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Signature Movements for Bellydance

"Signature Movements" are the movements and combinations that dancers most commonly use to accompany a certain rhythm of bellydance. You can use them to recognize changes in rhythm, and to get a feeling for the music.

Of course, you can use the movements included here when you dance to other rhythms. And please keep in mind that this dance comes from an oral tradition! The names of the movements change with geography - even within the same city! Feel free to rename them so they make the most sense to you.

Included here is one combination per rhythm. There are more! As you continue to study, you will collect and create movements that allow you to expand your ability to "make the music visible"!

Malfouf

Malfouf is usually found at the entrance and exit sections of a full bellydance routine. Many traveling steps accompany this rhythm, but the most common one of all is "WALTZ STEP".

Waltz Step is a 3-step combination. Starting with the left foot, step, catch up with the right, and step again with the left. Then, do the same pattern on the right. It's a bit like skipping.

Beledi

Many movements work with this 4/4 rhythm, but the most common response in bellydancers, is the "SWIVEL KICK".

Starting in 'Show-girl' pose, the hip is swiveled forward, and as it swivels back, the posing leg is released from the knee in a little 'kick'.

Maksoum

"STEP-TOUCH" is a very versatile step. It's good for traveling and for accenting rhythms.

Take a step with the right. Now move the left foot forward, touching the ground with the big toe. It's a pause. Then take a full step on the left foot. Touch the right toe forward. That pause is where the accents come. Accent with the hip, or try a chest pop!

Masmoudi

The signature combination for Masmoudi is a "3-STEP BOX COMBO". It allows the dancer to play with the wide variety of accent choices a drummer makes in this 8-count rhythm.

Step forward with the right, return to the left. Step right back, return to left. As you step again onto the right foot, you add a 'flourish'. It is also common for a dancer to layer other movements onto the stepping combination.

Flourish Variations: shimmy, undulation, hip circle, turn, shoulder rolls.

Chiftitelli

This is a slow rhythm, often used in the taksim (improvised) section of a routine.

You will see the smooth Sacred Shapes such as circles, figure 8's, and undulations as the dancer gets into the music. It is most common to use a pattern of movement, rather than a specific combination. The pattern is "SLOW, SLOW, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK".

Ayoub

This rhythm is borrowed from the Zar dance, and the signature movement is the "CHEST PULSE". The first drop of the chest is on the down-beat (count 1).

Shoulder and head movements, as well as circular torso sweeps are layered.

Saiidi

For this rhythm, a folkloric step ("DIAGONAL STEP-TOGETHER") has become the signature movement.

Step out to the right-diagonal with the right foot (flat) as you releve on the left (at the same time). Bring the left to meet the right foot (flat). Continue in one direction for a few counts, and then switch to the left-diagonal.

There are many ways this step is accentuated. A greeting gesture similar to a salute is used at the temple. Sometimes, the back hip is lifted and dropped with the 'doum' accents.

Felahi

In this rhythm, there is a family of movements that all have the same basis, the "TRAMPOLINE BOUNCE".

The bounce is simply a soft lift and lower of the heels. When you keep the knees and hips soft too, you feel a bit like you are on a trampoline.

Experiment with walking, hip accents and box step while maintaining the trampoline bounce.

Drum Solo

It is worth mentioning that even though a drum solo is comprised of many rhythms, it is an integral part of bellydance. It has a signature movement of its own, "The Marathon Shimmy".

Often, the shimmy continues throughout the entire drum solo. It happens while traveling, during accented portions, and layered over smooth shapes (~,O,8).

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