Choreography by Shaia to “Tales of the Sahara”, 5:29

The lively song, Tales of the Sahara by Ibsan el Munzer from the Bellydance Superstars Vol 3, seems to have been made for a group dance. It’s pretty and full of varying tempos. Shaia Farid has an equally lively choreography set to this piece of music. And she shares it with other dancers. Here it is

Choreography by Shaia to “Tales of the Sahara”, 5:29

Groups 1 through 4

:00 – :17 – Intro, offstage

:18 – Group 1 enters from stage R: Triple step RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL, reach/turn L (facing front), L (facing back), L (facing front, L foot out), R (facing front, feet together)

:25 – Group 2 enters from stage L: Triple step LRL, RLR, LRL, RLR, reach/turn R (facing front), R (facing back), R (facing front, R foot out), L (facing front, feet together)

:32 – Group 3 enters from stage R: Triple step RLR, LRL, RLR, LRL, reach/turn L (facing front), L (facing back), L (facing front, L foot out), R (facing front, feet together)

:39 – Group 4 enters from stage L: Triple step LRL, RLR, LRL, RLR, reach/turn R (facing front), L (facing back), R (facing front, R foot out), L (facing front, feet together)

:47 – All: R hip drop/foot release x 2, step R in front, step L in back, step R in front; (over L shoulder -) L hip drop/foot release x 2, step step L in front, step R in back, step L in front to face front.

:54 – R hip drop/foot release x 2, tabletop arms/small hip circle R, R
L hip drop/foot release x 2, table top arms/small hip circle L, L

1:02 – All walk forward x 4 and backward x 4 doing chest 8s (R, L, R, L, etc)

1:09 – R hip drop, un-du-late, un-du-late

1:13 – R hip drop/foot release in circle around self to L

1:21 – R leg back hip shimmy, both hands facing L diagonal

1:23 – Grapevine combination: Sweep arms together and cross over R ft, L ft down, R ft behind, L hip lift (soft), step L/R/L in R circle, R hip drop/lift; 2 small hip circles to face front, 3 figure 8′s up.

1:33 – Grapevine combination: Sweep arms together and cross over R ft, L ft down, R ft behind, L hip lift (soft), step L/R/L, backward R hip circle; 2 small hip circles to face front, 3 figure 8′s up.

1:43 – 3 double backsteps w/arms over head and down; turn L to face back.
3 double backsteps w/arms over head and down; turn L to face front.

1:53 – Crescent R, L; big hip circle to R.  Fig 8 up L; fig 8 up R; step back L, R; double undulation, little shoulder shimmy

2:03 – Grapevine combination: Sweep arms together and cross over R ft, L ft down, R ft behind, L hip lift (soft), step L/R/L in R circle, R hip drop/lift; 2 small hip circles to face front, 3 figure 8′s up.

2:13 – Grapevine combination: Sweep arms together and cross over R ft, L ft down, R ft behind, L hip lift (soft), step L/R/L, backward R hip circle, 2 small hip circles to face front, 3 figure 8′s up

2:23 – Facing inward, R & L sides trade places – step R&R, L&L, R&R, L&L

2:28 – 1st Khaleegi step: R forward, L back, arms following feet, around self in R circle

2:38 – Step-touch side-to-side, arms overhead w/head slides

2:48 – All: Saidi front kick R, L, R, step RLR turning L; Saidi front kick L, R, L, step LRL turning R (shoulder bounces throughout)

2:58 – 3/4 shimmies around self to R

3:05 – R hip push (look R), L hip push (look L), R hip push (look R)

3:08 – Facing inward, R & L sides trade places – step R&R, L&L, R&R, L&L

3:13 – 2nd Khaleegi step: R arm extended front, L hand on R forearm, R hand waggle, step forward/back around self in R circle

3:23 – Step-touch side-to-side, arms overhead w/head slides

3:30 – All: Saidi front kick R, L, R, step RLR turning L; Saidi front kick L, R, L, step LRL turning R (shoulder bounces throughout)

3:43 – 3/4 shimmies around self to R (8), then (4) moving backward

3:50 – R hip push (look R), L hip push (look L), R hip push (look R), bend front to floor and curl up; walk backward 8 steps (as soloist moves forward and does figure 8 combinations and undulations), figure 8s up LR, LR, LR, LR; left Nile hand down

4:30 – Solist: step behind RR, LL, RR, LL; 3/4 moving backward R, L, RLR
Others: 3/4 walk forward 8 counts

4:38 – All:  Form two circles; triple step (R/L/R) in clockwise circle, 1 slow R turn (now step on L foot to change weight); repeat

4:51 – 8 diagonal camels toward audience with level changes (up, down, etc.)

4:58 – 6 figure 8′s up, R side first

5:03 – 8 walks backward

5:10 – Push hips R (hands L), L (hands R), R (hands L), turn R to face back
Push hips L (hands R), R (hands L), L (hands R), turn L to face front

5:17 – R big hip circle

5:19 Front row R turn with R arm over head back to front,
Back row L turn with L arm over head back to front,
All 1/2 turn R raising arms into pose, sinking into pose, R foot on ball (use the full 5 notes to sink and raise your arms in pose)