I want to be a Belly Dancer

When I was growing up I associated "belly dancing" with Hollywood classics like Son of Ali Baba and Kismet, in other words, with pretty girls in veils swaying their hips in front of Tony Curtis. I had no idea that belly dancing was one of the oldest social dances in the world. I didn't know it was an art form.

And I didn't know that MIddle Eastern Dance could promote strength, vitality, sensuality and grace. That's exactly what I need!

Baladi is the most ancient form of Egyptian solo dance.

I want to learn Raqs baladi, a social dance performed for fun and celebration.

It's an improvisational dance integrated with the rhythm of the music and baladi dancers traditionally wear an ankle length, baladi dress with a coordinating hip scarf.

No sequined bikini style for me!

Image - Halyma

Maria Sangiorgi is a dance teacher (among other things) and a foremost resolution of mine is to attend her classes.

This should be easy enough, her studio is just a short bus ride away from me. Why haven't I done this before?

What kept me from embracing Middle Eastern Dance lessons was my own embarrassment. Surely I'd look silly, if not a trifle sleazy, dancing with circular, rolling, vibrating belly movements?

But watching Maria with her students has opened my eyes. This a woman's dance, an ancient celebration of movement and song that bursts out from the heart.

It's an evocation of the Goddess within.

I want to do it!

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