Belly dance
Belly dance is a solo dance from the Middle East and North Africa, known in Arabic as raqs sharqi, "oriental dance". It is built on isolations: the hips, chest, belly, arms and head move separately and smoothly while the rest of the body stays calm. Studios teach it in groups, usually barefoot, and many use props such as a veil or finger cymbals.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Control of the body: you learn to move one part while the rest stays still.
- Posture, and a strong, supple core and back.
- Coordination and musicality, following the drum rhythms of Arabic music.
- Low-impact movement that suits many levels of fitness.
- Self-expression and, if you want it, the stage: many studios put on shows.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- Clothes that let you and the teacher see the hips: leggings or a skirt, and a fitted top. Showing the waist is your choice.
- A hip scarf, often with coins sewn on: its sound and movement show how clean your moves are. Many studios sell or lend them.
- Bare feet, or soft dance shoes or half-soles.
- Later, props: a veil, finger cymbals (zills), a cane or fan veils. The teacher tells you when you need them.
- Water.
How a class goes
Section titled “How a class goes”- Usually 60 minutes, sometimes 90.
- A warm-up, then posture: soft knees, a long spine, relaxed shoulders.
- Isolations and basic movements — hip drops and lifts, shimmies (quick shaking of the hips or shoulders), figure eights, undulations of the chest and belly, and flowing “snake” arms.
- Travelling steps across the room, then a combination or a choreography to music.
- Stretching at the end.
- Styles differ — Egyptian, Turkish, tribal fusion and others — and the studio names its style. A first class covers posture and a few basic moves; a clean shimmy takes time, so do not worry if it does not come at once.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- People of every age and body shape: the dance does not ask for a particular figure. Most groups are women, but men dance it too.
- Beginners and people coming back to exercise: the load is gentle and easy to adjust.
- Anybody who wants to feel more at home in their body.
- Dancers of other styles who want cleaner isolations.
- It is less suited to somebody looking for a hard cardio workout. With lower-back problems, in pregnancy or after giving birth, ask a doctor first and tell the teacher.