My husband is wildly enthusiastic at the idea of me taking belly dancing lessons. I think it would be fun to try, but I’m not too terribly comfortable with my body or with the idea of shaking my money-maker in front of anyone but him. I did some googling (the word “belly” looks really funny when you see it repeated on a page four thouand times) and I was interested in the health benefits, particularly the bit about easing back problems, as my lower back hates me and does its best to undermine my existence. So tell me. Do you have fun? What’s the demographic make-up of your classes? Have you noticed any over-all improvement in health, flexibility, coordination, etc.?
And what do you think the odds are I can talk hubby into doing it with me?
I can answer that last one. I’d have a better chance teaching the goldfish to play “Mack the Knife” on a xylophone.
I took a course in bellydancing for two years in my hometown Maastricht , Netherlands. Actually, i could choose between two courses, both given by professional bellydancers.
It was just really nice and fun. I had an all female class, although the course would have been open to men.
My classmates were 20-45 years old, and really all sizes, from really slim to almost obese. None of them wanted to be a professional bellydancer, but they all liked dancing.
I liked it very much. The flowing, isolated movements feel very good to do, like an internal massage. No muscle pain or sore feet from bouncing up and down afterwards! I liked the not-bouncing-part, being ample and I hate to -you know- jiggle.
Belly dancing does not have to be seductive at all, Eastern women do it on familiy parties and everybody joins in (although women would not wear the glitter-bra-like costumes then, but those are not neccesary to dance) . It just a beautiful artform and i hope you will enjoy your class!
Between Maastricht’s reply and the information HennaDancer provided in her thread, I do believe I’m convinced. This definitely sounds like something I’ll have a blast doing.
Speaking as a belly-dancing uhhh . . . “consumer,” it’s great! I used to have a Syrian girlfriend who would occasionally perform for me and I loved it. She wasn’t any kind of professional and didn’t have the glittery costumes but she looked beautiful doing it and enjoyed it herself.
Bellydance is very friendly for the body … no unnatural positions like classical ballet.
The classes I take have all sizes and ages from skinny-ish like me to quite rubinesque women. (I envy the ladies with more tummy as they can do better bellyrolls.)
There are teenagers to senior citizens. Some people feel that older women are more in touch and more comfortable with their bodies and thus are more able to express themselves better in Bellydance.
I’ve been dancing for 4 years now. I love it. I perform at some public events (like fairs and charity things). I’m already quite fit so I haven’t noticed any significant fitness improvements.
I’ld say it is easy to do basic bellydance but there are many skills/moves which take some time and practice to master.
