The movement vocabulary and the language of this dance vary from style to style, from region to region, and from teacher to teacher - we are not a standardized lot!  This causes confusion, but it also has a positive side: it keeps our art form from becoming static, stale, and predictable, and allows for the individual expression and creativity that make watching and performing Middle Eastern dance (belly dance) so exciting.  This lexicon is not an attempt at standardization - it is a handbook for my students and a thesaurus for all interested dancers.  I have included as many variations on names of movements as I am aware of, and I appreciate feedback on the subject of terminology.

Before you read the explanations of the individual moves, please look at the Body Mechanics section for a better understanding of the vocabulary and the concepts used in the descriptions.

The Links section is a collection of  sites containing general information about Middle Eastern dance; "how-to" sites for costuming, applying stage makeup, learning rhythms, and choosing a stage name; and online shopping sites offering music, costumes, costuming supplies, and other goodies.

To find a specific move: click on a section listed on the left (for example: "Hips" for figure 8s or hip circles; "Traveling Steps" for grapevines or 3/4 shimmy walk) or use the Index of Terms, an alphabetical list of all the names and alternate names of the movements on this site.  You can also search the site for a keyword here. 

Take care and enjoy!
~ Lorien