Camel
Intermediate Level
Going deeper — techniques and nuances for experienced dancers
A deep, rolling body wave that starts from the chest and undulates through the torso with exaggerated forward-back motion, like a camel walking.
Intermediate focus
Now refine the timing and dynamics. The camel should have a musical shape — accelerate through the middle, slow at the extremes. Or reverse that for a different feel. Practice leading and following the camel in body contact: leader initiates from the chest, the follower receives it and lets the wave pass through. Work on doing the camel while traveling — stepping forward or backward on the basic step while the camel undulates.
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.