Belly dancing started out as a dance tradition in the Middle East as a way to strengthen a woman's hips for giving birth. Now, it has become a form of entertainment and exercise, as well as an art form.



It is not widely realized that the advanced dancers already know over thirty moves! The good news is there are no footsteps to remember if you are just learning. You learn how to move very isolated parts of the body in rhythm to music.

Movements of belly dancing are very isolated. Your hips will lift, thrust and shimmy while your belly rolls and your pelvic muscles tilt. Your arms will make snake like movements while your legs will either be shimmying one at a time or together in a double shimmy.

Once you have these and other movements mastered, you will put them to work in several positions, the basic and parallel positions as well as floor work that include dropping, sitting and then returning to a full stand. Also, you can't forget about the veil work that comes into play.

Now you know why there is so much to learn! Some teachers may give these movements different names, they all reduce to the same thing - Very skilled moves. Body movements will be the same, however, no matter the name. Making the body shake, quake, curve, thrust, lock and drop. The arms and hands follow through with the movements in fluid motion. The belly remains exposed to show her control and strength.

The dancers costume will leave the belly exposed during the dance. This is to make it easier on the spectators, whether they are judges or patrons, to see how much control she has over her body. Also, the more skin that is exposed, the more sensual her movements become. It is very stimulating to watch a well-trained belly dancer display her art in this manor, with her hips and mid-drift exposed.

If you are going to take your belly dancing on to a more authentic level, you will want to make sure your costume is appropriate. The top should be almost like a bra with ornate beading and sequins for decorations. The bottoms can either be a full skirt or loose fitting shear pants.

Other accessories you will want to add are a belt that is weighted, bands for you wrist and/or arms, scarf and possibly finger-symbols. This may seem like a lot of decoration, but you want to make sure every part of your body is accentuated to show off the hard work you have put into mastering these moves.

On the other hand, belly dancing is a wonderful form of exercise and will make a great addition to your overall fitness routine. There are two basic steps to master if this is what you are after. The first is the all-important stretching. Using an exercise ball or yoga type stretches are ideal. The second is a group of basic belly dancing moves such as hip and shoulder movements along with abdominal, waist and thigh movements.

Make sure that if you plan on belly dancing during pregnancy, you check with your doctor. Because of the nature of the dance, it will have a different effect on your body than other types of prenatal exercise. It also may be prudent to get a second opinion to give you added peace of mind.

You want to make sure you workout four to five times per week, for thirty to forty minutes. Make sure that this is continuous activity and that you break a sweat. The cardiovascular effect will result in weight loss or control, if a healthy diet is used as well. These kinds of exercises release endorphins which are the 'feel good' hormone.

These are just a few of the reasons that belly dancing can be good for you. Also, if you take classes, it can be a source of friendship as well. But be careful that you don't over do it. Be sure to drink your six to eight glasses of water a day and take your vitamins. This will help your body recover and get ready for a new workout tomorrow.

One of the places you can learn belly dancing is at a local dance studio. Check the local listings to see where they are offered. If you don't want to try to learn this complex dance in public, you can find a multitude of information on the Internet, in books and from instructional videos or DVDs.

You can find classes and pricing at helenavlahos.com, and at visionarydance.com, you will find classes, DVDs and workshops. To complete your costume, check out home.earthlink.net. Rania Bossonis has a book written on the art of the belly dance.

Summary:

Belly dancing can be used for display or entertainment. Women, men and even children can find enjoyment and fitness in this art form, whether they are beginners or advanced or somewhere in between.