Basic Moves and Other Information
This section is for students who are taking Lessons with Xylia. It includes descriptions of the Basic Moves taught in beginner classes and other information which may be useful.
H = Horizontal moves

Don't see the move you are looking for? Check the "Advanced Moves" tab.
V = Vertical moves
D = Diagonal Moves
C = Combination Moves

The Five Steps to Dancing: Xylia's classes are focused on working from step one to step four.

1. The Move - Something you do with your body to make it look different from your neutral position.
2. Transitions - These are the moves that are in-between the moves you are doing.
3. Combinations- When you put more than one move together in a sequence with a small move between them so they fit together.
4. Choreography - This is the final step to dancing. This is a series of memorized combinations combined music.
5. Freestyle (No Choreography) - this is dancing without memorizing a choreography. This is free movement feeling the music.

Basic Moves

1) Hip Slide (H)

2) Hip snaps (H)

3) Hip Twist (H)

4) Backwards Figure 8's (H)

5) Basic Hip Circles "Ami's (H)

6) Pony - front or back (H)

7) Chest Slides (H)

8) Chest Pops (H)

9) Horizontal Chest circles (H)


10) Shoulder Pushes / Shoulder Shimmy (H)

11) Hip Drop (V)

12) Hip lift (V)

13) Shoulder Rolls (V)

14) Chest Lift (V)

15) Chest Drop (V)

16) Chest Drop Drop, Lift Lift, Drop lift, Lift Drop ... ect (V)

17) Forward Figure 8

18) Snake Arms (V) (H) (D)

19) Basic Shimmy

20) Bellydance Walk (Sexy walk)

Basic Moves

1) Hip Slide (H)
This is a Horizontal move. The hips don't move up or down.
Shift your weight from side to side. Keep your knees soft, but try not to use them.
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2) Hip snaps (H)
This uses #1 the SLIDE - Side to side.
One at a time snap hips out to the side.
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3) Hip Twist (H)
This is a horizontal move - Forward and Back.
One at a time push hips forward and back.
This works your upper abs.
Usually you only use this move in combination woth other moves or as a traveling step.
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4) Backwards Figure 8's (H)
This is a horizontal move- hips are moving towards the back.

Use the same consept learned in the hip twist.

1. Twist your hip forward.
2. Push it around to the back.
3. Come across diagonally when switching to the other hip.
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5) Basic Hip Circles "Ami's (H)
This is a horizontal move - round in a small circle.

Usuing the consepts learned in the hip slides:

your can start at any point in the circle and go in any direction.

Counter clockwise:
1. Shift your weight into the left hip.
2. Slightly push your butt out
3. Shift your weight ito the right side
4. Come across the front being carefull not to lift your pevis up too much.
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6) Pony - front or back (H)
This is a horizontal move - half a hip circle.

A pony is half a basic hip circle on either the front or back.
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7) Chest Slides (H)
This is a Horizontal move - Side to side

Using your ribacge and obliques slide your ribacge from side to side.

Try to not use your shoulders and try to keep this move as horizontal as possible.
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8) Chest Pops (H)
This is a horizontal move - Forward

This is a quick movement. Not a chest lift.

Push your sternum forward usuing your diaphragm.
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9) Horizontal Chest circles (H)

This is a horizontal move - Circle

Use the consepts learned in Chest Slides and Chest pops.

You can start at any point in the circle or go in any direction.

1. Slide your ribcage to the left.
2. Suck in your ribcage as you come around to the back.
3. Slide your ribcage to the other side
4. Push your ribcage out when in the front (using your diaphragm).
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10) Shoulder Pushes / Shoulder Shimmy (H)
This is a horizontal move - forward and back.

Arms can be up or down.

Push your shoulder forward then back to neutral.

When done rapidly with one shoulder after the other it is a shoulder shimmy.

To practice: Arms forward and keep your elbows locked make fists and punch forward and back. One you get the hang of this relax your arms and hands.
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11) Hip Drop (V)
This is a vertical Move - Only Down.

Keeping your foot flat, bend your knee forward causing your hip to drop. The emphasis is on the down.
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12) Hip lift (V)
This is a vertical move - Only Up

Straighten your leg to cause your hip to lift. You can step up to or raise you heals to help push your hip up.
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13) Shoulder Rolls (V)
This is a Vertical Move - Up around and back

Push your shoulder forward, up, back and then down to neutral. This is typically done rolling shoulder to the back. It isn't common to roll them forwards. You can roll one at a time or both at once.

You arms can be up or at your sides. Let your arms go along for the ride and keep them relaxed.
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14) Chest Lift (V)
This is a Vertical Move - Only up

Using your diaphragm lift your sternum up putting emphasis on the up. As you come back down go past neutral and sink in a bit.
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15) Chest Drop (V)
This is a vertical move - Only Down

Starting in neutral or in a lift, drop your ribcage and round your back a little.

Accent is on the down
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16) Chest Drop Drop, Lift Lift, Drop lift, Lift Drop ... ect (V)
This is a Vertical move.

Try combining Chest Drops and Lifts or adding a pop.
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17) Forward Figure 8
Imagine a figure 8 drawn on the floor. Now bend the sides of it up.

1. Twist your hip Back
2. Bring your hip up, forward and down to the front (heals can raise off of the floor)
3. Repeat on other side

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18) Snake Arms (V) (H) (D)
There are many ways to position the arms when doing snake arms. It can be done horizontally or vertically.

One at a time lift and drop your arms with the elbows leading.
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19) Basic Shimmy
Very rapidly raise your heals one at a time off the floor. Remember to keep your muscles relaxed. if you start to stiffen up slow down.
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20) Bellydance Walk (Sexy walk)
Walk with you feet angled out and take small steps. Keep your knees relaxed and try to not bob up and down. Keep it smooth. You can drag your toes across the ground as you take a step if you want. Remember that this move is also about the face! Make sure your "sexy" face is on. ;)

Tip - Try it with shoulder rolls.
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