Hip Movements

• Hip Circle sideshowmom/morguefile.com
  
  There are three basic hip movements. The hip twist is an isolated movement that moves one hip forward, with a twist. The other hip will naturally move back. It is a quick, staccato movement. Another basic movement is the hips up and down, which is performed quickly, with one hip tilting upward and the other down. The hip bump is a sharp movement, with hip thrust out in an exaggerated motion, as if your hands were full and you used your hip to close a door.
  
  

Rolling Hip Movements

• Dancer Jean-Leon Gerome/wikicommons.conm
  
  These movements are known as hip figure eights. One hip is moved forward, around and back to trace one half of the eight, followed seamlessly by the circular movement with the other hip, tracing the other half. A hip circle traces an imaginary circle. Push one hip forward and then back around, finishing the circle with the other hip.
  
  

Ribcage Circles

• A ribcage circle traces an imaginary circle. Hips remain still, and the ribcage, from the diaphragm, moves forward and out. It starts on one side and completes the circle with the other. A vertical ribcage circle is the basic move for the upper torso undulation. The ribcage stretches forward, relaxes back and rolls down. The body undulation, called a "camel" is a longer body roll that includes the hips. The technique is the same and begins from the rib cage, rolling downward through the hips.
  
  

Snake Arms

• Snake arms is a fluid arm movement that ripples out from the shoulder through the arm to the fingertips. It begins as a small shoulder rotation, forward and around and the arm naturally follows. First one arm ripples than the other, as a follow-through movement.
  
  

Head Slide

• Head Slide luferom/wikicommons.com
  
  This movement is usually done with arms overhead in a temple pose. Arms are above the head, palms touching. Slide head from side to side.
  
  

The Shimmy

• The shimmy is a small movement. It can be done with the hips or the entire body. It is a movement of tiny vibrations, side to side or forward and back.