anyone here ever do bellydance?

[yippee1999]

So I've decided that I want to try bellydance. Mainly figured it would just be fun to learn enough so that...maybe I can dance one night for my boyfriend.

Anyway, I'm an amateur salsa dancer, and the rest of my background is a teeny bit of ballet, teeny bit of jazz, Alexander Technique, yoga, and pilates.

Now granted....I put alot of pressure on myself...too much...I'm very impatient. Last night was my second time at bellydance class. (The first time was about 6 months ago.) I'm not doing bellydance religiously....like a series of classes...but I just plan to take classes here and there when I can.

Anyway, I was getting irritated with myself as I looked in the mirror. I looked very stiff and robotic. I didn't look loose at all. Could my particular background be getting in the way (I am normally very aware of my posture and holding my core straight and tight)...? I don't feel like I'm "getting" the movements...I'm not "feeling" them. I feel like I look silly.

I realized however that it probably didn't help that I was wearing yoga clothes...a racer back tank top and yoga pants...so when I looked in the mirror, I felt more "athletic" than anything else.... So maybe different attire would help me get in the right mindset.

I also found that certain parts of my body were KILLING me from the movements...my glutes, my rips, my arms...boy, I had no idea what a workout bellydance is.

Any tips/thoughts?

Thanks!!

[latingal]

I took a series of belly dancing classes when I was in college. It was fun. Also took a belly dance class just recently for fun at a YMCA...really threw me off because the instructor was doing cuban motion the other direction than what you do in latin - ack!

[Kassia]

So I've decided that I want to try bellydance. Mainly figured it would just be fun to learn enough so that...maybe I can dance one night for my boyfriend.

Anyway, I'm an amateur salsa dancer, and the rest of my background is a teeny bit of ballet, teeny bit of jazz, Alexander Technique, yoga, and pilates.

Now granted....I put alot of pressure on myself...too much...I'm very impatient. Last night was my second time at bellydance class. (The first time was about 6 months ago.) I'm not doing bellydance religiously....like a series of classes...but I just plan to take classes here and there when I can.

Anyway, I was getting irritated with myself as I looked in the mirror. I looked very stiff and robotic. I didn't look loose at all. Could my particular background be getting in the way (I am normally very aware of my posture and holding my core straight and tight)...? I don't feel like I'm "getting" the movements...I'm not "feeling" them. I feel like I look silly.

I realized however that it probably didn't help that I was wearing yoga clothes...a racer back tank top and yoga pants...so when I looked in the mirror, I felt more "athletic" than anything else.... So maybe different attire would help me get in the right mindset.

I also found that certain parts of my body were KILLING me from the movements...my glutes, my rips, my arms...boy, I had no idea what a workout bellydance is.

Any tips/thoughts?

Thanks!!

TIME! PRACTICE!
I've been taking bellydance classes for almost 8 years and every so often i have a dorky awkward time with moves...
Please hang in there... Wear a nice jingley coin hip scarf and that will help accentuate the movements..
The other thing i'd suggest is to try out as many teachers as you can.. Not every teacher is the right teacher for YOU... Also if you are truly struggling ask the teacher for a bit of extra help.. You may also need to take the beginner class more than once... Not everyone moves to a different level at the same pace.. I had one teacher who suggested that all new dancers take her beginners class at least twice, more if needed, before moving up to Beginner 2..
Here near Vancouver BC we have a huge Middle Eastern Dance communtity with dancers, male and female, from all walks of life..
One male belly dancer here is an accountant.. One female dancer i know, and she was president of MEDA(Middle Eastern Dance Association) for a couple of years is a general practice MD and another one i know of is a Vancouver City police officer...
And btw, i just do it for fun.. I have a similar dance history as you.. I've done ballet, jazz, flamenco, a bit of Irish and i figure skated till i was about 22 years old.. But i have danced in shows and taken workshops with some of the "best" in the world.. Check out Jillina of The Bellydance Superstars.. Fabulous dancer, great teacher, so cute and really really nice...
It really does take time, you are learning something new and sadly is does take a little bit long to learn things as we get older...
I'd hate for you to give it up before you really had a chance to see what it's all about... And maybe also invest in some good instuctional dvd's..
Check out Neena & Veena and Jillina. Or any of the Bellydance Superstars. I belive they have a website and probably sell them online.
My husband & I have been taking ballroom too but right now that is up in the air due to some personal problems that need to be worked out.. I love ballroom too but belly dance is my time to dance.. It's my ME time..
And btw, i am 44 years old...

[yippee1999]

Thanks for all the info Kassia!

[WorksForShoes]

Keep at it. I have been taking belly dance off and on for two years (and pretty consistently for the past 6 months) and am finally feeling like the movements are starting to look right. The movements are very different from ballroom -- even from salsa. For one thing, as my teacher continually reminds me, there is no vertical rhythm in belly dance. That is killing me.

Anyway, I find bellydance very challenging. The movements don't always map to "Western" dance movements, the music is different, and the look you are going for is different. But you eventually get to the point where one dance complements the other.

[Kassia]

Keep at it. I have been taking belly dance off and on for two years (and pretty consistently for the past 6 months) and am finally feeling like the movements are starting to look right. The movements are very different from ballroom -- even from salsa. For one thing, as my teacher continually reminds me, there is no vertical rhythm in belly dance. That is killing me.

Anyway, I find bellydance very challenging. The movements don't always map to "Western" dance movements, the music is different, and the look you are going for is different. But you eventually get to the point where one dance complements the other.

Actually Eastern music is more similar than you think...
Find and down load a song called Simarik by Tarkan.. It's a great Samba, only it's being sung by a Turkish pop star... I personally would love to do this one one day for a latin routine..

[etp777]

haven't seen her around much lately, but I know lcdancesport had some bellydancing classes at studio she works at, and based on pictures/stuff she said, sounds like they had a really good time with it.