How to Sign up for Belly Dance Lessons

Contrary to its popular image, belly dance was designed to display the power of female dancers, not their allure. The movements of the belly dance come from women's strong core muscles, rather than the extremities. Most of us recognize the undulating belly and hip movements, never realizing the incredible strength and muscular control necessary to perform them. Open your eyes to this bonding, body-toning dance when you sign up for lessons.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Dance or workout clothing

1. Understand the nature of belly dance before you sign on. Not just a sensational show, this dance form is as inward directed as is it audience pleasing. The emotional expression of the music and the satisfaction of body direction are some of the rewards for the dancer.
2. Get into the culture of belly dance. In America, belly dance is usually performed and taught by women. This creates a strong sense of unity and support in which to learn the art. When you sign up for beginner lessons, you'll be entering a community of athletic and artistic women.
3. Locate a belly dance teacher. Ask at performances or dance studios. Try an online directory such as Orientaldancer.net to find a dance instructor in your area (see Resources below).
4. Visit a class before you sign up. Gauge your instructor's level of expertise by how well the students appear to grasp the lesson.
5. Sign up for classes and ask your new instructor how to proceed. She'll let you know which clothes to wear and how to start working the muscles that will allow you to do moves like shimmies, belly rolls and stomach flutters.
6. Start a practice of stretching as a beginner. Habits are easier to continue than break, and you'll be used to warm-ups and cool-downs when you achieve more advanced and demanding moves. Read some great tips for a stretching program at the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance website (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Belly dancing is associated with ancient Greek, Egyptian, Arabic and other Middle Eastern cultures and has a history that predates Christianity.
• The finger cymbals that are a signature of belly dancing, used to punctuate movements or musical notes, are called zills.
• Breathing technique is an important element to belly dance.
• Belly dancing may look easy, but is very strenuous and may involve muscles you haven't used in a while. Strength training and warm-up exercises are important to injury prevention.