crescents with Arabic footwork in belly dance using one two and four counting, transitioning crescents to the left and right as a half pelvic circle.

Fuse Maya with Arabic quick work to form a vertical figure-8 motion, with knee flexion and step sequences in Arabic counts, including Arabic one, three, and four.

Explore foundational belly dance moves by blending Arabic footwork with hip slides, circles, twists, bumps, and shimmy variations, then practice traveling in place, turns, and arm accents with a smile.

Celebrate finishing foundations three and gain confidence to play with music while documenting drills, turns, spins, and upper body moves toward your choreography in belly dancers companion workbook on Amazon.

Learn the basics of spotting in belly dance, stay balanced during turns by focusing on a fixed spot, blinking to reset, and warming up neck and body to prevent dizziness.