Hi

So I kind of got interested in belly dancing recently. It's really funny since the dance forms I have been involved in are quite the "opposite."
I've taken ballet since I was 4, and have been an Irish dancer for the past 10 years. yea, no hip movement there! haha

My friend visited me 2 years ago, and brought one of her DVDs that included some basic belly and bollywood style dancing. (not that great, but it was fun!)
Plus, since I've gotten married, I feel a lot more comfortable with my body, and "putting it out there." Well, alone in the house and around hubby anyway haha.

So I looked at some youtube videos from a person with Belly Motions in Florida (where I'll be moving funny enough), and was quite intrigued and tried it. I LIKE IT!

So I then bought some used DVDs- instructional with basic dance. I tried the first one today, and I don't think I did too bad. ( I do have some ballroom/latin training)

Will this form of dance eventually cure me of the weight I've accumulated around my middle? (not that much, I've gained 10 lbs but i'm definately not as toned as I used to be)

And I can't help but be critical of myself since I don't really "look the part." I'm a red head, pale, small breasted, and am not the curvaceous type (tallish and almost lanky) The only think I have is the belly- from not dancing haha.

Any words of encouragement? advice? Things I should know?
Thanks a heap!

1: There is no set body type for middle eastern dance. While the current trend is towards long, lean, Rachel Brice figures, Middle Eastern dances come in all shapes and sizes. One of the things I love about this dance form is the acceptance of differing body types.

2: Find a class. Seriously, you can only learn so much from a DVD, and even though it is low-impact you can injure your back by doing movements wrong. It might feel easy because you're using the wrong muscles for the movement.

3: Worry about "looking the part" if you decide to perform. And then there's so much makeup and bronzer that you can use to make yourself an exotic princess if that's the look you want. Or you could look like yourself. (One of the more popular Turkish dancers is blonde, so fair skin/hair is not unnatural.)

4: You will never get a washboard stomach from bellydance - it will may stay slightly soft and rounded, but the muscles underneath will be wonderfully toned. You'll lose weight with this form of dance the same way you would with any other form of exercise: how often, how hard you work, and diet. Case in point: Right now, I'm the heaviest I've ever been because I'm only dancing one night a week, and that sporadically. But when I was dancing 3-4 hours, three nights a week, the pounds dropped off because of how hard I was pushing myself.

4: Please no more of the belly-for-belly-dancing joke!!! (:p) It gets old. Fast. And kinda creepy if the person saying it is a hairy dude. (BTDT)

5: If you want to know more, I'm here.

Sorry! I didn't mean for the belly comment to be offensive!

Eek, I guess that's just as bad as saying- "oh, you're a riverdancer?" (for irish dancing- that's really way too old lol)

Yea, I would like to take classes eventually, since I know DVDs are limited. Saving money right now though, and I don't know of any studio around me that does it. (I'm in Phoenix AZ) Phoenix is pretty uncultured- and if it's there very hard to find.

Looking forward to more possibilities in Florida- around March

LOL - yes it is in the same vein as "oo, I can riverdance, look!" followed by mad stiff flailing!

If you're looking for a class, try your local community centres. I've had more success finding bellydance teachers at community centres than dance studios - most of the studios catering for balet/jazz/modern/tap etc tend to look down their noses at BD, and treat is as though it is not "real" dancing. (Grr) If you're new to the area, community centres are also a great way of meeting people close by.

The really good thing about belly dance is that it is a “slang term” covering lots of completely contrasting types of things, just like the word “pop music.” So it tends to include a very wide range of people. Don’t be put off by the contortionist Rachel Brice. The most famous belly dancer of them all Fifi Abdu never had a single lesson. So just like pop music, best way is to just get off and start doing your thing in whatever way suits you best. Keep at it and you’ll attract other people who think along the same lines.

Eek, I guess that's just as bad as saying- "oh, you're a riverdancer?"

Na, probably more up there with telling someone you're a HIGHLAND dancer and they say "oh, Riverdance!"

That's interesting - have you had people "look down" at belly dance then? Given the high standard of of the "best" belly dancers, yes the worst will be very bad, but the unregulated informal nature will create this situation ie lots of very bad, some good, a few brilliant.