Bellydancing for exercise!

[TheTempestuous1]

Hey everyone! Well I just started a very fun way to exercise. BELLYDANCING ::shimmies her hips!:: has anyone else tried this? I'm doing it with those 2 twins Veena and Neena. I like it. If you've tried it, have you seen results? (either healthwise or dancewise!)

[Melysande]

**grins** I'm waiting until I lose a bit more weight (so that I don't throw my back out completely), but I will be takng this hobby up. I saw the videos you're referring to on The Pyramid Collection. Azure has been bellydancing for (I think she said) eight years, and she's the one who got me interested in learning how. I'm sure she'll be around later to give more info. She did recommend a good beginner tape from Fat Chance Bellydance (www.fcbd.com). I may start with that one.

[Azure]

I've been bellydancing for ages, 8-9 years, although I'm lazy enough I don't work much at it anymore. Must get over that. I do dance professionally on occasion, though.

It's great exercise, but you have to be consistent about it, just like anything else. You'll get great abs, for one thing, if you haven't figured that out.

It's like yoga, you'll get very flexible and very in touch with your body.

[shnen]

I do it, am performing in a few festivals this summer! LOVE IT! :D:D:D

[Chibi-Fallon]

The one thing I don't like about bellydancing is how it's now the "fat chick thing". :( I've seen a few classes at the Y and such and I'd feel *really* out of place there because I'm small. It's something I've always wanted to try, so I guess I'll just have to get over the fact that I'll be the smallest person there. I do yoga now tho. We do it in biology class too. 8O

[shnen]

Hey! I'm small, and my teacher is small too!
Although, it does look better (in my opinion) if you have a little more to jiggle! ;)

[Azure]

Well, I've seen women of all sizes dance. I have to say, if you're really model skinny, it isn't nearly as effective, because of the lines the body has to create through movement. I've been in seminars and classes with people all sizes, however, and I think what makes it work is skill and rhythm.

As a 5'2," 105 pound size 2 (with the world's suckiest body image to boot), just for the record, I have to say I don't like the terminology you used. "Fat chick thing" is pretty insulting, and I have to say, my teacher, who's a larger woman, is awesome to watch. I'm glad there are performing arts out there that don't demand you be borderline anorexic to be aestheticly pleasing, the way other forms of dance I've studied do.

One of the best things about belly dance is that size really doesn't matter nearly so much as talent, and there are costumes that look fabulous on every body type.

I am sure you didn't mean it to be rude, but it does come across that way.

Healthy means mind, body and spirit, and it has more to do with being in shape than being a particular dress size.

[Chibi-Fallon]

Originally posted by Azure
"Fat chick thing" is pretty insulting, and I have to say, my teacher, who's a larger woman, is awesome to watch. I'm glad there are performing arts out there that don't demand you be borderline anorexic to be aestheticly pleasing, the way other forms of dance I've studied do.

I am sure you didn't mean it to be rude, but it does come across that way.


Hence the quotes. It may be rude but that's what I've heard it called. Well that's a lie. I heard "Why hell do all those fat b*tches do that kinda crap? It's just nasty." And then some whale jokes. So I even toned it down. But does that ever make anyone happy? Nooooooo.
Sorry, I'm not going to say something just to be PC for you. And since I used quotes, I thought people would get the fact that it's not what I think or anything, but whatever. :rolleyes: I should just assume that people will think the worst but then they'd all get me on that. I just can't win. One would think I was used to it at this point.

[Azure]

I don't really have expectations but general good manners. If other people are stupid enough to make comments like you quote, well, they are stupid, and probably suffering from an unfortunate lack of self worth themselves. It takes no courage, no wit, no creativity, to trash other people based on something as superficial as appearance.

Roll your eyes all you like, and protest that you didn't intend to imply that was your opinion, but your choice of words - regardless of your claims of simply rejecting PC choices - was poor and it does reflect on you. You can make the same statements, with just as strong an impact, without being snide, even in quotes.

As I said above, I assume you didn't mean to be rude, but nevertheless, it comes across that way. You owe yourself a lot better than that.

I hope you have the wherewithal to go back to a dance class. Among other things, belly dance can be a highly spiritual and ecstatic experience, and I recommend it for nearly everyone.

[Nect]

:D Another thing I've ALWAYS wanted to learn! There are classes available, but I feel very uneasy with groups so I want to learn it alone... Did all of you start with a teacher?

Nect

[shnen]

I started with a teacher, and still do. It's a good idea becasue you can really hurt youreself if you don't do it right.
You know what, the ladies in the class are ll in the same boat as you, and I have made some wonderful friends too! :)

[Azure]

There are some excellent videos out there, but if you're serious about it, at some point you should find a real live teacher. As it's becoming more trendy, that's easier than it used to be - I started when I took a class in college about 8 years ago, but check your local Y and JCC and other rec centers. If all else fails, check out local Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants - many have dancers that perform there on a regular basis, and they can put you in touch with the local dance community.

There are also large seminars that happen all over the country, where master teachers come in and you take class all day and then get to see a concert at night. They are seriously fun! That's one opportunity you'll have to see men dance (men can be awesome bellydancers) and you sometimes get people who've been doing this for years - it's cool to see little old ladies get up and move like that. Those of us trained in western classical dance forms know there aren't many 70 year old ballerinas left, but belly dancing will keep you active forever it you continue to do it, much like yoga.