One of the truly interesting things to note was that Suzanna taught this particular shimmy/warmup as movement beginning at the knees, which isn't how a lot of other teachers teach shimmies. Some teach them as originating from the hips, the glutes, or the abs, depending on what kind of shimmy your're working on. Start the shimmy warm up by sitting on the floor, legs stretched straight out in front on you. Sit up straight. You may use your hands to help you sit up nice and tall. You then begin to move the knees up and down gently slapping the backs of the legs/knees alternately on the floor. You can let your feet slide forward or not. Do this half time to the drum rhythm for 15 seconds or so, then double the speed until you are moving the knees in full time with the drum solo music. Try this for 1 minute straight, then stand up and continue the shimmy using the same motion. Stand up straight with your bottom tucked so your pelvis is not tipped forward (no sway backs) and sink your heels into the floor. Don't let the heels lift to do the shimmy, let the knees do the work. Keep the feet straight forward (don't do a turn out), lift your arms up a bit and chested lifted and let everything else relax. Feel the flesh move.
Do not straighten the knees completely (lock the knees back) but to keep them ever so softly bent. You will now find that it is much easier to this unarticulated shimmy. |
