Belly Dancing (Writing Assignment One)

Throughout my life I’ve taken more than just a few dance lessons. I started with ballet when I was only five, and since then I’ve also taken several different types of ballroom dancing. The most enjoyable dance class I’ve taken so far, though, is definitely belly dance. I began taking lessons at the Healing Arts Center last autumn, and I instantly fell in love with it. The slow hypnotic movements and the equally hypnotic and energetic shimmies of my instructor drew me in. I couldn’t imagine how I would ever be able to move like her, but I wanted to try and learn how. So through the past year I’ve immersed myself in belly dance culture. I’m still an amateur dancer, but I have gained many skills and plenty of knowledge.

The history of belly dance is rich, and largely undefined. The exact origins of the dance are disputed even today. Belly dance is generally associated with areas in the Middle East and upper Africa as well as a few other places, like India. All of these regions lay claim to different styles of the dance. Many people associate belly dancing with gypsies, which is not entirely a mistake. It is believed that gypsies were responsible for the spread of the dance, because of their nomadic lifestyle, but generally they are not accredited with the creation of the dance. Belly dance gained notice in the U.S. at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The gyrations of the corsetless dancers shocked, entertained, and appalled the Victorian crowd, and eventually the theatre was closed. From that point on belly dancers could only be seen in burlesque and vaudeville shows, and therefore gained an unflattering reputation among polite society. Even today belly dancing has a reputation of vulgarity, something which modern belly dancers are trying to change.

The technique involved in belly dancing has a heavy influence on isolation. Moving one section of your body while holding every other part still is the main goal. Once a dancer can isolate different muscle groups, she learns how to layer moves on top of each other. Have you ever tried to move your hips in a figure eight and shimmy them at the same time? Well, it’s definitely not easy. The skill required to perform these moves correctly takes a long time to gain. A common misconception is that belly dancers just shake and wiggle whatever they’ve got - this is very untrue. Exact movements are what dancers aspire to achieve, no matter what body type they have. It takes intense concentration, practice, and strength to belly dance, just like any other structured type of dance.

The fitness aspect of belly dancing is also an attractive feature. It’s a great cardiovascular workout, and since so much of it focuses on muscle isolation, it’s great for toning as well. The legs and core get a great workout as well, and if you’re practicing veil or zil (finger cymbals) work, your arms will get a good workout too. The best thing is that even though it’s a workout, it’s fun! My friends and I would leave class tired and with aching muscles, but we also had smiles on our faces. No matter how hard our instructor works us, we always feel rewarded at the end of class.

My favorite thing about belly dance culture is that it’s very accepting. It’s a come-as-you-are type of thing. Height, weight, age, skill; none of these really matter. It’s not about a person’s flaws; it’s about being who you are. Dance is an expression of the soul, and it’s human nature. Belly dancing allows people to focus for a little while, something I think many people don’t get to do very often. Belly dancing is fun, easy to get into, and good for the well being of your body as well as your mind. I highly suggest taking any dance class, but belly dance is at the top of my list.