Dancers have folded dollar bills, flipped coins, or rolled a variety of objects to demonstrate the rolling action of the abdominal muscles, or will balance objects like the sword or the cane as an attention-grabber to acquire publicity.
However, not every belly dancer is interested in performing these abdominal movements. A two-piece costume needs to be worn in order for the audience to see these particular movements.
Doing belly pops, rolls, and vibrations is a lot of fun, and actually quite a challenge requiring much effort, time, and practice.
People are curious to know how to perform these movements. Men and boys are particularly good at performing these movements with ease. The reason for this is the thought that girls and women are indoctrinated to have flat abdomens and it is difficult to start expanding your abdominal area with this thinking. But all females can do these movements as well as the males. It will take more discipline, determination, patience and practice.
How To Do A Belly Roll
Doing this movement will help you to realize how disciplined and focused the dancer must be in order to accomplish this isolated movement. This is an excellent movement to exercise your intestines and relieve constipation.
- Stand in front of a mirror and bare your abdominal area to see the movement.
- Warm up the abdominal area by pushing the entire abdominal area out and then pull it inward. This will be done slowly at first. As the muscles respond to your commands the pushing and pulling will get easier. Have fun with this by playing drumming music and keeping time to the beats. This movement is known as the belly pop.
- The belly roll itself is not really rolling; it is creating the illusion of rolling. After completing your warm-up exercises, it is time to isolate. Push out the belly or upper abdominal area while pulling in the lower abdomen or intestinal area. Then reverse by pulling in the upper abdomen, and pushing out the lower abdomen. Continue to repeat. This will take concentration, patience, practice, and time. After mastering this isolation the abdominal area will respond.
Tip: Focus by placing a finger or your hand on the belly when commanding the upper and lower abdomen. Feeling the muscle respond under your finger or hand helps to confirm that you are in the right area especially when working without a mirror.
How To Do Abdominal Vibrations:
Purse your lips slightly and pant like a puppy. Practice in short periods of time as you may become light headed. When first learning to do this cover your mouth with your hand in order to not have people see how you are doing this maneuver.
After you are able to perform this movement, remove your hand from your mouth. Some people have a problem with their nostrils flaring. If this should happen to you, notice the panting breath and control it at the point where the nostrils do not flare.
