Hello,
It is a really great form of exercise that gives nice tone to the body. As I said before, I weight train religiously, and bellydancing gives me tone and makes me sore in different areas-so I feel that I am getting a better all around workout including it. In weight training I feel soreness in my torso usually in my upper back and chest-where after bellydancing I feel it in my ribcage area and middle back. After weight training the outer cap of my shoulder feels it most, and with the bellydancing shoulder shimmies, it is more deep within.
I am attending the bellydance hafla (bellydance party) open house next weekend-the 9th-and I will be seeing local performers and they are having a lot of items for sale there. I am really excited about it, and about starting class. I already have almost everything I need for class-zils, a hip scarf, and proper class attire-choli (bellydance half top) and leotard tops, and lycra pants. The only thing I need to get is a veil-and I can buy one at the hafla. I am excited about learning veilwork.
For some cheap bellydance supplies, such as zils and cholis-I recommend you all visit www.aliahscloset.com-they don't have the fanciest costumes and accessories in the world, but if you just need a few items to practice with, it is the place. They have nice zils and coin hip scarves there though, and in lots of colors.
I am really psyched about class. My plan is to go up to the performance level and to join her dance troupe so I can perform. My father in law is the head of a clogging/square dancing group, and he performs all over at local street fairs and events, and I love to go watch him dance.
Does anyone here have any zils? If you do not and are thinking about buying them, when they come the elastic will not be finished on them. You have to put them on and fit the elastic to where it is pretty snug on your middle fingers and thumbs, and sew the elastic to that tightness securely. I found the easiest way is to put them on, put a straight pin where it needs sewn, and use a sewing machine going back and forth over it a few times so it will not come loose, and trim the excess. It only takes about 5 minutes to do.
For anyone else that is good at sewing, McCall's has a decent bellydance costume pattern out. It has a head scarf, a bra top, harem pants, and a hip scarf. On the cover it is decorated with fringe, but you could sew on bells or coins, or whatever you wish.
Aphil