By Mary De LucaUpdated
On udansa connect, you will find like-minded people who want to refine their dance technique just like you, as well as great courses in your area. Sign up and discover the world of oriental dance together with like-minded people!
The hip shimmy is fascinating because of its apparent effortlessness. With the right technique using your knees, you can make your hips shake in a controlled way, without putting any strain on your back.
The hip shimmy is one of the most fascinating and at the same time most demanding movements in oriental dance. It creates the illusion of an effortless, wave-like tremor that captures the entire lower body. The most important foundation for this seemingly floating movement, however, does not lie in the pelvis itself, but in the precise work of your legs and knees. Only through the rhythmic, alternating bending and stretching of the knee joints is the hip set into the vertical oscillation that defines the shimmy. A common mistake is to try to force the movement via the gluteal muscles or the lower back, which quickly leads to tension.
To internalize the exact belly dance shimmy technique, you should concentrate entirely on your footwork. Your feet remain firmly and flatly anchored to the floor, while the knees do all the work. Through this targeted isolation, your upper body remains completely calm and relaxed. If you want to dive deeper into the theoretical foundations of movement control, our guide on the history and styles of oriental dance will help you to develop a better feel for the dynamics of this dance form.
Place your feet hip-width apart and parallel. Distribute your weight evenly on both soles of your feet and align your pelvis neutrally to relieve your lower back.
Bend your left knee slightly forward, while the right leg remains straight, but not locked. Your hip on the left side will automatically drop slightly.
Gently straighten your left knee again, while simultaneously bending your right knee. Perform this change slowly and consciously to feel the weight transfer.
Increase the tempo of the knee movement step by step. Make sure that the movement remains fluid and does not become jerky, while keeping your feet flat on the floor.
Completely release the muscle tension in your glutes and lower back. The more loosely your hips react to the movement of your knees, the more refined and beautiful the trembling will be.
Like this
Not like this
Preparation
In the meantime
Follow-up
For a classic hip shimmy, the feet stay flat on the floor. This ensures maximum stability and is gentle on the joints. Lifting the heels changes the biomechanics and makes the movement unsteady.
If your lower back hurts, you are likely tilting your pelvis or tensing your muscles. Focus on keeping your pelvis gently aligned and keep the movement strictly in your knees.
Daily sessions of five to ten minutes are ideal. Muscle memory builds up much faster through short, regular repetitions than through infrequent, excessively long training sessions.
Learn Belly Dance Technique: Mastering Isolations and Shimmies
Belly Dance Level Test: How good is your technique?
Belly Dance Figure Eight: Guide for Fluid Hips
Belly Dance: Avoid posture mistakes and dance pain-free
Belly Dance Hand Movements: Learn Elegant Hands and Arms
Belly Dance: 5 Exercises to Improve Pelvic Flexibility
Learn Belly Dance Hip Accents: Master Drops and Lifts
