What will you gain from Belly Dancing?

Physical Benefits

• Improves posture
• Strengthens pelvic floor
• Can aid with weight loss
• Firms and tones muscles
• Increases fitness and vitality
• Enhances flexibility and suppleness
• Prevents and relieves lower back problems by strengthening abdominal muscles

Emotional Benefits

• Develop confidence and self-worth
• Reconnect with your inner goddess
• Get in touch with your femininity
• Can be a moving meditation
• Release tension and frustration
• Learn to love and accept your body with or without curves!
• Meet new friends and become part of a community of like minded women from all walks of life!

There's more....

Belly dancing is a creative art and every woman brings her own experience and personality to her dance. It is a dance for both young and old... As we mature in years our life experiences shape the way in which we express our emotions through the dance which means that unlike most dance forms, belly dancing can be done beautifully by women well into their 60's. Slender women portray the intense strength required to execute the movements while more voluptuous women are able to express the more sensual side of their nature... Fat or thin, tall or short, dark skinned or fair... Each woman is able to express her inner beauty though this ancient and sacred dance.





Here is what Feminine Divine students have to say about belly dancing!




Belly Dance - By Zohra Parker

We are workers; we are dish washers; we are chefs; we are child bearers; we are teachers; we are support structures; we are taxi drivers; we are care givers; we are gardeners; we are negotiators; we are menu planners; we are bag packers; we are mediators; we are companions.

Is it any wonder we hardly have time to be restorers of our soul or just women?

My introduction to belly dancing was through a workshop on a cold Valentine's day afternoon.

I was hoping to awaken my inner woman. The workshop ended but my inner woman was still asleep. I persisted with classes despite feeling no change within myself. I'm still not sure why I continued attending class when I was not having much fun. Eventually the cold rainy nights got the better of me and I gave up classes. Except that I had gotten very used to "me time".

And so with a few clicks of the mouse I discovered the Feminine Divine with classes close to home nogals. I did a bit of homework, calling up Tenille to make sure I wasn't enrolling for another stretch class disguised as a belly dancing class.

That first Saturday arrived and of course I was very nervous, I wasn't sure what to expect.

The goddess before me made me feel comfortable with my decision to be there.

That was four years ago. Why do I keep going back? Because I have two wonderful teachers and lots of wonderful friends who encourage me to be all that I am.

So has my inner woman been woken? Of course she has. How can she be asleep when she is surrounded by the tinkle of bells, by the sparkle of glitter, by the colors of silk veils and make up and costumes? How can she be asleep when she is surrounded by goddesses of all shapes and sizes? How can she be asleep when the beat of a drum beckons to be choreographed but most of all, how can she be asleep when she has a duty to awaken other inner women who have yet to be woken up by the tinkle of a coin belt and a sprinkling of glitter?



Belly Dance - By Natalie Williams

The dance of the ancients, of the goddesses who flow and glide across the room. Their arms swaying to the movements of the body, so sleek, so smooth, so graceful ...

So at peace with themselves, so confident in their bodies and themselves.

The music driving them to perform, they seem oblivious to the awe struck eyes watching,

They are driven by the love of what they feel.

That is just what I see in my class each week. Women of all cultures, all shapes and different levels but we come to release ourstress, cheer each other on, learn from each other and bond in a fellowship like no other.

I started belly dance for the purpose of learning the art of the dance, but it was also a form of exercise that was not as mundane as gym. I could not bring myself to walk into a gym as I felt that all hundred pairs of eyes were on me, on my curves, on my big frame.

In my belly dance class, there is none of that, we have different reasons for coming each week but we all share the love of the dance. I love the freedom of the music and the movements, the sensuality of it, allowing you to drop whatever inhibitions you have and just feel and relax.

Each person in the class with her own interpretation of the moves and the music. It's my release and my teachers are inspirational and phenomenal. I can watch them for hours, because they are the goddesses that we aspire to become. Always patient, always eager to teach. So friendly and approachable. I love my teachers for who they are, each have their own unique style of dance, their own special something that they bring to class. Without them portraying the love of belly dance, I would not come back each week. But above all else, the fun element is always there.

I now love my body for what and who I am. I am a goddess in the making!




Poem - by Zen Jen

Belly dance
subtlely shifts our identity.
By making us more of who we are.
More of whom we were meant to be.
The nonessential aspects of self
start falling away
as
more and more
we streamline
and shine
and hone
and polish
our jewel.
(As Maria would say,
we sharpen our pencils!)
We are belly dancers
body soul and brain.
Even if not
always manifesting in our dance prowess.
Yet.
but that will come.
It will come
with the exquisite training from the Feminine Divine,
It will come from the goddess of the bellydance
who whispers in our ears.
(Whether pushing a trolley in the grocery store,
or jingling and jangling
with coinbelts
and body glitter).
It will come.
The dance unleashes
our Power and Potency
in being a Woman,
our Sensuality,
our Feminine Divine.
We are awakened
to the Dance of Life.
And we dance through life.
With flying kundalini
in joy and rapture
blooming and blossoming
vibrant and sparkling
laughing and having fun.
We are Belly Dancers.
We are The Dance.