2008 Woodie Awards
Bellies are sexy
Madison Landreth
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Life
"Our bodies are the temple to house the souls of who we truly are," says the instructor at the beginning of class. "No matter our size, race, or gender we are all capable of being sexy," he continues. For students who feel insecure with their bodies, belly dancing class at Adam and Eve focuses on being sexy just the way you are.
The exact origin of belly dancing is unclear. Some say that it started in ancient Greece while others say it came from Egypt. The history of belly dancing is strong through Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally the dance was practiced with groups of the same sex. Women could only be seen dancing by their husbands. Traditional dancers today in the Middle East still practice this. They also have much less revealing costumes than may typically be associated with this form of dance.
The style of dance varies between groups with different techniques like African Tribal dancing to the Egyptians' Sharqui. Western belly dancing is most attributed to sol Bloom, an entertainment director of the World's fair in 1893. Many western dancers call themselves little Egypt after the dancer Fatima who popularized the dance her own unique style of belly dancing called the Hootchy-Kootchy or shimmy and shake. Partly due to her popularity, classes began to spring up in the United States beginning in the 1960s.
Belly dancing may seem different to some but the benefits it provides are countless, the biggest of which is exercise. While dancing you must concentrate on isolating muscle groups. The repetition of the movement with particular muscle groups provides a great workout. The class is also extremely relaxing. The body is stretched and worked in ways it normally isn't, so the movements practiced in belly dancing help release built up tension.
The most important reason of all is because it is fun. Belly dancing shows you ways to move that you never thought you could. You'll leave class feeling sexy and confident.
Interested? Great! Classes are small and intimate. They take place at Sundays at 6:15 at Adam and Eve on Spring Garden. Classes cost $9, last an hour, and you get to borrow a fun skirt. No belly dancing experience is necessary, either, so that's no excuse! Make sure you come dressed in gym clothes and a willingness to leave your inhibtions behind.
The exact origin of belly dancing is unclear. Some say that it started in ancient Greece while others say it came from Egypt. The history of belly dancing is strong through Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally the dance was practiced with groups of the same sex. Women could only be seen dancing by their husbands. Traditional dancers today in the Middle East still practice this. They also have much less revealing costumes than may typically be associated with this form of dance.
The style of dance varies between groups with different techniques like African Tribal dancing to the Egyptians' Sharqui. Western belly dancing is most attributed to sol Bloom, an entertainment director of the World's fair in 1893. Many western dancers call themselves little Egypt after the dancer Fatima who popularized the dance her own unique style of belly dancing called the Hootchy-Kootchy or shimmy and shake. Partly due to her popularity, classes began to spring up in the United States beginning in the 1960s.
Belly dancing may seem different to some but the benefits it provides are countless, the biggest of which is exercise. While dancing you must concentrate on isolating muscle groups. The repetition of the movement with particular muscle groups provides a great workout. The class is also extremely relaxing. The body is stretched and worked in ways it normally isn't, so the movements practiced in belly dancing help release built up tension.
The most important reason of all is because it is fun. Belly dancing shows you ways to move that you never thought you could. You'll leave class feeling sexy and confident.
Interested? Great! Classes are small and intimate. They take place at Sundays at 6:15 at Adam and Eve on Spring Garden. Classes cost $9, last an hour, and you get to borrow a fun skirt. No belly dancing experience is necessary, either, so that's no excuse! Make sure you come dressed in gym clothes and a willingness to leave your inhibtions behind.
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kia
posted 3/28/08 @ 4:04 PM EST
enjoy your vocation
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