
Shimmy (TV series)

Shimmy is a fitness television series broadcast in Canada on ONE: The Mind and Body Channel that emphasizes the health benefits of belly dance. The twenty-six episode series was designed by and created by Kim Pechet, a belly dance instructor and fitness professional. An original Canadian production, "Shimmy" premiered October 1, 2007 on ACCESS and CLT in Canada as well as in the United States on Discovery Health and OWN. "Shimmy" has been broadcast throughout Central and South America, Germany, and India as well as in Canada and the United States.
Episode Structure.
Each episode begins with a warm up to increase flexibility and to prepare the body for the teaching section. In the teaching section, each episode leads viewers through four to six belly dance movements. The repeated motions are designed to tone hips, thighs, glutes, and abdominals through traditional Middle-Eastern belly-dance movements. In the performance section, dancers in full costume combine the movements just taught into a low-impact choreography designed to burn calories. The episode ends with a display of freestyle belly dance from the dancers.
Episode List.
Season 1.
Episode 1: Hips, Hops and a Shimmy
Dance Level: Beginner
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zones: Hips and Thighs
The Shimmy Dancers lead you through a series of fundamental belly dance moves like the ‘Shoulder Shimmy’ and ‘Hip Rotations’ making this a perfect episode for beginners, or those wanting to go back to basics. 
Moves taught in this episode: Shoulder Shimmy, Hip Rotation, 1, 2, 3 Hop, Hip Pop, Head Slide
Episode 2: Cairo to Istanbul
Dance Level: Beginner- Intermediate
Fitness Category: Stretch and Strengthen
Target Zones: Hips and Glutes
Nothing says middle-eastern dance like the classic ‘Head Slide’: the variations we teach will give any dance routine an exotic flavour as voluptuous Gillian leads us through the sensual ‘Turkish Figure-Eight’. 
Moves taught in this episode: Head Slide, Basic Egyptian Step, Hip Circles, Turkish Figure-Eight
Episode 3: Sharp and Sexy with a Shimmy
Dance Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Arms and Hips
Moves taught in this episode like ‘Expressive Hand Gestures’ give performances from even beginning dancers an authentic feel, while moves like the ‘Three-Quarter Shimmy’ will show your technical skills. 
Moves taught in this episode: Hip-piston, Snake Arms, Expressive Hand Gestures, Three-Quarter Shimmy
Episode 4: The Hippy Camel
Dance Level: Beginner
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Back and Glutes
The ‘Chest Camel’ and ‘Shoulder Rolls’ are sensual and fluid dance moves that also help increase strength and flexibility in these neglected areas. Adding on ‘M and M’s’ and a vigorous ‘Village Shimmy’, the Shimmy Dancers lead you through a perfect lunchtime office workout. 
Moves Taught in This Episode: Shoulder Rolls, Village Shimmy, M and M's, Chest Camel
Episode 5: From Camp to Cabaret
Dance Level: Beginner
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zones: Thighs and Arms
Undoubtedly, the Shimmy Dancers’ favourite combination in the series was the ‘Three Step Turn’ and ‘Hip Bounce’. Dance along with us and you'll know why we love this fun and flirty combination. 
Moves Taught in this Episode: Three Step Turn, Hip Bounce, Ghawazee Step, Cabaret Shimmy, Side Step Arm Sweep
Episode 6: The Sultan's Chest
Dance Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Back and Glutes
If typing away at a computer has got your upper back stiff, ‘Chest Circle’ and ‘Liquid Arms’ will not only ease the pain, but prevent future aches by strengthening those neglected muscles, and they are damn sexy to boot!
Moves taught in this episode: Step Touch Step, Egyptian Figure-Eight, Turkish Bump, Chest Circles, Liquid Arms
Episode 7: The Hanging Garden
Dance Level: Beginner
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Thighs and Belly
The Shimmy Dancers display a variety of traditional and cabaret upper arm and hand movements like ‘Falling Leaves’ and how a basic travelling step like the ‘Grapevine’ and the ballet-inspired ‘Ronde de Jambe’ take on a sensual middle-eastern flavour simply by emphasizing the hip. 
Moves taught in this episode: Grapevine, Falling Leaves, Head Slide, Ronde de Jambe, Hip Circle
Episode 8: Shimmies and Turns
Dance Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zones: Glutes and Thighs
In this episode we practice moves like the ‘Cut Turn’ and a quick spin on the ‘Sa’idi Step’ to enable you to engage the audience members all around you. 
Moves Taught in This Episode: Shoulder Shimmy, Shimmy Layered Hip Circle, Cut Turn, Sa’idi Step, Hip Rotation, Tremor Layered Figure-Eight
Episode 9: Hips and Hops on a Snake
Dance Level: Beginner
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zone: Glutes and Arms
The teaching section is excellent for those interested in tribal belly dance as we combine the sharp ‘Hip Piston’ with ‘Snake Arms’—a classic combo in tribal style.
Moves Taught in This Episode: Hip Piston, Hip Pop, 1,2,3 Hop, Snake Arms
Episode 10: Hips Galore
Dance Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zones: Thighs and Glutes
In this episode highlights correct positioning and movement of the hips with moves like the playful ‘Hip Bounce,’ ‘Maya Hips,’ and the ultra-sexy ‘Egyptian Figure-Eight.’ 
Moves Taught in This Episode: Three Step Turn, Hip Bounce, Maya Hips, Egyptian Figure-Eight
Episode 11: Salome and the Sultan
Dance Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Glutes, Hips and Thighs
The moves from the teaching section represent some of the best-loved Middle-Eastern dance moves like the ‘Head Slide’ and the ‘Hip Circle’ while mastering the ‘Egyptian Figure-Eight’ and the ‘Turkish Bump,’ will make you a truly international dancer. 
Moves Taught in this Episode: Head Slide, Hip Circle, Egyptian Figure Eight, Turkish Bump
Episode 12: Bellies in Beirut
Dance Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Fitness Category: Tighten and Tone
Target Zones: Belly and Back
From the ‘Village Shimmy’, to the ‘Lebanese hip-Circle’, to ‘Zar head’, moves taken from Middle Eastern folk dances give this episode a particularly authentic feel while ‘Shoulder Rolls’ add sensuality. 
Moves Taught in this Episode: Shoulder Rolls, Village Shimmy, Lebanese Hip-Circle, Zar Head, Belly Roll
Episode 13: Ottoman Nights
Dance Level: Advanced
Fitness Category: Calorie-Burner
Target Zones: Glutes and Thighs
In this episode we take the basics to a new level, adding variations, to create the most challenging moves in the whole series: the ‘Tremor Layered Figure-Eight’ and the ‘Shimmy Layered Hip Circle’. 
Moves Taught in this Episode: Basic Egyptian Step, Turkish Figure-Eight, Shimmy Layered Hip Circle, Tremor Layered Figure-Eight, Sa’idi Step
Season 2.
Viewers showcase these moves in a fun and energetic choreography and then close with a mesmerizing freestyle belly dance.
In the teaching sequence, viewers practice the ‘chest camel’ and the ‘ripple’ which are then combined with the sultry ‘full camel.’ ‘Hip pistons’ and ‘snake arms’ are added to create an authentic belly dance choreography. A freestyle finale concludes the episode.
The teaching sequence includes the ‘chest camel’, the ‘ripple’, the sultry ‘full camel’, the traveling step ‘grapevine’, as well as the elegant ‘falling leaves’ and ‘hip-down ronde de jambe’. These movements then take shape in a fun and energetic choreography. Closing is a transformation of these moves into a freestyle belly dance.
Awards.
"Shimmy" won the 2008 Leo Award for "Best Cinematography for an Information or Lifestyle Series" for the Episode "Slithering and Circling". The show was also nominated for "Best Information or Lifestyle Series" and "Best Direction in an Information or Lifestyle Series".