How to Belly-Dance Like Shakira

Shakira, the Lebanese-Columbian pop performer famous for her undulating hips and abdomen, popularized belly dancing and inspired women to learn her sensuous style. Instructors now offer classes based on Shakira's type of belly dance and they are hugely popular. The following talks about how you can learn to belly dance like Shakira.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Embrace and understand the philosophy of the belly dance. Many people believe that women perform the belly dance for a man's pleasure, however women belly dance to celebrate other women and their rites of passage, such as childbirth. The belly dance improves a woman's self-image and confidence, as well as strengthens her relationship with other women. Shakira uses belly dance to overcome shyness.

2. Surround yourself with other women learning how to belly dance. Music plays a major role in belly dance and directs the dancer's movements, so find an instructor who can help you interpret the music through the dance. Shakira's movements are not unique to her; rather, they are common thrusts, undulations and hip locks common to all styles of belly dance.

3. Develop a long and lean torso like Shakira. Because the belly dance centers on a woman's abdomen, it requires her to have significant muscle control and tone. Eat a well-balanced diet and focus on strengthening the abdominal muscles.

Tips & Warnings

• The belly dance can be a physical cardiovascular workout. If you are considering learning how to belly dance, you should be a healthy individual. If you have questions as to whether or not you can handle an intense workout, seek the medical advice of your physician.