Bellydance Basics: Arm Movements & Styling

While hips are the foundation of bellydance, your arms tell the story. Beautiful arm movements frame your hip technique and add elegance and expression to your dance. Master these fundamental arm positions and movements.

Video Tutorial

What You’ll Learn

In this video, we cover:

• Basic arm positions - From chest level to overhead movements
• Figure-8 arms - Creating flowing curves that mirror hip movements
• Circles and spirals - Using arms to frame your body
• Transitions - Flowing smoothly from one arm position to another

Practice Tips

1. Keep arms relaxed - Tension in your arms restricts movement and looks stiff
2. Use your wrists - Wrist movements add delicate detail and expression
3. Match your arms to your hips - Coordinate arm and hip movements for cohesion
4. Find your style - Experiment with different arm variations to discover what feels natural

Follow-Up

Once you’ve mastered basic arm movements, you’ll be ready to learn:

• Arms with veil and prop work
• Advanced arm styling and combinations
• Traveling across the floor with coordinated arm and hip work

Your arms are the paintbrush for your dance story—take time to make each movement graceful and intentional!