Bellydance… the word seems exotic and conjures images of beautiful girls in wispy, gauzy fabrics, jingling as they shimmy to eastern drum beats. It almost seems like an impossible feat – the ambidextrous isolation of only your hips, only your torso, while making a strong statement in body movement. When I tell friends I’ve enrolled in a beginners class, they gasp and say “That’s amazing!” with wide eyes, like I’m performing some miraculous feat.
Bellydance is actually very accessible to anybody – it can be theraputic, a hobby, or a skilled and competitive pursuit. The levels and creativity in each class are limitless, and while the class is sometimes frustrating, it empowers the student to a heightened awareness of the body. Visionary Dance Production Studios (VDP) writes on the liberating empowerment of bellydance:
“A new identity based on body awareness is blossoming. And the culture of belly dance provides a process for discovering a new feminine language (a body language) that allows women to think and to move autonomously. When you awaken and learn to control every part of your body, you feel more in control of your life. When women feel free to express their innermost longings, they emanate the beauty and grace of a Goddess.”
From Visionary Dance Production Studios instructor, Delilah:
“Dance is a metaphor for life. As we are born, we are destined to move in life through time and space. As we learn to dance, we are also learning to move through time and space. Thus, the process of learning to dance can also bring us information about living our lives, if we allow it to. We can learn how to move through our lives with fearless autonomy, grace and spirit; to flow with the melody line, be in the stillness or ride the chaos; to overcome the fear that puts us on the sidelines. We can learn to listen to the voice in our head that says, ‘I CAN DANCE!’ “
Bellydance is not only for women; their motto is that the dance is built around knowing your body and your inner dimensions – which anyone (including men) can grasp.
The foremost message when starting the class is simple – take control of your body. The movements are built around isolating a certain part of your anatomy, knowing it and its range of movement, and then telling it where to go, independently. Once a student has control over isolated parts of their body, they may find that their life begins to transform – this mindset of having control over areas of your self (body) bleeds over into other areas of the self (mind, lifestyle, etc). As VDP’s site states, “Belly dance is a tool for personal growth. As we learn to give voice to every part of our body, we begin to know ourselves better and give ourselves permission to move more freely in our lives.”
Bellydance is truly about embracing your body and knowing your body’s power.
Visionary Dance Productions Studio has a class for anyone: From the ultimate beginner looking to build muscles and have a little fun, to the competitive dancer, VDP Studios offers a range of classes almost every day of the week. Their Fremont studio is in a central location for many Seattle-area dancers. Check out their website at Visionary Dance.com for more information on which class will fit your needs. For the out-of-towners, VDP Studios has an e-class in the works. Find more info here, or plug in to the VDP Youtube Channel.
It may sound a little like a plug for VDP, but the dance classes are all fun, challenging, and a fantastic way to gain control over parts of your bod. When I leave a class, I feel empowered and centered. If you’re looking for something challenging and fun, I suggest you look for a bellydance class in your area, or if you’re in Seattle, pop by VDP studios and check it out!
I have a few friends who are bellydancers they perform a lot and are very passionate about it. I love watching. In awe! I’m too busy to take on anymore hobbies but good luck with your dancing it’s so sexy and sensual I think it’s very feminine. I adore bellydancing
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.-= Katie´s last blog ..60’s Mod Fashion =-.
I agree with taking control over your body. Everyone should know their own body. Know themselves!
Once you’ve achieved something or learnt something new (like dance) it’s the confidence boost of, you can do anything you set your mind to, that changes peoples lives. Being comfortable with your body is important too a lot of belly dancing women are plus size but love their curves and love their bodym I have seen slimer dancers who also perform well but for some reason they aren’t as common. I wonder if it’s more difficult…
I hula hoop and belly dance would go so well with hooping I think.
You must take photos hehehe
.-= Katie´s last blog ..60’s Mod Fashion =-.
@ Katie – Bellydance and hoop would be great together! You should check out their Youtube channel – they’ve got dance workout classes on there.
Bellydancing has always been something I want to try, but I’ve never gotten up the nerve to go (largely, I think, because I don’t want to go alone). It definitely seems like a great way to get in touch with your body in a culture where women are tending to divorce themselves from self-awareness, maybe without even realizing it. I love the sensuality of movement – something I feel I lack in daily life.
.-= Jaka Merriman´s last blog ..Have You Had Your Crotch Scraped Lately? =-.