Module Two: Bhangra

Genie Arms: Place you’re the back of your right hand against your right temple and hold your left arm out in front of you at shoulder height with the palm of your left hand facing the floor. Alternate.

Windmill Arms: Starting with both your arms down at your sides, raise the right arm up keeping the palm down or facing the right. When you reach the top and your right arm is over your head turn your palm so it faces the opposite direction (left). Now do the same thing on your left as you lower your right arm. When your right arm reaches the bottom your left arm should be at the top. Turn your left palm to face right and your right palm to face left. Raise the right arm as you lower the left arm. When you’re lowering your arm make sure your right palm stays to the left of your head and your left palm stay to the right of your head. Never cover your face with your arm; it should pass by it for a split second.

India Hands: Place left hand at right cheek palm facing down. Place right hand under left hand palm up so that the left fingertips are in inch from the right wrist. Turn hand 180 degrees so the left palm is up towards the cheek and right palm faces out. Repeat on other side.

Bhangra Hands: This is a hand position seen in some dances from India. Hold both hands at just above waist level, palms facing upwards. Touch your thumbs with your middle fingers to make a circle, keeping your other fingers extended.

Undulations

Belly Roll: Begin with your weight placed on your left foot, toes towards outer diagonal and the ball of your right foot in front of your left, toes towards outer diagonal. Dip your belly down and forward, leading with your bellybutton – your weight should rock forward slightly onto your right foot. Pull your bellybutton in as you rock your belly up and back – you should feel a slight concave action in your lower back as you return your weight to your left foot. You can alternate by using your right foot as the anchor, and your left foot in front.

Camel: Begin as above with your weight placed on your left foot, toes towards outer diagonal and the ball of your right foot in front of your left, toes towards outer diagonal. Lift your chest up and out (a slight weight change onto the front foot) and follow the movement with your bellybutton (as above) As you bring your chest backwards (leading with your shoulder blades), tilt your bellybutton up and back as you return your weight to your back foot. You can alternate by using your right foot as the anchor, and your left foot in front.

Cross Camel: Much the same as for Camel, but this time step onto your right (lead) foot as your lead forward with your chest and step back onto the left (anchor) foot as your return your weight to the start position. Remember: Chest – Belly- Back! You can use this as a single step or in combination as a travelling step.

Travelling Step

Basic Walk: Start by stepping forward with your right foot and then bring your left foot forward, just touching 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.

Cross Step: Staring with both feet together and your knees soft. Step your right foot across and in front of your left foot, bending the left knee, and place the left foot out to your right side. (It should be in alignment with your body and hips). Step your left foot across and in front of your right boot, bending the right knee, and place the right foot out to your right side. Repeat either forward or back.