"HEARD AROUND THE HAREM"

I thought visitors to my site would enjoy reading comments from my students about the various benefits and aspects of belly dancing.

The ages of my responding students vary.......from 20 years old to 70+ years old.   Below you'll find my initial questions and their responses.

"Why did you start belly dancing?"

  "I first saw belly dancing while sitting around a camp fire surrounded by people watching and playing drums.  It was

       wonderful!  I wanted to join in the fun, so I decided to take classes."    Nadirah Farah

 "I have been interested in belly dancing since I first saw a belly dancer performing many years ago.  I was also curious

       about the origin and history of the dance."  Ishtar

 "I set a goal to do something that was totally different from anything I had ever done."  Souri

 "I always wanted to try belly dancing.  I saw a show when I was much younger and put it on my list of "things to do" before I die."  Jasmine

 "We found it mesmerizing to watch.  It's a form of dance which does not require a partner."

                                                           Suhaymah and Anwar

"I wanted to do some exercise that is fun."  Johara

I started belly dancing for fun, a fitness workout and a stress buster.  I enjoyed it so much that I decided to enroll in a weekly class.  Four years later

I am still belly dancing."   Artemis

"What good things have come into your life as a result of belly dancing?"

"A definite date each week to have fun for one hour; smiles and laughter; great fellow belly dancers."  Artemis

"A fun way to exercise, a new "group" of friends and confidence in myself."  Jasmine

"Friendships, fitness, a sense of accomplishment and overcoming stage fright." Ishtar

"We both have scoliosis and have noticed a decrease in back stiffness."  Anwar and Suhaymah

"It does great things for your body, you make great friendships and you get to play "dress up" with the costumes."  Akilah

"Confidence and better dance moves."  Nashita Zarah

"I have made a whole new set of supportive girl friends, when due to my being new in the area, I had very few friends at all."  Johara

"What was your most interesting experience while belly dancing?"

"Having an enthusiastic gentleman jump up and join our routine when we were dancing at a retirement home."  Jasmine

"Being able to get on stage again and dance in front of audiences."  Rana Manar

"That sometimes people liked what I did, although I didn't think I danced very well."  Souri

"I was invited by an Arabic friend to perform for her daughter's graduation party.  I was expecting a small group of teens, but it turned out to be a huge party of 60-70 Arabic women. I was very nervous about what they would think of me, the blonde American belly dancer, but about a minute after I started dancing, they all got and started dancing with me.  They continued to do so for over an hour!  All of the young girls wanted me to teach them how to do it too!"   Ishtar

"Balancing a sword on my head."  Nashita Zahrah

"Having someone I know do a double take when they see me dancing some place and realize they know the belly dancer and it's me!"  Johara

"Do you recommend that others learn to belly dance and, if so, why?"

"Absolutely.  It's wonderful for any woman at any age, and not only does it give us good exercise, but it is very feminine.  Women of all sizes can do it and feel good about themselves and it is a lot of fun."  Rana Manar

"Yes!  Belly dancing is fun, fun, fun!!!  It is rewarding when you learn a routine and perform it for others.  It is a positive force in my life."  Artemis

"I recommend belly dancing to anyone who wants to do it for fun or study it as a serious art form because you get to challenge yourself by learning all the ways your body can move."  Nadirah Farah

"Wonderful women we've met through belly dancing; the camaraderie and sisterhood in the dance and having our "Inner Divas" unleashed."

   Anwar and Suhaymah

"It's less boring than the gym, your doctor may think you are "unusual" but then brags to other patients about you, great stress reliever."  Akilah

"Yes, because it's fun and you get to meet interesting people.  It's one of the only dances that if you have a little extra jiggle, it doesn't matter.

In fact, the more the better!!"  Nashita Zahrah

"Any other comments you might like to add about belly dancing?"

"It's good, low-impact exercise for people who are tired of the same old stuff.  You meet fun, quality people.  Dressing in costume and performing are

great confidence boosters."   Ishtar

"I never expected to go from wearing a hip scarf to class each week to performing in shows and buying glitz and glimmer for the professional look.....

WOW!!"  Jasmine 

"The classes are fun, the costumes are a hoot and everyone, regardless of their age, body type or weight looks good!"  Rana Manar

"I look forward to belly dance class and seeing the belly dance groupies each week."   Artemis

"Be sure you practice......shimmies don't come over night!!!"  Nashita Zahrah

"If you like to dance and have ever thought about belly dancing, try it out.  You may make some great friends and have a lot of fun.  You might also

find yourself getting out of the house and shaking your groove thing, which is a whole lot more fun than sitting on it!"  Johara

© Arabian Nights - Belly Dancer 2008