Dancer Talk:
Why Do I Belly Dance?
Why I Love to Belly Dance
by Shannon Robertson
Belly dancing allows me to express my femininity. It’s moves range from fluid and graceful to bumpy and provocative. I’ve noticed that each woman brings her own style to belly dancing. Although we are following choreographed steps, we can move our bodies in the way that the music makes each of us feel, our personalities bursting through into the dance.
The moves of belly dancing are women’s moves. They were created with women’s bodies; you can feel that when you do them. They make you feel sensuous. When I began dancing, some of the moves felt natural, intuitive, like my body had always known how to do them. Others were difficult at first, but with practice, many begin to feel natural or ‘right’.
Belly dancing lets me ‘strut my stuff’! This may sound vain, but the truth is, its wonderfully good for the self-esteem. It has made me really like my body again. Just watching yourself practicing moves in the mirror puts you back in tune with your body, its curves, its bulges, its long and short lines --- its natural grace. When I move and walk in everyday life now, I feel that I carry myself more proudly, more confidently. And the confidence extends beyond physical form. Perhaps because I know that I have learned a new skill, and so can meet other challenges. Perhaps also because belly dancing permits the sensual, feminine side of a woman’s personality to flourish. Since society often pressures ‘good girls’ to suppress that aspect of our femininity, the fact that belly dancing celebrates it gives us back confidence in ourselves. It’s a thrill to perform! There‘s no need to if you’re not comfortable doing so. But it’s such an ego boost for me to get up there and perform (reasonably) well what I’ve worked hard to learn.
Belly dancing is a huge relief from stress. When I began belly dancing, a year and a half ago, I had just come through several stressful life events, some were still affecting my spirit. I recognized that I’d almost been overwhelmed by them and had taken some steps to learn to cope better with stress and grief. Belly dancing came near the tail end of that learning process. I began it only to try something new, a fun form of exercise, but it turned out to be one of the best stress relievers I could have chosen. Its fun—you laugh a lot while learning—at yourself, at first, when you can’t get some of the moves, and often just at the sheer, honest seductiveness of what you are learning. I never notice that I’m getting exercise while dancing because its just so much fun learning the moves. And you DO get exercise; the combination of moving abdominal muscles and your arms and legs at the same time is definitely aerobic. You feel it when you stop – in your rapid breathing and tired muscles.
I’ve met a lot of other friendly women who enjoy dancing, and I’ve had the great fun of taking classes with one of my close friends. I love to see the beautiful costumes that people have made and found and I really enjoy making and wearing belly dance costumes. I’m having fun with this other creative side to belly dancing—I hadn’t sewed anything on a machine since high school home ec, and now I’m on a roll! My little boy loves to come to performances and see all the glitter, and both he and my husband seem to enjoy the ‘home shows’!
Why do I belly dance? Because its good physical exercise. Because it brings more music into my life and lets me move to it. Because it makes me feel sensual, womanly, proud of my body and my abilities to learn. Because it has given me back some of my creativity through costume making. Because for a busy mother of a five year old, it gives me back a part of ‘Me’. I love belly dancing!
Thanks Satu, for teaching belly dancing in Thunder Bay! Thanks for teaching it patiently, in a way that lets us learn step-by-step, and gives us the satisfaction of putting all the moves we learn into a new dance by the end of each session. Bravo!
Why I love to Belly Dance
It all started when my friend Donna enrolled in a belly dancing class with her young daughter...I was intrigued! I went to their recital and fell in love with the music, the moves and the costumes. I signed up for the very next session...that was 3 years ago and I'm still here!
I enjoy the social aspect...meeting ladies with common interests, the workout and expression in dance and the creative costume making. Belly dancing has given me the overall sence of well being and has inspired me in other creativities within myself.
It is a joy to dance with Satu and the girls.
~ Lisa Kachor Dec. 24 2005
I am e-mailing you my outlook of the Belly Dancing. You said you wanted
to include this in your web site.
I originally joined Belly Dancing with my girlfriend. I wasn't
expecting it to be as much fun as it was. Our instructor takes the time
to teach individually. She is a great motivator and makes the class fun
and enjoyable. She always makes herself available to help us with any
cheograph or dance movements/technique that needs improvement. Our
instructor obtains workshops for us to attend to better our techniques.
I use to be extremely shy and now that I perform in the Public and get
good compliments. I found that my self-confidence and self-esteem has
really elevated. My Boss and co-workers also said this dancing has
really benefitted me and they noticed an improvement in my deliverance
of my self.
Belly Dancing is a good cardio-vascular workout. It helps to increase
flexibility, no matter what your body shape is or your age. Belly
Dancing improved my sense of well being and my confidence. I enjoy the
times we practice, the friends I've made and the flexibility of the
class. Our recitals are great experience and lots of fun.
Thank you Satu,
MARIE MACCABE June 3 2005