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The Benefits of Belly Dancing

Fri, 31 May 2013 16:32:09 +0100

I could say, without doubt, that my life changed dramatically -- for the better -- since I got involved into belly dancing, about 16 years ago. But even right away, there are definitively great benefits that most of us have experienced soon after just starting some lessons.

• BELLY DANCING is a workout to get fit and tone up core (great for your lower abs, legs and arms, which does NOT feel like you’re exercising but actually having FUN
• BELLY DANCING helps you gain more confidence in your image and change the way you present yourself in the world
• BELLY DANCING decreases your stress level

Belly dancing involves the use of your whole body, in a way that you’ll be gradually but surely improving your muscular tone (core, legs and arms), your posture, your coordination and your flexibility. As a result, while learning to dance, you will increase your body fitness without it feeling like work. I will actually make it feel like fun, as opposed to a boring workout.

It is easy to see that taking some time for yourself, and doing something fun, will surely decrease your level of stress. Yes, and let’s not forget that, since exercise is involved, your brain will produce endorphins and the result is a notorious lift in your mood. The result is that, despite how you were feeling when you arrived, you will leave class energized and inspired.

You’ll also gain confidence in your image, which will boosts the way you present yourself in public and the way you feel about yourself. Why? Not only your fitness and posture will be improving with the exercise, also I will lead you to appreciate the beauty of your own body more, as I teach you to move in an harmonic and sensual way. As a result, you will increase your acceptance and love for your body image, so you will project confidence and become more attractive to those around you.

And there is more. Belly dancing offers an outlet for expressing yourself. As opposed to other forms of exercise, even to other exercises that use music in it like zumba, belly dancing has the advantage that it involves the expression of feelings: what you feel in your heart, what the music makes you feel, and how the moves make your body feel good. I will also add some information here and there, so you will enrich your knowledge by learning a bit more about the culture and music of the places where this dance comes from.

And I could get going and going… But just check out the following video, showing Ellen Degeneres learning to belly dance :-)

<a href="http://www.linkedtube.com/JcGZCX2KC9o57dd816b60c133eb45b4d02235a77e4a.htm">LinkedTube</a>

Sharing a positive image of belly dancing

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:42:34 +0100

Many times I am asked why I belly dance. The first answer that comes to mind is, is another question: how could I not belly dance?

Last August, I was fortunate to be contacted by a journalist who works for our local newspaper: The Arlington Advocate. She wanted to asked me that same question and also asked me about belly dance in general. I would like to share that article with you.

"Arlington belly dancer performs from the heart", by Monica Jimenez / Wicked Local Arlington

So glad to see belly dance exposed in the media on such a positive light! We need more and more positive press to educate people about cultural diversity, one person at a time.

Enjoy and spread the word...

Your friendly neighborhood belly dancer...

-Seyyide

Yes, Belly Dance is appropriate for family entertaining

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:42:46 +0100

When I read that a Northboro restaurant was having a hard time getting a license to offer belly dance entertainment to their clientele, I was not pleased. But my amazement was even larger when I read some of the quotes attribitted to Selectman Aaron Hutchins:
"If you are at the restaurant with your family and a belly dancer comes in, maybe that is not something you want to expose your children to. I know I certainly wouldn't.”

Full article here

So I drafted a letter to the editor. My hope is that Mr Hutchins will read it. Here goes my draft:

Dear Editor of Telegram.com

I was appalled to read that Northboro officials are so misinformed about “belly dance,” as Donna Boynton reports on a restaurant’s problems obtaining a license that would allow them to feature a belly dancer.

Belly dance is a misnomer for what the near East calls “Oriental Dance”, and it’s a stylized form of dance based on the folkloric dances performed by the people of the East. This dance is performed wearing expensive costumes, which may vary in how revealing they are, the same way that different people wear different lengths of skirts around the city, or different kinds of swim suits when they go to the beach.

The suggestion that belly dance could be related in any way to pornography is insulting and plain ignorant. Is belly dancing sexy? Sure, it may be. Tango is sexy. Flamenco is sexy. Hip hop is sexy. The dance is an expression of feelings of the music, and the music could be happy or sensual, sad or relaxing, and the mood of a good dancer will reflect those changes.

The fact that belly dancing could be sensual does not mean that it is specifically a dance of seduction. Middle Eastern families would hire a belly dancer to entertain at their weddings. It is considered a blessing and definitely something that they would expose their whole families to, including the children. The little ones are usually as amazed to see a belly dancer in costume as when they see a super hero impersonator come to entertain at their birthday parties.

Town officers watched a video to research belly dancing. What kind of video did they consider? Did Selectman Aaron Hutchins make a poor evaluation based on a poor source of information? If he were presented with the most wonderful belly dance performance, would he still compare it to pornography? Maybe those officials could deepen their research a bit more before expressing their views publicly, especially since their views will then result in rules that the whole city needs to live by.

Sincerely yours,

Seyyide Sultan, a belly dancer in the Boston area