Bohemian Caravan

Articles

Bohemian Caravan improvising as a group at a hafla in Nunn, Colorado. Spring 2007

Creating Belly Dances by Nancy Montgomery

October, 2007

If we think of dance as language, then every time we belly dance, we’re saying something. Our words are the dance movements. Our grammar is the structure of our dances. Our tone of voice is our music and costume. If we choreograph, we’re giving a “speech”. If we improvise, we’re “speaking” extemporaneously. Regardless of whether you prefer to adlib or write a speech, you use the same tools: a dance vocabulary (your dictionary of dance movements); dance formations – the geometric shapes your dance creates on the floor; transitions between movements or formations – simple or complex; formulae for creating combinations of movements; chunks of already-created choreography or combinations of movements.

If you prefer to choreograph, you take the first 4 elements to create the 5^th (chunks of choreography) and string several chunks together to create a choreographed routine you will later dance. If you prefer to improvise you use all five elements as you dance and create the dance on the spot. Either way, it’s the same process. You create a belly dance by creating and/or using chunks of choreography.

Creating chunks of choreography:

Start with your favorite movement, then try these formulae:

1. A build –up: Dance the simplest variation of the movement and progress to the most complex.

2. Horizontal/rotating/vertical combination: e.g. a hip slide, choo choo rotation, ups

3. Diagonal/horizontal/descending combination:e.g. do a double hip twist toward the right corner; then on a horizontal line back toward the left; then stay in place and do the movement as you descend partway to the floor.

4. Vibrating/smooth/percussive: e.g. a shimmy, a vertical figure eight and double ups.

5. Variations of a move: Similar to a build-up, but it doesn’t have to become more and more complex. Simply take a movement and vary it in the following ways: direction of the movement; speed of the movement; quality of the movement (e.g. percussive or fluid or vibrating); level of the movement ( where it is in relation to the floor, it’s height, so to speak); complexity of the movement (e.g. overlay it with a shimmy or belly roll).

Create your own formulae or tweak the ones listed here. A few tips: Listen to your music so your movements fit it. Stay with a move long enough to enjoy it before moving to the next one. Make sure your chunk of choreography works with the formation you’re using. Plug in already-created chunks of choreography between new chunks you create. Most importantly, have fun!

Feel free to make one copy of any of our articles for your personal use.