He went on to tell the young woman that the belly dancing style comes from cheap and defective cultures, and that the body movements make it look cheap and expose modest body parts.
Belly dancing forbidden even in full dress - Culture from Israel, Ynetnews
A very sad article on the comments made by a Jewish Rabbi on Belly Dancing.
Lisa
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, jewish+belly+dancing
Over the past few years more and more women in the UK have been trying belly dancing as a fun way to exercise. Part of the popularity is due to the dance troupe Belly dance Superstars who toured the UK recently with their wonderful show.What makes belly dance such a good workout is that it exercises all parts of the body; arms, legs, waist, spine and buttocks. It is also great for the pelvic floor muscles- the London Birthing Centre use belly dance moves in their antenatal classes.
Home - Suffolk belly dance, belly dance exercise
Good to see that Belly Dancing is becoming more popular in the UK, although I think it was already pretty hot over here before the BDSS.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, belly+dance, bellydance, bellydancing, belly+dancing+uk, belly+dance+superstars, bdss
In fact, many belly-dancing enthusiasts believe there's an ancient connection between belly dancing and birth.Moore argues there is some evidence that belly dance is very possibly the original childbirth exercise. Look closely and you'll see a connection between the movements taught in Lamaze classes and those of belly dance, she says.
I have been reading some great articles about belly dancing and pregnancy - here is one of them (and, no, I'm not pregnant...just fascinated by the possible origins of belly dance).
Lisa
technorati tags:belly+dancing, belly+dance, bellydance, bellydancing, pregnancy+and+belly+dancing, belly+dancing+pregnancy, belly+dancing+childbirth
Shea said recent medical studies show that belly dancing, besides working the outer muscles of the body, is like a massage for the internal organs, aiding digestion and other organ functions.''Chiropractors regularly send their patients here to strengthen their abdominal muscles, which at the same time strengthens their lower backs,'' Shea said.
MiamiHerald.com | 08/20/2006 | Modern fan of ancient form
More evidence that belly dancing is great for your whole body!
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance+benefits, belly+dancing+exercise, belly+dancing+exercise, belly+dancing+health
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing+new+zealand
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing+clinics
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing+name
Before the Internet, people might have only seen a dancer at a restaurant or maybe knew someone who had taken a class somewhere. But the Internet has brought the world to our fingertips, and it's easy to get instructional DVDs and even costumes. So now more people are coming to class who've tried to learn at home with DVDs, and we usually have to clean up their basic technique or catch them up on cultural background--basically fill in the gaps rather than start from scratch. Also, belly dance movements are being sprinkled into other dance forms like contemporary, hip-hop and pop so I think people may be confused about what belly dance actually is.
Fredericksburg.com - Anthea Poole is belly dance instructor in Fredericksburg.
This interview is interesting because the interviewee - Anthea Poole - turned her hobby of belly dancing into her career. Anthea offers some good, sensible business advice.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing+performer
I was inspired to create this page because I have met SO many Bellydancing Librarians that we could create our own interest group at ALA! What is it about this combination? For me, it provides a balance between left brain/rational/cerebral pursuits and right brain/artistic/physical enjoyment.If YOU are a Bellydancing Librarian and would like to contribute to this site, email me at erisw@sonic.net. Send me photos, stories, the URL of your Website, etc. and I will include them; check out the latest additions to the Gallery of Bellydancing Librarians! C'mon, don't be shy, I know you want to join us!
What a great website - the Belly Dancing Librarian! If you want to join her community, check out the website, including all the profiles and photos of belly dancing librarians.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, belly+dancing+librarian, bellydancing+librarian
A lot of people are emailing me to tell me they have been inspired to belly dance by Shakira. Many are embarrassed by the fact. Don't be! If that's what it took to make you realise how beautiful belly dancing is, then great. Shakira is a good role model who has been dancing from childhood, and I love some of the more eastern influences she has been adding to her music.
So, for the Shakira fans, here is the Whenever Wherever Sahara Remix Egyptian version:
Enjoy!
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, shakira, shakira+dance, shakira+belly+dancing
Belly danceMuscles worked: Stomach, arms and torso.Other benefits: Tends to improve body image. Fosters sisterhood. Satisfies a taste for the exotic without unwanted attention.
The Japan Times Online - Kick up your heels and get dancing -- everybody else is
This article takes a look at many different forms of dance that are popular in Japan, including pole dancing (apparently HUGE out there) and describes the benefits and celebrity followings of each. Glad to see Belly Dancing on the list!
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, pole+dancing, dance+styles, dance+benefits, dance+japan, japanese+dance
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydance, belly+dance, reasons+to+belly+dance, belly+dancing+professional
For most of my life I associated belly dancing with "Arab cultures" in the same hazy, xenophobic way I associated parrots with pirates and peace pipes with Indians. Moreover, thanks to the American film industry, I determined that belly dancing was a Middle Eastern variant on the strip tease - something the members of a harem would perform for the sultan. A vulgar, submissive folk art.
The Pawtucket Times - Ethnic dancing unveiled
This is a great article from the Pawtucket Times. After seeing how many people misunderstand belly dancing, this finally puts the record straight. It explains the misconceptions around belly dancing and then explains in layman's terms, exactly what it's all about. I can't see the name of the journalist who wrote the article, but I would love to send them my thanks for the article (shame it isn't in the New York Times or Washington Post ;-)
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydance, belly+dance, Belly+dancing+misconceptions, belly+dancing+origins
Pyro-kinetic artist Molly Block can belly dance while spinning fiery objects around her body. She can dance with a flaming sword and staff. She even does fire breathing.
Not one I suggest you try at home but I bet it's great to watch!
Lisa x
technorati tags:fire+dancing, belly+dancing, belly+dance, bellydance, poi, poi+dancing
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, belly+dance+dvds, belly+dance+videos, belly+dance+beginners
I found this great video on YouTube of the famous Egyptian Belly Dancer Samia Gamal.
If you would like to know more about Samia's history, read the web page below which gives a comprehensive biog (only some of which is shown):
Samia Gamal was born in 1924 in the small Egyptian town of Wana. Months later, her family moved to Cairo and settled near the Khan-El_Khalili bazaar. Samia Gamal then met Badia Masabni, the founder of modern Oriental Dance and accepted an invitation to join Badia Masabni's dance company. Samia Gamal became a soloist and brought forth a newer improvised style. Samia Gamal then incorporated technique from ballet and Latin dance into her solo performances.
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, Bellydance, egyptian+belly+dance, egyptian+belly+dancer, samia+gamal, egyptian+nelly+dancing
I've been taking belly dancing classes for almost 3 years now and I've never had aching feet before! Yesterday we did alot of fast past traveling moves that require you to be on your tip toes. Yesterday was a pretty intense class, and I was fine afterwards. But today....ouch! My feet are really sore and aching on the balls and arches. How do you get rid of the pain and discomfort or at least prevent it from happening again??
Ouch! my feet... - Heavy Hips Tribal Belly Dance - tribe.net
I'd love to know the answer to this too - not so much for belly dancing, but for when I wear high-heels. The balls of my feet get so sore (I'm used to sneakers or bare feet). I'm sure others have the same problem so head over to the Heavy Hips blog and share your wisdom ;-)
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, bellydance, sore+feet
This year marks the 26th year of Utah's Annual Belly Dance Festival at Liberty Park, August 18-20. Six hundred performers from around the world will perform at the fr*ee festival which features a bazaar, mouth-watering exotic food and clinics on dance, make-up, drumming and costuming. Check out the schedule of performers
http://www.kismetdance.com/belly-dance-festival/2006/performance-schedule.htm
I have just received an email about this year's Belly Dance Festival in Utah - now in its 26th year. The event is free to attend, so if you can make it, it looks like it just keeps getting bigger and better.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dance, Belly+dancing, bellydance, belly+dance+festival, utah+festival, utah+belly+dance
"To me, dance is a lifestyle," Parasson said. "It’s therapeutic. It helps me keep my sanity."For others, including one of the three dancer-instructors who organized the show, it’s something closer to obsession.
The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State
An interesting article not only because it focuses on belly dancers from different walks of life who have turned it into a career, but also because it draws attention to its increasing popularity in mainstream music.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, bellydance, belly+dance, shakira+belly+dancing, belly+dancing+career
I*'m often asked where people can find instructors/classes or performers in their local area. I think the best place online is the directory at Shira.net:
http://www.shira.net/directory.htm
Search for your country and then area, and you should find what you are looking for. There are also links to other useful websites.
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydancing, belly+dance, belly+dance+instructors, belly+dance+performers
