What Is Belly Dance?
Belly dance consists of a plethora of Middle Eastern styles of dancing: folkloric as well as classical. It is a cultural expression of peoples of the Middle East and spans from Morocco to Iran.
There are the folkloric styles such as Saidi (cane dance from Upper Egypt) or Melaya Leff (dancing with a huge shawl, from Alexandria, Egypt).
Classical belly dance in Egypt is called 'raqs sharki'. Each Arabic country has its own expression of belly dance.
In belly dance, we also dance with props, such as a cane (assaya), shawl (melaya), Isis wings, fan veils, a veil, or zills/zaggats (finger cymbals).
A belly dancer knows the various rhythms and knows which movements are suitable for particular rhythms. The belly dancer also knows what the composition is about: her dance is an expression of the musical piece. The instruments dictate what kind of movements the dancer makes; for example, camels and hand movements on ney (flute).
Belly dance is a healing dance. The movements bring the energy into motion and this generates great healing effects. The movements make the chakras flow. The movements are diverse and suit the base to the crown chakra: from earth shimmies to trance dance for the crown chakra.
There are the folkloric styles such as Saidi (cane dance from Upper Egypt) or Melaya Leff (dancing with a huge shawl, from Alexandria, Egypt).
Classical belly dance in Egypt is called 'raqs sharki'. Each Arabic country has its own expression of belly dance.
In belly dance, we also dance with props, such as a cane (assaya), shawl (melaya), Isis wings, fan veils, a veil, or zills/zaggats (finger cymbals).
A belly dancer knows the various rhythms and knows which movements are suitable for particular rhythms. The belly dancer also knows what the composition is about: her dance is an expression of the musical piece. The instruments dictate what kind of movements the dancer makes; for example, camels and hand movements on ney (flute).
Belly dance is a healing dance. The movements bring the energy into motion and this generates great healing effects. The movements make the chakras flow. The movements are diverse and suit the base to the crown chakra: from earth shimmies to trance dance for the crown chakra.
The Twenty Benefits of Belly Dance
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Womanhood, Sensuality and Connection
Belly dancing offers women the opportunity to connect to their femininity, and to connect as women. Women have always been a tribe; sharing our moon cycles, making music and dancing together, creating arts and crafts, gathering food, and raising children together.
I believe that women long for this connection.
When I teach women how to belly dance, I can see how they are filled with joy and amazed with the beauty of their female bodies. They are exploring their feminine beauty, and love sharing it with other women. For me, this has been a fantastic journey. Belly dance has brought me acceptance, self-love, self-expression, and has made me love and value womanhood.
Belly dance is sensual, and is a safe way of exploring sensuality. With it comes an acceptance and love for our female body: it is a beautiful body full of emotion, sensuality and power and it wants to express itself.
Belly dance is mysterious, it is a subtle dance in which feminine beauty is celebrated. The round hips and shoulders of women can shake and roll, to kick and flow: it is time to explore and awaken it!
When a woman belly dances, she can show herself and present herself in a beautiful way. By learning how to belly dance we overcome our insecurities; we pull the chest up and we stretch our arms and hands out to the world. We are open and we surrender. We look others in the eye, and we smile because we feel the joy of being a woman.
Belly dance classes can be very useful when a woman wants to learn how to present herself on a stage. Remember, a belly dancer is like a goddess, and you can become one too!
I believe that women long for this connection.
When I teach women how to belly dance, I can see how they are filled with joy and amazed with the beauty of their female bodies. They are exploring their feminine beauty, and love sharing it with other women. For me, this has been a fantastic journey. Belly dance has brought me acceptance, self-love, self-expression, and has made me love and value womanhood.
Belly dance is sensual, and is a safe way of exploring sensuality. With it comes an acceptance and love for our female body: it is a beautiful body full of emotion, sensuality and power and it wants to express itself.
Belly dance is mysterious, it is a subtle dance in which feminine beauty is celebrated. The round hips and shoulders of women can shake and roll, to kick and flow: it is time to explore and awaken it!
When a woman belly dances, she can show herself and present herself in a beautiful way. By learning how to belly dance we overcome our insecurities; we pull the chest up and we stretch our arms and hands out to the world. We are open and we surrender. We look others in the eye, and we smile because we feel the joy of being a woman.
Belly dance classes can be very useful when a woman wants to learn how to present herself on a stage. Remember, a belly dancer is like a goddess, and you can become one too!
My Background in Belly Dance
I was taught belly dance from the age of twenty, by several teachers in Amsterdam: Mahdy Emara, Aisa Lafour, Amira, Kaouthar Darmoni. I danced in several belly dance groups.
Mahdy Emara taught me the most: he is a well-known folklore dancer and choreographer. I was in his 'Baladi Group'. Mahdy had danced in the famous Egyptian Mahmoud Reda Troupe, and had learnt folklore and choreography skills there.
When I moved up North in The Netherlands, I started my own belly dance school and dance group.
In Nicaragua I've taught classes and workshops; and open to host more!
Mahdy Emara taught me the most: he is a well-known folklore dancer and choreographer. I was in his 'Baladi Group'. Mahdy had danced in the famous Egyptian Mahmoud Reda Troupe, and had learnt folklore and choreography skills there.
When I moved up North in The Netherlands, I started my own belly dance school and dance group.
In Nicaragua I've taught classes and workshops; and open to host more!
