Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Belly Dancing Techniques Have Unique Emphasis

By Veena Kimshire

Belly dancing techniques emphasize the natural body type of a healthy woman. This is at odds with many of the modern dances we see which exemplify an extremely skinny body type. Particularly in the west, dancers today take great pains to maintaing a particular physique that is not desired in bely dancing. Belly dancing techniques take advantage of the natural circular motions of the body and the natural round shape of the abdomen expresses these circles beautifully.

The belly dancer uses many subtle movements to direct the audiences attention. One such movement involves quick snapping motions in which the viewer is directed to a particular place much like the jig of a fish hook attracts a fish. Belly dancing techniques are often performed while balancing objects or using scarfs or other props to add another dimension to the routine.

Belly dancing techniques allow a dancer to express herself using symbolism through the movements and poses she takes. Much of the dancing emphasizes womanhood and the female form. The circular movements of most belly dancing techniques center around the belly or pelvic area. These areas are of course fundamental to life and any viewer recognizes this on some level as a reference to the circular cycle of life.

The Techniques of Belly Dancing

Common belly dancing techniques consist of various undulations of the abdomen area and of rotations of the hips, shoulders, and arms. Sometimes the these movements are accented by movements of the head and extremities. Hip shimmies are commonly used during belly dancing as are sharper movements meant to draw the eye a particular direction.

The circular undulations of the abdomen are essential to belly dancing. Additionally, the hip shimmy adds tot he dancer's repertoire of techniques. These undulations and shimmies often begin in the pelvic area and run up the dancers body in a very controlled manner. These precise belly dancing techniques can appear as waves or ripples running up and down the body.

Using rolls and undulations of the hips and chest, a belly dancer can move her body in a figure eight pattern and keep a basic tempo with the core of her body. While keeping this pace she is able to move her hands and other body parts at a different rhythm to create complex dance routines.

Other belly dancing techniques involve backbends and turns. The dance appears to many at first to only involve the belly but the truth is that belly dancing involves the entire body. It is a sophisticated practice of moving the entire body. These movements all stem from the pelvic or stomach area and so give the dancer a very stable appearance.

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