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10-Minute Slow and Smooth Belly Dance for Beginners

10-Minute Slow and Smooth Belly Dance for Beginners — video by BellyFIT by Leilah Play · 12:19

Video by BellyFIT by Leilah on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Leilah starts with shoulder, arm and neck loosening, then teaches fluid belly dance moves one at a time: snake arms, hip figure-eights, chest isolations, soft hip lifts, weight shifts and a knee shimmy, joined into a short routine. Gentle and slow.

  • 12 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment
  • Belly dance

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 9

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Warm-up: lift through the shoulders, elbows and wrists, open the arms, then stretch each arm behind you. 0:22
  2. Side bends with a hand on the head, then neck rolls and shoulders back and forward with wrist rolls. 1:33
  3. Snake arms: weight on one side, lift from the elbow through the wrist, one arm at a time, then switch sides. 2:54
  4. Hip figure-eights: push each hip to the corner and round to the back, then add the arms. 3:53
  5. Chest isolations: push the chest and shoulders back as you shift your weight; roll the shoulders if it's too much. 5:27
  6. Soft hip lifts: weight on one leg, lift the hip up and down, keeping it smooth rather than sharp. 7:04
  7. Weight shifts: move the hips forward, to the side and to the back, then bring the hands in. 8:27
  8. Knee shimmy: knees soft and bent, let the hips rock; twist instead if your thighs tire. 9:01
  9. The short routine from the beginning on each side, finishing with a shimmy, deep breaths and a stretch. 9:58

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Keep your knees soft and bent for the shimmy; twist instead if your thighs tire
  • Lift from the elbow first for snake arms, then flow through wrist and hand

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 1 take load

  • Knees takes loadbent-knee shimmy held for about a minute
  • Shoulders movessnake arms, chest isolations, shoulder rolls
  • Elbows movessnake arms, elbow-led arm waves
  • Upper back moveschest isolations and circles
  • Lower back moveship figure-eights, hip lifts, shimmies
  • Hips moveship figure-eights, soft hip lifts, weight shifts

Easier option from the coach: Twist instead of the knee shimmy; shoulder rolls instead of chest isolations

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by BellyFIT by Leilah; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety