Class 5 - Sliding and Gliding, Part 1

---Hip Slides-- Flat movement where hips push horizontally out to side of body. No twist! Knees move in tandem, no pistons.

---Hip Slide Front--Flat movement to front of body. Use lower abdominals to push out. Keep tuck in butt and lower back strong

---Hip Slide Rear--Flat movement to rear of body. Contract lower abdominals. Chest does not drop.

---Chest Slides--With torso strong and lifted, slide chest out in horizontal plane to either side. Be sure not to twist with this movement

---Head Slides--This mover is easier to practice with your arms straight up. Pretend your ear is magnetic and is attracted to your arm. Slide your head sideways on your neck so your ear almost touches your elbow. Repeat on the other side. Try to take your arms down and keep it up. Don't nod your head! Head bobble: pretend you're a little spring dog on someone's car dashboard. Just sort of shake your head from side to side and back and forth, keeping your neck very loose.

Class 4 -- Combinations

---Shoulder Shimmy--Make sure your ribcage is lifted up and separated from your hips. Push one shoulder to the front, and then the other one. Your arms should be up and out from your shoulders. DON'T MOVE YOUR HANDS! When you're comfortable, speed it up.

--- Hip Arc M&M's and W's -- Just like the Hip Arc, the M&M's are on the down - Center, Front, Center, Back...The W's move the same way, just on the up!

--COMBO: Hip Arc Combo--Start facing with your right hip to the "audience". Hip arc over to the front and over to the rear (1234). Arms are low and frame hips. Arms come up and shoulder shimmy as you turn over your right shoulder to have your left hip face the audience. (5678) Repeat hip arc on left hip and shimmy to face the right again.

---COMBO: FCBD Egyptian Basic with Turns or Bumps--Do Egyptian basic with FCBD arm pulls – once on each side to the front, then pivot and repeat to the rear. This combination can also be broken between the turns with hip bumps. Facing front, do Egyptian basic – one hip up on each side, with arms out to sides. Then arms go up over head and walk in a small circle doing hip bump walk

Belly Blog -- Level 1 Technique Class Notes

Hiya! Welcome to the Little Shimmy Belly Blog!

Class notes for Class #1 -- "Foundations"

---Basic Stance-- Rooted low center, knees bent slightly, weight evenly distributed. Tuck butt under, lengthened through torso up into head and shoulders. Shoulders are down, chest lifted....Super Star arms...BREATHE!

---Hip Pistons (tick-tocks)--Hips move up and down flat plane, like you are between panes of glass. Movement can be smooth and slow or quick and sharp. Feet stay flat on floor, torso and shoulders still, movement isolated into the hips.

---Shimmy Basics-- Even counted, paired movements of hips...must be able to count...control is key. The shimmy can be derived from the glutes, obliques, quads/legs or a combination. Practice isolating each type, work on control and speed...pick a song you like...try to shimmy through the whole thing! For fun -- generate a vibration by drumming your heels on the floor...

*Working with the music* Can go 1/2 speed or double time...most often the count starts on "1" on the Right side.

Shimmies!
Berna