How to learn belly dance at home.
A long, long time ago, before marriage and kids, I was quite the little belly dancer. I was 23, I worked part time, and lived with my parents. I had nothing but time to devote to learning belly dance. I danced and practiced FOUR HOURS and day. Four hours! Now I can't even bring myself to do drills for 10 minutes without freaking out that I'm not going to have enough time to finish dinner before the husband gets home from work.
I kind of stumbled into learning belly dance. I wasn't really familiar with it, nor did I know there were lessons for such a thing. I knew Shakira was supposed to be a belly dancer but I never really looked into what that was. One day I bought an East Coast Tribal
instructional DVD on a whim, tried it out and I was hooked. I had to know more about this "belly dance".
I bought a 3-disc box set for beginners starring Neena and Veena
and became obsessed.
A long, long time ago, before marriage and kids, I was quite the little belly dancer. I was 23, I worked part time, and lived with my parents. I had nothing but time to devote to learning belly dance. I danced and practiced FOUR HOURS and day. Four hours! Now I can't even bring myself to do drills for 10 minutes without freaking out that I'm not going to have enough time to finish dinner before the husband gets home from work.
I kind of stumbled into learning belly dance. I wasn't really familiar with it, nor did I know there were lessons for such a thing. I knew Shakira was supposed to be a belly dancer but I never really looked into what that was. One day I bought an East Coast Tribal
I bought a 3-disc box set for beginners starring Neena and Veena
Learning to make my body do things I had no idea it could possibly do made me feel like a freaking goddess and watching the progress of my strength and endurance build day by day was incredibly fulfilling. I gained confidence and sculpted my body into something I had always wanted!
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23 year old me after a 40-lbs weight loss thanks to diet and belly dance! |
One day my boyfriend (now husband) and I came across a man playing a sitar outside a coffee shop and a wonderful friendship was created. He introduced us to drumming the djembe
and doumbek
and a belly dancer was born! We held small drum sessions every Sunday and I danced and taught other people how to dance if they wanted to learn. It was so much fun!
I still belly dance but I switched my focus to learning Russian Gypsy skirt dancing for the sake of more "authentic" renaissance faire entertainment. (I used to play Daniella Noir the Gypsy Queen at the Texarkana Renaissance Faire by the way).
I still belly dance but I switched my focus to learning Russian Gypsy skirt dancing for the sake of more "authentic" renaissance faire entertainment. (I used to play Daniella Noir the Gypsy Queen at the Texarkana Renaissance Faire by the way).
In my years of belly dancing I've learned that the point of belly dance isn't to learn how to make your belly roll or how to shake it like Shakira, or even to look good in a two-piece sequined costume.
Your goal should be to have fun gaining confidence, building strength, endurance, and mad body control.
Your goal should be to have fun gaining confidence, building strength, endurance, and mad body control.
Hey look it's me as Daniella Noir the Gypsy Queen at the Texarkana Renaissance Faire. |
► I am not a professional belly dancer. I've been a belly dance enthusiast for several years and I love performing and spreading the joy of dancing. All opinions expressed are my own.
► Belly dance is for everyone. Get the idea out of your head that belly dance is only for beautiful, long haired women with perfect figures and impossibly flat tummies. I feel that prior dance experience of any kind helps, but still anyone can learn (and perform) belly dance. Men, women, full-figured, thin, young, old, black, white, brown, and everything in between!
► There are many different forms of belly dance but the most common forms is Raqs Sharqi, but it's usually just called 'Egyptian Style' or 'Oriental'. There's also Turkish and American Cabaret. Often times these styles get mushed into one style of dance that many just simply refer to as "classic belly dance". Unless you're a belly dance expert, you probably won't even be able to tell the difference between any of these styles so don't stress too much about that right now.
Dancer wearing a Belly Stocking™ under her costume. Click photo for original source. |
American Tribal Style ® (ATS®) is sweeping the nations and it's little cousin, Tribal Fusion is the latest form of dance.
I feel it is very important to learn the fundamentals of belly dance
► You don't have to bear your tummy to dance. You can wear whatever you want and be as modest as you need to be - even if you decide to go pro and perform!
► Many professional belly dancers are going to tell you that you need to take actual classes from a pro in order to learn it right, but what they fail to realize is:
#1 Not everyone is striving to be a professional belly dancer. Some folks just want to do it for fitness and fun!
#2 Not everyone has access to belly dance lessons.
#3 There are dozens of belly dance instructional DVDs
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Me, six months pregnant with #2 at Amanda's (above) American Tribal Style ® Workshop. |
OK, LET'S DANCE:
► Where to find free or cheap home lessons: Many professional belly dancers have YouTube videos that show you specific moves but some are nice enough to upload entire beginners lessons! Check out one of my favorite free online instructors HERE.
Bid for super cheap DVDs on Ebay and find very affordable belly dance instructional DVDs on Amazon
► Get a mirror: You'll need to be able to see yourself to see if your motions are on point and to make sure your posture is always in check. Since you probably don't have a giant dance mirror
► Attire: You don't have to wear fancy dancewear to practice. I usually wear a tank top and leggings
And I know you're ready for this one! Coin scarves
There are also quiet hip scarves (or belts) made with large sequins or fringe. Guys might like fringe belts a little better. Plus size hip scarves
A piano shawl
No special shoes are needed, in fact you'll find most belly dancers dance completely barefoot.
► Continuing Practice: When you're ready to get serious about getting your moves down, you'll need to do drills
When the basic lessons no longer challenge you, it's time to move up to intermediate level lessons
► Adding Props: Once you've got your basic stances, movements, travelling steps and many combos
Jamil, male belly dancer performing with veil and cane.
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THE DOS AND DON'TS OF LEARNING BELLY DANCE AT HOME
DO practice at least twice a week.
DO NOT expect to become a belly dance prodigy overnight.
DO expose your belly if you want (no matter what it looks like)!
DO buy a costume
if you want. It will make you feel a look amazing! (Guys too
!)
DO NOT compare yourself to other dancers.
DO NOT jump into practice without proper warm ups.
DO carefully read the descriptions and reviews of any DVDs, props and costuming before you buy.
DO watch belly dance performances by professional belly dancers from all styles so you can see how it's done. There are thousands of videos on YouTube and tons of performances available on DVD
.
DO NOT give up on an instructional DVD because it's too hard. Keep doing it until you get it. That's how you learn!
DO NOT declare yourself a pro belly dancer after going through one lesson.
DO consult a professional belly dancer if you feel you're ready to go pro. They can point you in the right direction of how to get started.
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MY TINY LIST OF RESOURCES
The History of Belly Dance
Plus Sized Belly Dancers
Belly Dance at Any Size - blog
DIY Belly Dance Everything
The Official Page for American Tribal Belly Dance
About Male Belly Dancers
Why You Should Belly Dance During Pregnancy - by me!
Talk With Other Belly Dancers
Belly Dance U - blog
Pin to share please :)
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DO practice at least twice a week.
DO NOT expect to become a belly dance prodigy overnight.
DO buy a costume
DO NOT compare yourself to other dancers.
DO NOT jump into practice without proper warm ups.
DO carefully read the descriptions and reviews of any DVDs, props and costuming before you buy.
DO watch belly dance performances by professional belly dancers from all styles so you can see how it's done. There are thousands of videos on YouTube and tons of performances available on DVD
DO NOT declare yourself a pro belly dancer after going through one lesson.
DO consult a professional belly dancer if you feel you're ready to go pro. They can point you in the right direction of how to get started.
Gorgeous SIXTY year old belly dancer, Dee Orr from Shreveport, LA at the
2016 Texarkana Renaissance Faire. Scott Johnson Photography.
▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲
MY TINY LIST OF RESOURCES
The History of Belly Dance
Plus Sized Belly Dancers
Belly Dance at Any Size - blog
DIY Belly Dance Everything
The Official Page for American Tribal Belly Dance
About Male Belly Dancers
Why You Should Belly Dance During Pregnancy - by me!
Talk With Other Belly Dancers
Belly Dance U - blog
Pin to share please :)
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Okay! You've convinced me to get my DVDs out and start practicing again. I took Tribal Fusion classes for a couple of years until the teacher moved and it was so fun. Have you watched any of the Bellydance Superstars DVDs? They show all kinds of styles.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it, I may have started with a Neena and Veena videotape.
Loved this post! I joined a dance group in July last year and they do Polynesian and belly dancing! I'd learned Polynesian dancing before but belly dancing was new to me--it's been a lot of fun for the practices that I've been able to make it to! I'm on a giant stretch of super long work hours for the next couple months but am looking forward to getting to dance with them again. In the meantime, I'm glad there's youtube + home DVDs! :]
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this! I've always been interested in belly dancing. I get bored of the gym and weights (my boyfriend's domain, bleck, 3 years or so in I'm done) and it just likes like fun but challenging exercise. I've read it really good for hip health into old age, too. I'm going to practice with my roomie this year :D ! So awesome you danced for FIVE HOURS a day holy hell! :D
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I've never tried belly dancing but I can totally see me doing it! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
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