Walk Like a Belly Dancer

The Dance Tip

Walk Like a Belly Dancer When you are in dance character, walk by placing the ball (front) of the foot on the ground first instead of the heel. When you are dancing, also place the ball of the foot on the ground first instead of the heel. If it feels "prancing" at first, take smaller steps and practice until it feels natural. Stepping heel first causes an ungraceful jar in your body and should be avoided, unless it is an intentional 'breaking dance character' walk. When would you intentionally break character? You might do it between two sections of a dance performance to inject a casual and approachable note as a way to appeal more to your audience. What Brought This Tip to Mind I was reminded of many follow-through issues and details when I was transferring 35-40 years of belly dance videos from VHS to DVD for a move. It also made me very aware of stagecraft and stage use details, things that should be on our radar for every performance. Your mileage may vary, so every detail is worth noting! PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Ian Cartlidge, Leeds, United Kingdom.

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