Walks
This page lists descriptions of the Hip Drop and several of its variations.
Grape Vine Walk
If you've ever done or seen country line dancing you may recognize this
one. It's very easy to do. We are going to be traveling to the left in these
instructions. The move can be done on the balls of the feet or flat footed,
however doing it on the balls looks more elegant. Step in front of the left
foot with your right foot and to the side with the left, now step behind your
left foot with your right and to the side with the left, repeat. It's kind of a
"forward and back and" move. The right is the "forward" and the "back" while
the left is the and. The right foot should cross over the left foot when it goes
forward and behind the left foot when it goes back. Allow your body to
swing or turn slightly with the move. Right side swings forward a bit when
the right foot steps forward and the Left side swings forward a bit when the
right foot steps back.
Queen Sheeba Walk
You may hold your arms in a soft "v" or just out to the sides. To do the actual walk is very simple, it's like walking with
a reverse horizontal figure eight. Step forward with the right foot and make half of the figure eight, now step forward
with the left foot and make the other half of the figure eight. There shouldn't be any pausing and the moves should be
fluid and flow into each other. Walk normally, no steping and pausing or pivoting (uness that's part of the
choreography). This should be done on the balls of your feet. Keep you head held up high.
Step Ball Change Walk
Anyone familiar with tap and jazz will recognize this one right away. Step
forward onto your right foot (STEP). Now bring your left foot forward
towards your right foot but not in front of it and step onto the ball of the left
foot (BALL). Now change the weight so it's back on your right foot
(CHANGE). Now, repeat it starting with your left foot. Step forward onto
your left foot (STEP). Now bring your right foot forward towards your left
foot but not in front of it and step onto the ball of the right foot (BALL). Now
change the weight so it's back on your left foot (CHANGE). Repeat as many
times as want.
Horizontal Figure Eight 2 Walk
With your knees bent and your feet hip width apart push your right hip
backward and transfer your weight onto the right foot. Now lift your right
heel and push your right hip out to the side, to the front, and then pull it back in and drop the right heel. Now push the
left hip backward and transfer your weight onto the left foot. Now lift your left heel and push the left hip out to the
side, to the front, and then pull it back in dropping the left heel. Walk backwards by steping onto the free foot as soon
as you have compleated you circle on that side. Around and step back, around and step back, repeat. The step back is
done when you transfer the weight.
Reverse Horizontal Figure Eight Walk
With your knees bent and your feet hip width apart push your right hip forward and transfer your weight onto the right
foot. Now push your right hip out to the side, to the back, and then pull it back in and push the left hip forward and
transfer your weight onto the left foot. Now push the left hip out to the side, to the back, and then pull it back in. Try
to keep it parallel to the floor. To walk with this move simply step forward onto the foot when you transfer weight
instead of just tranfering the weight from side to side. This means your free fo will have to slide forward in the middle
of the figure eight.
Basic Egyptian Walk
This s a very common walk to see and it is based on the Basic Egyptian.
Start by stepping forward with your right foot and then bring your left foot
forward, just touhing the ball of the foot to the floor and lift your hip forward
by pushing against the floor. Step on to the left foot and then touch the ball
of the right foot to the floor and lift the hip forward by pushing against the
floor. Step on to the right foot. Continue to repeat this sequence, step and
touch and step and touch... You can use this to walk forward or backward.
Often your arms will alternate positions one hand cupped behind your head
and the other elegently stretched out in front of you, then they switch. The
exteded arm is on the same side as the hip that will be lifting. Another
common arm movement is a variation on the previous one. Instead of
alternating positions of the arms you turn your extended hand so that when
the first hip is lifted the palm is down and when you lift the other hip the
palm turns up.
Gush Walk
Start with your feet together and your knees slightly bent. Now, push off the
floor with your left foot and step out to the right with your right foot. This
should cause your left hip to go up. Then slide the left foot in next to the
right. When you slide the left foot in next to the right you should roll the hip
smoothly back into center. Repeat the process again. This step is used for
moving to the side, and in these particular instructions to the right. For a
demonstration of this movement see the video to the right.
Walking Hip Circle
Place your feet about hip width apart and then place your right foot silghtly
forward of your left foot. Now push your hips out slightly to the right then
to the back. When pushing to the back do not stick your rear out just release
it. Then push out to the left and tilt your pelvis forward, doing a small hip circle. When the weight is on the left foot
step to the side with the right foot. When the weight is on the right foot step to the right with you left foot. Don't step
too far out.
Sway Walk
This move is done by placing your feet about hip width apart and keeping them parallel to each other. To start the
weight should be distributed evenly to both feet. Now keeping the torso still and without changing height, slide your
hips out to the right and lift the right hip by contracting the right obliques while softly kicking the left leg (or "releasing"
the left foot) out in front of you. When you bring the foot back step forward instead of bringing it back to it's original
position. Next, bring your hips back to center and out to the left side and lift the left hip by contracting the obliques
while softly kicking the right leg out (or "releasing" the right foot) in front of you. Instead of brining it back in to it's
original position step forward. This should cause your hips to form a "u" shape while you move forward. You will be
going kick,step forward, kick, step forward and the move will alternate immediately from one side to the other. Almos
immediatly after you step forward the other foot should kick.
Tunisain walk (Forward/Backward)
This is a 3/4 move. It will be counted as 1, 2, 3, Pause, 1, 2, 3, Pause. You
should be in the basic position with the right foot slightly in front. Although
this move can be done flat footed, most people will find it easier to do on the
balls of the feet. You will shift your weight onto the right foot twisting that
hip forward, then back onto the left foot pulling the hip back and then onto
the right foot again once again pushing the hip forward. While shifting the
weight on to the right foot the last time kick the left heel out, this will leave
your foot free to step forward step forward repeating the above sequence on
the left. You should go right, left, right, pause, left, right, left, pause. You
can also walk backwards with this move by stepping back instead of forward.
Tunisain walk (Side-to-Side)
You should be in the basic position with the right foot slightly in front.
Although this move can be done flat footed, most people will find it easier to
do on the balls of the feet. You will shift your weight onto the right foot
twisting that hip forward, quickly slide the left foot in next to the right and
shift the weight onto the left while gently kicking the heel outwards turning
the knee out and twisting the right hip to the back. Now step to the right on
the right foot and twist the hip forward and agian sliding the left under you.
Repeat the sequence as many times as necesarry. The movement can be
used to travel to the right or the left.
Folkloric Walk
This particular move is a little difficult to describe and falls somewhere
between a jumping and walking move and so is listed in both categories. It's
a floksy jogging hopping move. Slowly run forward but instead of just
running push off each foot making a little bit of a hop but keep it even and consistent with a slow jog. It's kind of like
jogging on the moon. Arms should be out but soft. Your arms should swing back and forth just as theywould if you
were jogging but you need to keep the hands and arms open, soft, and elegant.
