Benefits of Belly Dance: A Short but Sweet List

There are so many benefits of belly dancing. Do a quick Google search and here are some that come up:

• http://www.worldbellydance.com/benefits.html
• http://www.atlantabellydance.com/ProspectiveStudents/ClassHealth.html
• http://www.radhiyataj.com/Physical.html
• http://www.shira.net/heal-phys1.htm

I have so many things I could add to those lists, but here are the ones that keep coming back to me these past few weeks when I look at the impact of this dance on their lives.

1. Healthy happy moms with brand new babies! (and little girls as well)

2. Empowered women who learn to express themselves through this dance.

3. A shared community of friends, to support, encourage, push and above all laugh together!

Ten Tips for Beginning Belly Dancers

It happens time and time again, the idea of taking a belly dance and the reality of actually doing it are not the same. What looks like such an easy move where you just shake your tush and twirl your arms, in fact, requires training, muscles and coordination. So, what do you do as a beginner if you just can’t seem to get past the first shimmy? Well, to begin with, you have to put in the time to practice and come to class.

In my years of dancing and teaching, I have taught dozens of six-week beginner classes. There is such a difference in the skill and confidence level of students between the fourth and sixth class, but more often than not many students don’t return past a first or second class. There are always the situations where life gets in the way, events come up and belly dance classes slip a little lower on the list of priorities. However, I think there are many cases where students get easily frustrated or feel impatient because it is awkward learning new movements and techniques.

As a teacher, it is hard to strike a balance in class between teaching moves that translate for use at a club or with friends that weekend, and creating a strong movement foundation that will help students several weeks or months down the road. But, the hard work will pay off! So, here are my suggestions for ‘surviving’ the first several weeks and months of belly dance class.

1. Be patient with yourself. I can’t tell you the number of times people seem anxious that they don’t have a move down after 15-20 minutes. When I remind them of this fact, it seems a little silly, but it really does happen. So, remind yourself that this is a new experience and proficiency won’t happen within the first hour!
2. Don't compare yourself with other students. Each student comes to class with different physical experiences. Some people work out a lot, but skill in those activities does not easily translate to belly dance. Others may be involved in limited physical activity and need time to just get their body used to the movements. So, don’t compare yourself against others in the class and instead compare yourself against where you were an hour ago, a week ago or even longer.
3. Embrace the awkward. Don't worry if your moves don't look like your teacher's movement after a few classes. The truth is, dancing well takes effort and time, and there are many unglamorous and awkward moments along the way.
4. Recognize that there is a learning curve. One thing I love about this dance is the fact that it is an equal opportunity activity. Believe it or not, students don’t always struggle with the same moves. Some people understand undulations in a heartbeat but can’t figure out the traveling moves. Others have an innate ability to pick up staccato movements, but the squishy stuff like circles, figure-eights, mayans and sways just elude them.
5. Acknowledge (and trust) that your body will progress at its own pace. It’s been my experience that you may mentally understand a movement, but your body needs a little more time to either relax, let go or just comprehend what it needs to do.
6. Dress the part. I know it sounds funny, but if you wear loose fitting, baggy, unattractive work-out gear, the chances of you feeling graceful, sultry and beautiful in class are pretty slim. You may have to work up to it, but over the course of weeks, or months I see students go from baggy to fitted pants, over sized tops to crop tops, and not only do their moves improve but so does their attitude!
7. Ask questions. A skilled instructor can explain a movement to you half a dozen different ways if you're having troubles with it. So, if you aren't feeling it...or seeing it...ask for clarification. I almost quit belly dancing because I could not do an undulation. Really. So, when I started with a new teacher, that was my first question (or was it last desperate hope?) And guess what, she had me undulating in minutes. So, go ahead...don't be afraid to seek clarification.
8. Understand that one class does not define an entire teaching series. The reality is each class is a different piece of a puzzle, and just making a decision on dance class based upon one experience may not be prudent. You can certainly figure out if you like the studio, the instructor, the location, the cost, or even the time of the week. But, if you’re serious about learning the dance, give yourself time to see how things unfold.
9. Keep coming to class. If you miss a class, don’t be afraid to come back. Yes, there is a chance you may not understand everything that was covered in the last week or more, but just being in class on a regular (or semi-regular) basis is much better for you body than not coming at all. It is very common to have a mix of belly dance experience in one class, so don't worry usually know how to adapt a class based upon student skills. Personally, I’d rather see your lovely face in class and help you get back on track than wonder if you just got too discouraged to come back!
10. Relax and enjoy the process. Really! The benefits of belly dancing go far beyond physical changes. This dance really is transformational and if you stick with it, you'll typically find lots of new friends and experiences along the way. So, keep plugging away at those shimmies, and have fun while you're doing it!
    

Time for a deep breath

Preparing for a performance at any level can be tiring, even down right exhausting. Performing with a group of 10, to non-traditional belly dance music, with costumes to make and steps to perfect could, in essence, suck the life out of you. However, if you can find that sweet spot between creative inspiration and group collaboration, the experience is different. It's an exciting, joyful ride that leaves you a little breathless at the end. Such was my feeling after this weekend.

Friday's show marked the debut of my first big performance and choreography since leaving Troupe Mirage, and showcased Baharat Belly Dance Ensemble. I took the name of my student troupe and expanded it a bit. It was the perfect solution for me because right here and now, I need a group over which I have creative control...just to keep me sane. So, I took students from my class and brought in dancers from the community that I respect and enjoy (as dancers and friends) and mixed up a whole new concept. Consider it my version of a belly dance hook-up. Minimal obligations for invited dancers, limited commitments, but maximum rewards!

The wonderful part of this journey was the enthusiasm and professionalism of all the dancers. They showed up early, stayed late to practice as needed, volunteered to help out and kept me posted on their schedules on a regular basis. And the relief I felt in knowing that everyone would follow through on their promises was priceless...really priceless. There were so much time before we performed (we got to close the show) where I had nothing to do...nothing! I just could sit and relax. No stress or worries! In fact, minutes before we went on stage I found myself counting dancers (there were ten of us you know...), not because I was afraid someone would go missing, but because I needed something to think about to occupy my time. And like counting sheep, counting dancers actually had a calming effect on my nervous (actually excited) energy.

And the costumes! Seriously very hot. We chose a take on menswear, but with a girly twist to go with our Michael Buble song. My favorite part of the whole costume making experience (yes we made all of these), was the group effort. I can say that in every costume there is a little piece of each dancer. We picked a couple of days for a sewing marathon and banged out costumes in an assembly line process. One person cut, another stitched, another ironed. Buttons and other bling were carefully added by another person. It was a community effort and such a bonding experience. And just what I needed to give my creative spirits a lift this year. I plan to do more collaborations and involve other dancers in the community. Right now, I need a little sleep, a little rest and nice big breath!

Shaking it or faking it?

It happens over and over again in conversations I have. Women find out that I belly dance and then they either confess that they are belly dancers or know a dancer. Maybe it's just a sign of the time, but upon further prodding I typically find out their definition of "dancer" means classes that consist of 6-8 lessons at a gym or dance school. And that friend who dances? Not much more training there either. It seems that applying the term belly dancer happens all too easily, as if one class, one hip drop or one shimmy with a coin scarf satisfies any needed qualifications.

So just when can you call yourself a true belly dancer? A similar discussion emerged when I first started taking martial arts class. Our Sensei would ask the class , "When do you become a true martial artist?" Did it happen when you achieved black belt status or the rank of Master, was it when you successfully landed your first punch or kick, applied a block or take down correctly. Or, did it happen when you first put on the gi (uniform) or simply make the decision to enter a dojo or training facility?

For me, the first time I felt like a true martial artist was the day I was able to focus my mind and energy, overcome my fears and successfully break a board during class. It wasn't the cliche of the board breaking that did it, it was the culmination of everything I learned converging into a single, well-executed, singular and beautiful action. It was, the sense of mastery over that single moment and obstacle.

I admit in belly dance, you have to get students intrigued and excited about the dance. You 'hook' them with coin scarves and shimmies and fun movements. I try not to throw complex or obscure music and movements on beginners, but try and keep with simple, easy rhythms. My secret hope is that they will be hooked and want to learn and study more, just like I did.

When I first started dancing, I went through the motions, dressed the part, learned to use the props and execute the dance moves. But it took time before I really considered myself a true belly dancer. Unlike my martial arts experience, there was no single defining moment. It was more of a slow spiral and gradual realization that I had evolved into that role. One day I realized that I would hear classic Middle Eastern music and it made sense to me. I got it. And, even better, I understood how to dance to it...the right way. I was no longer thrown off by all the strange rhythms or the blast of a mizmar. It just all flowed, and listening to the music made my heart sing and my hips start to move!

Now I meet so many women who claim they belly dance, but also tell me that they either just don't want to dance to traditional music or simply can't stand it. I think that's a dead giveaway that although they do have belly dance moves, that they haven't really studied how to be a belly dancer. They are hooked on the image or allure of the dance, but seem to shy away from the meat of the matter, the really good juicy part of the dance...the culture, the rhythms, and the emotional connection between dancer and audience.

Princess Farhana posted a wonderful story about the need to honor our past as dancers. Her words struck a chord in me, because over the past few years I've been drawn more to "old-school" dance than fusion styles. Now, I love fusion, but I realize that the older, more traditional, folkloric style has a greater pull. It's a need to 'up' my skill level and challenge myself to truly represent this dance and culture. And although executing a perfect hip drop is important, that one movement only represents a small part of this dance form.

So I've made it my personal goal to work more on studying the culture and music. This year I'm excited to start Sahra Saeeda's Journey through Egypt program and work on passing this information onto my students and fellow dancers. Because I want people to know that some times you may dance and use belly dance moves, but it's not belly dancing. And knowing that difference is important to me...and it lets me know if you really are shaking or faking it!