Camel
Beginner Level
The foundation — what every new dancer needs to know
A deep, rolling body wave that starts from the chest and undulates through the torso with exaggerated forward-back motion, like a camel walking.
Beginner focus
Before attempting the camel, you need basic body wave control. If you can do a clean chest-to-hips body wave, you're ready. The camel adds depth: push your chest forward AND up to start (not just forward). Let this roll down through your ribcage with more extension than a normal wave. Your hips finish the movement by pushing back. The key difference from a basic body wave: more forward extension at the top, more backward extension at the bottom.
Tips
- •Think 'up and over' not 'forward and back' — the chest should trace an arc, not a straight line
- •Practice with your back against a wall: chest comes off the wall first, then ribcage, then lower back, then reverse. This forces sequential movement
- •Slow it WAY down at first — a good camel at half speed is worth more than a sloppy one at full speed
Common mistakes
- •Moving from the shoulders instead of the chest — the camel starts from the sternum/upper ribcage
- •Bending at the waist instead of rolling through the spine — the camel is a sequential wave, not a hinge
- •Rushing through the movement — the camel needs time and space to look good
- •Keeping the hips locked — the hips need to finish the wave with a backward push
Practice drill
Standing profile to a mirror: push your chest forward and up, hold. Roll it down through your ribcage — watch each segment move in sequence. Hips push back at the bottom. Reverse it: hips forward, roll up through abs, ribcage, chest lifts. That's one camel cycle. Do 10 slow repetitions watching the mirror, then 10 with eyes closed, focusing on feel. Two minutes each direction.