Power, grace and body control that are the pillars of this dance. Dismiss what you think of as stereotypes in bellydance…the women in this community are powerful. We dance to be strong, joyful and healthy. I often have women tell me they want to learn this dance for their husbands, I tell them your partner will actually get more out of it by the fact you are in a good mood when you return home from class, that you are feeling fit and that you are more self confident. Our main goals in class are to not only counteract the body type messages girls and women are receiving, but to also educate people about bellydancers and the culture that this dance form emerged from. First lesson is that neither size nor age has anything to do with your strength, stamina, or flexibility. Second lesson is that all kinds of people (yes, that’s right, both men and women) bellydance! Just in our little community in the Southeast US we have doctors, teachers, yoga instructors, Muslims, event producers, parents, home schoolers, executives, high school students, computer geeks, Christians, painters, accountants, etc…..you name it and we probably have one! The one thing they have all have in common is that they have sought out an art form that will keep them robust and radiant for the rest of their lives. Do you want this for yourself? Then get out from in front of this computer, come to class and join this growing art movement! Take back control over how the world sees women!
