Ribs + Chest

Here we will combine the 3/4 shimmy with chest slides, chest circles, the up-to-down body roll, and the down-to-up body roll. This spotlight is from Ashley's workshop, "3/4 Shimmy Variations & Layers."

This workshop offers some upper body layering over the 3/4 shimmy as well as three different 3/4 shimmy variations in the lower body. Upper body layers include chest circles, up to down body rolls, and down to up body rolls. Each movement will be broken down into isolations and then practiced on top of the 3/4 traveling shimmy.

Each of the 3/4 shimmy variations combine an accent or shape in the hips: including hip locks up, hip locks down, twists, and slides. We’ll explore three specific variations that include these isolations.

This workshop is designed for the experienced dancer who is already comfortable with the basic 3/4 shimmy and is ready to layer and travel!

A strong warm-up to work the muscles on either side of the spine, adding fluidity for undulations and bodywaves, and to strengthen the low back for any movements that include the low back/pelvis relationship for a long life of belly dance.

Increasing muscular control, core stabilization, and strength is the goal of this spotlight. We prepare the body to move with quick aerobic steps, then link exercises targeting the abdominal muscles, including the obliques or the the diagonal muscles of the waist and trunk. These exercises are excellent for increasing endurance while developing a strong core to support gestures with the arms and legs, resulting in abdominal definition.

This spotlight is from Colette's Tribal Basic Series #5 class.

This warm up emphasizes oppositional movement to increase muscular control and core stabilization. The body is prepared to move with quick aerobic steps then transitions into exercises that target the abdominal muscles, challenging endurance and increasing strength. This sequence is great for developing core strength, useful for all types of belly dance movement, and results in abdominal awareness and definition. This spotlight is from Colette's Tribal Basic Series #6 class.

This advanced class combines five upper body isolations with a few lower body isolations in yet even more challenging variations. Here we will start to venture in to poly-rhythms as well. This spotlight is a segment of Ashley's "Layercake: Crazy Delicious Layering" class.

This is a footwork focused combination with folky inspiration. It features locks, hip work, spins, and traveling all with a playful style. The combo will be broken down, then drilled at increasing tempos and then run through at performance speed. An overall fast paced and fun combo!

This is a beginning level Pilates workout designed with the needs of belly dancers in mind. The beginning of this workshop is an introduction to the principles of the method, and guides the student through the main points of stabilization and good form, and includes tips for self-correction. This class focuses on strengthening the abdominals, back muscles while stabilizing the body for belly dance movement. This workout features primarily classic Pilates exercises and offers a variety of modifications for beginners.

In this spotlight we will break down and drill all of the basic, head, chest, hip, and shoulder isolations. This is wonderful for anyone new to belly dance or the more advanced dancer looking to keep their isolation technique sharp and strong.

This spotlight is a part of the workshop: "Interesting and Innovative Isolations with Sedona".

This short but effective yoga practice relaxes the deep and superficial muscles on either side of the spine, and supports and hips and low back. This sequence can be used for your belly dance practice or on it's own. This yoga sequence is part of Rachel's class, "Up Tempo Locks and Isolations".

In this class, we explore a simple traveling combination and then add arm movements on top. Basic hip and chest movement will also be drilled, with a focus on clean, strong, muscular articulation. A nice, long arm and shoulder drill is included to build strength and stamina for beautiful and graceful arms. We will warm-up and cool-down with a bit of yoga and Pilates so grab your yoga mat as well!

This is a belly dance basics class, which will include a traveling combination and an isolation combination. For the traveling combo, we will break down the footwork and then add arm movement and hip locks. Next, isolations of the hips, shoulders, and chest will be drilled separately then put together in a combination toward the end. We’ll also practice walking with hip locks and speeding up the feet for a movement called the “choo choo.” Get ready for a fun shimmy drill, too! Have a mat ready for a pilates warm-up and yoga cool-down.

This is a belly dance basics class where we'll take basic isolations and string them together to create patterns and shapes! We’ll explore chest and hip circles, figure 8’s, and an isolation combination. Additionally, we’ll drill shimmies, snake arms, and a traveling combination with arm and hip layers. For our warm-up and cool-down, be ready for a little yoga and Pilates at the beginning and end of class.

After a quick warm up, Corkscrew Turn, Ribcage Rotation and layering Arm Undulations and Taxeem are presented in this ATS® basic class. Ghawazee Shimmy and Arabic Hip-twist are introduced and put into combos to drill with zils. Transitions and lead changes appropriate for duets and trios are broken down and drilled, then class finishes with a cool down.

This is the 4th class in Colette's Beginning ATS® series.

This beginning level ATS® class starts with a warm up then reviews posture. Wrap-around Turn is introduced and slow movements are layered onto level changes. We review Turkish Shimmy then add a 1⁄2 Turn and introduce Reach & Sit. Class finishes with a call and response zil drill which rotates through the common zil pattern used in ATS® and a cool down.

This is class 5 in Colette's Beginner's ATS® Series.

After a quick warm up, the beautiful Sahra Turn is introduced and Reverse Taxeem is layered with Arm Undulations in this ATS® basic class. We review fast foot positions then breakdown Arc-Arm Turn and Shoulder Shimmy. Ghawazee Shimmy and Arabic Hip-twist are introduced and put into combos to drill with zils. Transitions specifically suited for trios and quartets are broken down and drilled, then class finishes with a cool down.

Belly Dance Flow Drillz have been created for the dedicated dancer as a means to drill almost all dance movements for a well-rounded daily practice. In this workshop Zoe will encourage a balance of strength, flexibility, and technique, utilizing sun salutations, Pilates, and good old fashioned belly dance. This practice will make you sweat, so drink lots of water, and you'll need a yoga mat and a towel.

The strange and beautiful bodywave is performed differently according to your belly dance style. Here, we'll focus on the Tribal and Tribal Fusion approach, drilling it as a spinal roll in the back of the body. Rachel pairs this movement with a hip circle and an undulation down to up to give it a very sinuous and smoky feel. This spotlight is from Rachel's workshop, "Sinuous and Smoky Phrases".

This is a fun, challenging, intermediate-level belly dance choreography to "Bounce" by Solace. In this fusion piece we'll play with some locking isolation combinations, layers, funky belly-dance based traveling steps and turns as well as a few Polynesian-inspired moves. This choreography is presented as a solo piece but with a few simple modifications, it can be done as a duet.

In this spotlight, the focus is on spinal flexibility, side to side bends, and twists to increase flexibility and range of motion in the torso. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

Develop greater flexibility in the upper body through yoga and Pilates based stretching. In this concise spotlight Ashley will take you through exercises that you can fit into your daily practice. This is part three of three of Ashley's, "Built for Belly Dance Upper Body Conditioning Workshop."

This workshop is a 3-part workout focusing on the torso. Class will begin with a Pilates and fitness routine designed to strengthen the major muscles of the trunk of the body: the upper and lower back, abdominals, and pectorals. Part two of this class is a 20-minute drill sequence focusing on movements of the torso. Part three focuses on spinal flexibility, side bends, and twists to increase flexibility and range of motion in the torso.

In this spotlight, Ashley leads you through 20 minutes of belly dance drills focusing on conditioning the core muscles used in belly dance. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

In this spotlight, the focus is on 20 minutes of Pilates with a specially developed fitness routine designed to strengthen the major muscles of the trunk of the body: the upper and lower back, abdominals, and pectorals. This spotlight is from Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Torso Conditioning Workshop".

This workshop is a 3-part workout focusing on the upper body. Class will begin with a 20-minute segment focusing on upper body strengthening, followed by a 20-minute dance drill segment using upper body isolations and movements, and ending with a 20-minute upper body flexibility stretching segment.

In this spotlight Ashley presents a collection of drills to strengten and condition the arms and upper body for belly dance. She presents belly dance drills with snake arms, chest lifts, plus a short combination. This spotlight is part two of Ashley's Built for Belly Dance: Upper Body Conditioning Workshop.

Tone and strengthen your arms and upper body with this challenging warm up in which we will work with weights, Pilates, and a little yoga. Get ready to sweat! This spotlight is part one of three of Ashley's "Built for Belly Dance: Upper Body Conditioning Workshop".

In this workshop you will learn a Classic Cabaret entrance choreography. The piece starts with a veil dance , then moves on to showcase some classic oriental stylization. Learning this choreography will help to improve your musicality and transitions as well as introduce you to some beautiful yet innovative cabaret style movements and combos.

The gorgeous feminine expression of Cabaret Style Belly Dance can range from light and airy to earthy and powerful. In this class we will focus on seven “classic” cabaret style movements. This class is perfect for someone just beginning to build their belly dance repertoire or for the dancer looking to fuse some authentic Arabic style into their dance. Each movement will be broken down, drilled, then put together into a combination. We will start with warm-up based on Kundalini Yoga and Qi Gong, designed to free up energy in the physical and energetic body, and we will conclude with a short cool down.

A brief yoga cool down to stretch out the hips, legs, sides, and back. Have a yoga mat handy. This spotlight is from Ashley's "The 3/4 Shimmy" workshop.

This workshop is designed to get you moving & sweating with three combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Do all three combinations for a complete workout or use one at a time to get your heart rate up before a dance class.

This class is designed to get the dancer moving and sweating with a few combinations that contain a variety of belly dance moves fused with steps from other styles of dance, including hula and jazz. Combo "C" works with big belly dance hips, paddle turns, and undulations for an energetic and fun workout.

Each movement of each combination is first broken down through a series of drills that increase in speed. Once all of the steps of the combination are learned, they are quickly put together as a dance combination and are practiced slowly, then with increasing speed. This video also features a short Pilates-based warm up and cool down.

Get your daily dose! The daily dose is a short, efficient practice that has what you need to keep your technique strong, even if you have a crazy schedule: yoga, drills, a short phrase combination, a focus, and a cool down. This daily dose is part of the "Arabic Shimmy" Series.

Get your daily dose! The daily dose is a short, concise practice that has what you need to keep you strong, even if you have a crazy schedule: yoga, drills, a short phrase combination, a focus, and a cool down. This daily dose video is part of the "Arabic Shimmy" series.

Get your daily dose! These concise belly dance practices include what you need to keep your technique strong when you’re short on time: yoga, conditioning, technique drills, a short belly dance phrase called Pinball, and a cool down. Pinball #1 offers a stronger yoga practice and focus on leg strengthening and level changes.

Get your daily dose! These concise belly dance practices include what you need to keep your technique strong when you’re short on time: yoga, conditioning, technique drills, a short belly dance phrase called "Pinball", and a cool down. Pinball #2 has a more gentle yoga practice and focus on arms.

Daily doses are made in pairs so you can alternate practices for an all-over conditioning over the course of several days. This practice highlights the beautiful and complex phrase: Pinball.

Learn a dynamic drum solo choreography. This high-energy piece features isolations, pop and lock patterns, shimmies, shimmy layers and various traveling movements. A fun and well rounded choreo to practice or perform!

Swords, zils, and quick shimmys – nothing pleases an audience more! In this Intermediate level class, fast movements for sword balancing are presented and drilled. Based on the ATS® fast vocabulary, but applicable for dancers of all styles, variations for dancing with a sword while wearing zils are introduced and concepts for fast sword presentations are discussed. Arm modifications are demonstrated and exciting combos are explored.

This practice will bring you from a sweaty, heart-pounding state to a relaxed, loose, open and focused presence. You can practice this after a dance practice, or a long day of work.

This class presents slow Tribal Style movements, each with a strong Flamenco flavor.  Starting with a short warm-up, we will introduce three movements and their cues, then string them together into a dramatic combo to drill.  This workshop is appropriate for dancers of all levels and the moves are ATS® and/or ITS friendly.

Amy Sigil presents Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS vocabulary. Lesson two will cover upper undulations, floreo poses, and reverse turn. This class includes a warm up, technique, drill, and an inspiring pep-talk to work out your mind as well as your body!

Information about where to download the syllabus for Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS vocabulary is at the end of the video.

Amy Sigil presents lesson 3 of Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS vocabulary. Lesson three will cover floreo taxeem, rib circles, and the arm dip. This class includes a warm up, technique, drill, and an inspiring pep-talk to work out your mind as well as your body!

Amy Sigil presents Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS vocabulary. Lesson four will cover camel step and spin set up one and two. This class includes a warm up, technique, drill, and an inspiring pep-talk to work out your mind as well as your body! Class 4 is the final lesson in the level 1 Slow ITS vocabulary.

Get ready to get your heart rate up and have some fun in this challenging cardio class. Class is divided into two parts, beginning to intermediate dance drills with mini combos, sandwiched between short bursts of more traditional fitness conditioning.

This Isolations workshop will start with grounding breath work to help you tune in and connect. We will then go head to toe, breaking down and drilling basic belly dance Isolations. Finally, we will mix and match the basic isolations to create interesting and innovative isolation patterns. Learning these challenging isolation combinations will enhance your ability to accent musical cues and expand your drum solo repertoire.

This is a challenging beyond-beginner Pilates class designed just for bellydancers. In this workshop, we will practice exercises that target key muscle groups that are essential for bellydance technique as well as offer variations that help to balance the avid bellydancer’s body—addressing healthy spinal movement, range of motion, and offering pointers for injury prevention.

In this spotlight we will mix and match many of the basic isolations to create complex and interesting patterns. This spotlight is part of Sedona's "Interesting and Innovative Isolations" workshop.

This intermediate to advanced level workshop will help those already proficent in deep bodywaves to achieve the coveted layback-drop-zipper combination. We begin with a yoga practice to strengthen the large muscles of the back, and to lengthen the hip flexors. Rachel then breaks down The Layback, The Cobra Basket turn, and drills The Zipper. Then you’ll move on to learning a challenging combination that includes laybacks, drops, berber walks, the Zipper, the Cobra Basket Turn, the Camel Walk Plunge and others. The combo can be used for group improvisation or choreography. Please proceed carefully, as this workshop is filled with movements that take time to master.

This workshop is a study in combining basic movements together to create clear, distinct layers of simultaneous movement. We will address layering a variety of basic upper body movements with a variety of basic lower body movements. This class is targeted toward the dancer who is beyond beginner and is ready to move into more complex multi-tasking territory.

Ten upper body isolations will be drilled with a few lower body isolations at varying speeds and combinations, culminating in a short combo. This spotlight is a segment of Ashley's "Layercake: Crazy Delicious Layering" class.

Taking content from Unmata's Slow ITS Lesson 1 (low, mid, high taxeems, taxeem transitions, and 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 turns) and drillin' it.

Taxeem work is fundamental to horizontal figure 8s paired with snake arms, an ABC of ITS. This class breaks down the taxeem, illustrates the "how to" in executing seamless transitions of your low, mid, and high taxeems, concepts and rules of turning with the taxeem, moving with your taxeems, and last we will cover the stagger formation and rotation.

The material in this spotlight is from 'Full Lesson 1: Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS'. To drill the material in this class in the stagger or for the warm up, please try the full class or the 'Drill' or "Eagle Shame Warm Up' spotlights.

This drill section puts together your upper undulations, floreo poses, and reverse turn, and includes the work from Unmata's Slow ITS Level 1, Lesson 1.

This segment is taken from 'Full Lesson 2: Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS'.

Lesson 2 work includes the technical breakdown and stylizations of upper undulations with all 4 arm positions, floreo poses, and reverse turn.

This segment is taken from 'Full Lesson 2: Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS'.

Building on the concepts learned in lessons 1 and 2 of level 1 slow ITS, this drill section includes floreo taxeem, rib circles, and the arm dip. Here we put together classes 1,2, and 3.

Lesson 3 includes the technical breakdown and stylization of the floreo taxeem, rib circles, and the arm dip.

Putting the first 4 lessons of Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS Vocabulary together, this drill section includes camel step, spin set up 1 and 2, floreo taxeem, rib circles, arm dip, upper undulations, floreo poses, reverse turn, and all of lesson 1 taxeem work. Lets Dance!

Lesson 4 of Unmata's Level 1 Slow ITS Vocabulary includes the technical breakdown and stylization of the camel step and the spin set up 1 and 2.

This combination is chock full of fancy footwork to challenge any bellydancer! Lots of brisk isolations and hipwork compliment the quick and nimble feet detailed in this combination.

This short but hip-work packed combination focuses on 3/4 shimmies, hip-work on the down, hip bumps, posture, and simple arm placement. It is high energy and can be used in your combinations or choreographies.

In this spotlight, we practice the Pilates sideline series; designed to strengthen the side abs, hips, glutes, and inner and outer thighs. This sequence is especially great for strengthening the muscles that are responsible for up/down hip movement, chest slides, hip slides, and lateral (side to side) figure 8’s in the upper and lower body. This spotlight is from Ashley's "The 3/4 Shimmy" workshop.

This spotlight focuses on to a technique concept called “scales". In this video, Rachel will break down and drill the scale called "Pinball".

The Pinball scale combines undulations, rib cage circles, maya, side to side undulations, a simple lock pattern, and a more complex isolation pattern. These phrases can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. This spotlight is taken from Rachel's "Serpentine Scales Workshop".

This video features a drill of the scale combinations Pinball and Sugar together. Use this spotlight to drill the phrases or for a more detailed breakdown of each of these movements, refer to "Serpentine Scales: Pinball and Sugar" Workshop.

Tribal Style belly dance is known for its uplifted posture, which supports and carries the body and results in a strong, confident presentation.  These pointers breakdown the specifics of posture and explain how great posture can improve dance technique and presentation. 

Slovenia Slam! This is a fun "scale" or isolation pattern, that involves chest locks, undulations, and a slight level change. Please be warmed up before doing this video. Enjoy!

In this class you will learn Sedona’s signature “Serpent Moon” combination. The combo has a theatrical style and is an interesting fusion of Cabaret Style Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion, and Modern Dance. In learning this combo you will come away with many innovative new movements and hopefully be inspired in creating your own unique fusions. We will open with a special warm up designed to increase spinal strength and flexibility as well as help to improve your balance. We will end with a brief cool down.

This workshop will introduce the intermediate student to two technique phrases called “scales.” These phrases can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. They are introduced individually, then practiced together in a combination. You will drill undulations, rib cage circles, maya, side to side undulations, a simple lock pattern, and a more complex isolation pattern. The class begins and ends with a brief warm up and cool down.

This short, yet effective yoga sequence will help you either prepare for belly dance, or can be done as a complete practice. It's gentle, and designed to strengthen the lower back, abdominal muscles, legs, and hips.

In this class we will break down and drill the technique for lovely, loose shoulder shimmies standard to Cabaret style belly dance. Once we have a nice, strong shoulder shimmy we will begin to layer them with different step patterns, level changes, and chest isolations.

This spotlight is from Sedona's "Super Shimmies & Shimmy Layers" workshop.

Side-to-side undulations-up-to-down and down-to-up take a bit of coordination and flexibility in the rib cage and lateral muscles. Here, the undulations are paired with foot patterns to make a movement that's great for drilling, improvisation, or choreography. This spotlight is from Rachel's workshop, "Sinuous and Smoky Phrases".

The infamous Sidewinder! A classic figure 8 movement in the rib cage with a lateral focus; a fundamental movement for any Tribal Fusion dancer. To do this one well takes lots of practice, and continued practice at that, so get warmed up and work with this one often. This spotlight is from Rachel's workshop, "Sinuous and Smoky Phrases".

This workshop will teach you some of the gooeyest fundamental movements in Tribal Fusion vocabulary, and, when done regularly, will increase the strength and flexibility in the upper back and lateral muscles. It includes a warm up, three phrases: Bodywave, Side to Side Undulation, Sidewinder, an improvisation section including those phrases, and a cool down for flexibilty. Enjoy!

A short lead-and follow improvisation-drill to help you integrate side-to-side undulations, sidewinder, and bodywaves. Get warmed up for this one and jump in! If you need more information about these movements individually, they are explained in detail in Rachel's 'Sinuous and Smoky Phrases' class.

This class starts with a warm up and conditioning segment focusing on arm strength and flexibility. We then cover a quick overview of swords used in belly dance and specific concepts for group improvisation using swords. Starting with the dancers handling the sword, variations of slow ATS® and Scarlet Thistle moves are presented as well as dramatic poses and flourishes that showcase this “dangerous” prop. Sword balancing, both on the hand and on the head is discussed with Tribal Style movements utilized for hand balancing and the ATS® vocabulary is explored for balancing on the head. Class finished with an improvised drill that strings together multiple movements to create combinations appropriate for choreography or for improvisation.

Shimmies are one of the most impressive yet challenging movements in a belly dance repertoire. In this workshop we will go through a clear and concise break down of the Egyptian style hip shimmy and shoulder shimmy. We will dance through an extended shimmy session to help increase the endurance and velocity of your shimmy. Finally, we will begin to add exciting and challenging shimmy layers and level changes. The workshops begins with a full-body, classical dance based conditioning workout; designed to create a long and strong dancers body.

Learn the 5 sections of a balancing routine in this short and simple choreography. This includes level changes, touches briefly on floorwork, gives a few turns to play with, and has a combination or two while balancing your item of choice. Make sure you're warmed up for this one, especially in the legs. Enjoy!

An up-tempo combination with a lot of changes, the Hagallah combo gives both your brain and body a bit of work. In addition to the hagallah, enjoy the Arabic Shimmy, optional level changes, and a few surprising transitions.

This spotlight will introduce the intermediate student to a technique concept called “scales”, through breaking down and drilling the Sugar scale. Scales are phrases that can be used for improvisation or choreography, as well as being strong technique drills. The Sugar scale combines a series of locks and undulations that travel up and down the body. This spotlight is taken from Rachel's "Serpentine Scales" workshop, which features a combination using both the Pinball and Sugar scales.

Basic movements provide a strong foundation for any belly dance practice and are the starting point for variations and complex layering. This spotlight focuses on proper technique for three fundamental slow movements in tribal style belly dance,  Taxeem, Reverse Taxeem and Bodywave, to ensure a dramatic  presentation and prepare for advanced variations.

In this Intermediate level class, a choreography featuring the Sword is presented to MWE's song, "Los Biblicos"*. Beginning with an entrance, the piece starts with the presentation of the Sword and dramatic Sword handling. The tension increases as the Sword is balanced and Tribal Style movements and variations are executed. This choreography is applicable to all styles of belly dance and may be utilized by ATS® or ITS groups.

To brush up on Tribal Style Sword Fundamentals, check out Colette's Slow and Fast Tribal Style Sword Classes. *Note: This choreography uses an edited version of the MWE song, "Los Biblicos". The choreography is from 00:47 to 4:06 of the track.

This brief class provides tips and techniques for working on drilling your undulations for greater clarity and ease of execution.

This class presents a combination that includes a simple isolation pattern, hip work, a traveling step, and a bit of a theatrical ending. It was created to be used over and over for several months, so it begins simply and increases tempo three times so you can work at your current speed and level. We begin with a yoga-based conditioning sequence for the upper back, and end with support for your hips.

This combination includes a simple isolation pattern, hip work, a traveling step, and a slightly theatrical ending. It was created to be used over and over for several months: it begins simply and increases tempo three times so you can work at your current speed. It's suggested that you warm up a bit before trying this combination.

A warm-up to prepare your for slow and sinuous movements. Can be used with other videos or all on its own. Included are side strengthening and stretching movements, as well as a dose of hip work.

This warm-up will prepare the whole body for movement and focus on the lower body, including conditioning for the legs and feet.  This exercise is appropriate for beginner dancers to advanced dancers wanting to develop strength in their lower body.

Yoga cool down for the low back and lateral muscles. Be sure to use some sort of cool down every time you dance, to stabilize the low back and stretch the sides of the body.

This challenging yoga practice focuses on developing strength and flexibility in the muscles on either side of the spine, and will, over time, contribute to a healthier standing forward bend, known as the Layback.

A short but fairly intense lateral bending practice for flexibility which includes the rib cage and sides of the body. This practice is especially useful for dancers working on Sidewinder, Side to Side Undulations, or any belly dance movements that work with the side ribs.

This basic full yoga practice was designed for belly dancers, but could be useful for anyone. Practicing regularly will improve your posture, increase spinal fluidity and flexibility, promote stability and lubrication in the joints, and cultivate strong legs.