eden eyes

I have been belly dancing for only a few years, but I've improved very well. I can do a lot of advanced moves except I seem to have trouble with the cabaret and quiver. I can do the cabaret, but I don't really know the difference between the two! It is also difficult for me to blend hip circles and figure 8s with the quiver and cabaret.

Please give me tips on these, thanks!

da Sage

I'm sorry I cannot help, because I have never heard of those two moves (quiver and cabaret). Maybe someone else here knows?

eden eyes

well, what i mean is the cabaret shimmy and the quiver, which is apparently similar where your legs basically quiver or something. it's complicated to me. but thank you nonetheless.

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

Hi Eden Eyes, Unfortunately, in belly dance one move can have many different names. I haven't heard of Cabaret or Quiver either as it relates to a specific movements(s). Sometimes names are regional or a teacher passes on nomenclature that her teacher used.
'Cabaret' is often used to describe a style of dance or costume....as there are many shimmies and variations...can you describe the movement?

'Quiver' sounds like a vibrational shimmy caused by the rapid contraction of the leg muscles..does that sound about right?

Are you trying the layer a shimmy over basic moves? Some shimmies layer better than others, but the key is control and not speed. Be aware of weight placement and maintain spinal alignment with basic posture. Whichever shimmy, you choose should be mid-tempo to start and the second move should be slow. Another way to put it is, you can't do super fast movements together or they will look sloppy and not fit the music, one movement must be slower than the other.
I hope this helps...has your teacher given you any pointers?
Yasmine

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Ankebuzz

I think in my class we call it a vibration shimmy (quiver) and Ghawazi shimmy (caberet if I'm not mistaken).

Vibration shimmy: Feet flat, shoulder width, knees not locked. Lean forward to put your weight more on the ball (front part) of your foot than the heel. Then "vibrate"! Hehe, by straightening and bending the knees very slightly at a medium speed, it should start vibrating your thighs and bum. If you try sing a note, "Ahhhhhhhhh", you can actually hear your voice vibrating. Hope this helps!

Ghawazi shimmy: Stand the same as above but knees are more bent. bend and straighten your knees to create a "wobble-like" effect. This will cause your hips to move up and down naturally... allow it to happen.

Now when you do both these, remind yourself to breathe and relax the rest of your body... let it all jiggle!

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Mya

It's just as Yasmine was saying - all these moves are referred to differently by different instructors so it's hard to advise. For example, what you refer to has the Ghawazi shimmy is what i learnt as the Egyptian shimmy which would make more sense to me as a "cabaret" shimmy.

The Ghawazi shimmy as i know it - my instructor likened it to a typewriter, with the hip moving up and down but sort of layered on a hip slide.

The best thing to do is probably to ask the instructor for clarification on what she means by the terminology and the technique for it as after all she is the one you have to work with!

=)

eden eyes

thank you all so much. you all have been very helpful. the quiver is just as you said, a vibration shimmy. i've been working on them for the past few weeks and when i take it slow at first, it seems to gradually get better.

thanks to everyone!!