Isolating upper body movements is just plain difficult!!  It will take a lot of practice.  One of my teachers says to pretend you're in cement up to your hips so your lower body won't move while you do upper body stuff.  Also, be sure you are moving your shoulder muscles and not your chest-there is a difference!!

I think the best instruction for undulations is Rachael Brice's Tribal Fusion Belly Dance (you can get it from amazon).  She does a very different style of dance than the twins (I've seen her dance live) and her movements are super precise.  This video includes some yoga as a warm up plus other drills and isolations.  I have all of the vhs BellyTwins tapes and a couple of the DVD's so I have some familiarity with those.

Also, I wish to clarify-are you talking about upper body undulations and not lower body?  I am assuming you man upper body.  The lower body ones (audalaise-I know I didn't spell it right) are totally different.

I'm so happy you've found a love of bellydance.  I love it, too.

Glad to help!  I suck at spinning.  I am getting better at it, most of the time I still get dizzy.

Your determination will most certainly pay off, 'cause at this point, its all about repetition-creating new neuropathways for the moves. 

If I could insert a sound here, it would be a zaghareet or some zilling. 

Aww, shucks.

Grrbanzo wrote on Jun 6^th, 2007 at 9:50pm:


Tee Hee!  I know what you man, I do that to Mini Wheats TV ads!

I just got my bellydance skirt! Its is black, five petal skirt with gold coins.  Thing is it is sheer and there is a panel in the front but my bum is not covered! I heard somewhere about wearing pantaloons (sp?) underneath.  Any suggestions?

Sakina wrote on Aug 9^th, 2007 at 10:36pm:


Thanks!  Yes it was!  I haven't tried dancing in the skirt yet.  I have been to moondance and they do have some nice stuff I want to get some harem pants too.  I was thinking of perhaps a body stocking of which will also shave some off my belly too.

I say give it a go!  Just do a small part of the DVD to start, take it in fifteen minute stages and work up to the whole thing over time.  I understand feeling fat, I just thought oh the heck with it and did not look at myself in a full-length mirror for two months!  To me it was like, okay I’m 17 pounds over weight, now is time to fix that, not cry over it.  SSRI’s have the tenancy to make you pack on the pounds.  I was on a MAO for a few years and that helped keep the weight at bay.  But they did not work well for me and I was switched to an SSRI three years ago and gained weight.    You know what, make the exercise your fun time, that’s what I do.  I put the phone on mute pull the curtains on the window and ignore the doorbell.  When I am done I take a nice bath to sooth my back then have a light lunch.  This is my time and it helps me feel better about myself especially if I’ve had a rough day or just feeling crappy.