I love all forms of dance...Salsa, Waltz, Swing, 2 step but when I was a girl of about 12, I learned my neighbor was a belly dancer! I thought it was the coolest thing ever and begged her to teach me...AND to let me wear the costumes! I was in heaven...

I remember a conversation we had when I put on this skimpy little number out of her closet,

"I feel fat"

"What? Why?"

I grabbed my belly "this!"

She giggled, hugged me and said "you have to have a belly to belly dance!"

I tell you...what a great way to build the self-esteem of a young girl!


Now, I am pre-op and boy do the coins jingle! But I still hear my neighbor's answer for that too..."Well, if you didn't jiggle the sultan wouldn't pick you!" LOL

It is so fun, sensual and great exercise! AND it's something I can do in my living room! With exercise, I am always trying to mix things up...so I don't get bored!

Angela

Angela,

That's great that you've found something that you really enjoy

My sister goes to belly dancing classes, and she loves it. I've always wanted to do it - maybe 2008 will be the year!

Thanks for sharing

Do you know of any good instructional DVD's on belly dancing? I checked into the Shimmy and it cost $49.99 and was hoping to find something a little less, if possible.

if you google...

Belly dance, a fun fabulous way to get fit

go to alibris...they sell the 2004 dvd for 6.99 (+ shipping one would assume)

That's the one I do. The ladies do a great job of explaning, they go slow... take their time teaching you and the girls doing the dancing aren't stick figures but actually the size I would like to be! My daughter is learning it with me now!

There is a gym down my street that is just for women. It specialises in belly, exotic (strippersize - no you don't completely strip) and pole dancing for fitness.

Hubby likes the idea... I'm not quite sure of it - yet, but it has peaked my interest. What interested me was seeing some women larger than I am going in and coming out later with a huge smile on their face

tamara - That is so what I would do if I had the time and money

I'm going to see what the stores in my area have for instructional videos.

there are a couple of belly dancers in other forums. give me a little while to find details - they have LOTS of fun with it!

Netflix has a ton of Belly Dance DVD's- I always rent exercise DVD's before I buy them- it has saved me so much money because most of the DVD's I try out I decide I don't like enough to buy.

You may also be able to get a Belly Dance DVD from your local library.

Hi ladies~

I have been belly dancing for quite a while, and have been performing for years, and even teaching my own classes the last couple of years.

If you have any questions, or anything like that-feel free to ask.



My only concern is going to a place where they teach stripper-cize/pole dancing and belly dancing in the same place. Most belly dancers won't have anything to do with anything resembling exotic (stripping) dance. The reason why, is because of the bad sterotypes that some people associate with it...thinking that belly dancers are strippers, when they are trained dancers, just like a ballerina or tap dancer would be. Belly dancing is family friendly, and is sensual, but not meant to be "sexual".

If you want to search out a local instructor, I recommend going to Shira.net and looking in the instructor directory. There might be someone in your area...and if there is not, contact the instructor nearest to you-and they might know someone who is close, but not in the directory.

As far as dvds...there are many, and some are "fluffy" as in, not meant to really teach you...but meant to sell dvds with good marketing. Some are good, and geared towards beginners, and others are meant for professionals who already have much knowledge and skill. If there are particular things you want to learn, or style, etc. let me know, and it will help me with recommendations.

Angela Fit TV has some Dance demos on their website one I know is belly dance its only a few minutes but it's a start!

FitTV has the "Shimmy" beginning this week and on every Tuesday night, I believe.