How to Learn Arabic Dance for Free

Arabic Dance, also known as belly dancing, is one of the most enchanted and beautiful dances you'll witness or perform. It is a dance meant to entertain, whether in private or during a public performance. Anyone can learn the dance, and it is entirely mythological that belly dancers have flat bellies and perfect bodies. In fact, many professional belly dancers do not fit that model. So if learning to belly dance is something you've been waiting to do "until you lose weight," stop waiting and find out how you can learn without paying an instructor.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Satellite or cable television
• Local library
• DVD player

1. Visit the Joy of Belly Dancing or Magical Motion websites (see Resources). They have numerous articles, step-by-step instructions, and videos by professional belly dancers.

2. Visit your local library and check out whatever they have on instructional videos, DVDs or books pertaining to the dance.

3. Rent or buy belly dancing DVDs. Even if they are not instructional videos it gives you the chance to watch and learn technique, choreography and movement.

4. Check out a television program called Shimmy on FitTV. If you have cable or satellite, you probably have access to this channel (see Resources). This program teaches belly dancing, with breakdowns of movements, technical instruction and dance time. They have a variety of different broadcast times.

5. Practice. Belly dancing involves many intricate movements from the feet to the head, and learning these movements requires regular dancing. The repetition of movement will help your body learn how your arm moves one way, your chest another, and your hips yet another. Even a seemingly simple "snake arms" takes some practice in order to perfect that beautiful smooth snake movement.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand the different types of belly dance and decide which kind is of interest to you before beginning.
• Once you are comfortable with your knowledge and skill, check around to see if there is a belly dancing group in your area that you can join for free. Sometimes these groups exist just to give dancers the opportunity to dance more and continue building their own skill, and sometimes they perform.
• Put together some belly dancing costumes to wear while you dance. Sure, you can do it in your sweats, but part of the fun is wearing the wonderful costumes and jewelry--all of which you can design on your own with a little imagination.
• Belly dancing can cause a strain on the back. If you have back problems, consult your physician before beginning belly dance.

Resources

• Joy of Belly Dancing
• Magical Motion: Bellydancing with Atea and Friend
• Shimmy: Fit TV
• Learn to Belly Dance - no instruction, but a great resource!