Re: bellydance

Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 15:58:32 GMT
Newsgroups: soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated
Size: 2,135 bytes

em wrote:
> I took a bellydance class at the local community college one summer.
> It is what finally helped me learn to love my belly. It made me feel
> beautiful. I even did a couple of public performances which I still
> can't believe. My self-confidence and self-esteem went up so much that
> suddenly I was popular with men, something I felt I never was, now I
> realize it was my attitude that kept the guys away, not the extra
> layers of fat or the belly.
It certainly doesn't hurt when the teacher says, "You're a queen, a
goddess. Now look like it!" and *means* it.
When I first started taking bellydance classes, my daughter, six at the
time, looked at herself and said, "Do you have to have a big belly to
bellydance?" (The answer, from the culture where the dance is from, is
yes. A little extra padding makes those belly rolls all the more
noticable.)
What kind of public performances did you have? I'd love to hear about
your costuming.
> I can't do the bellydancing anymore because of my hips and knees,
> though I did manage to take 3 semesters. I suspect it was the 9 years
> of competative fencing, the bellydancing was the final straw, but it
> was definitely worth it.
>
> I weightlift, bicycle, swim and walk now which are activities that are
> much more knee, hip friendly for me.
>
> There is a group called the fat chance bellydance troupe(I think that
> is there name) that is suppose to be great. In my area there are also
> some great larger bellydancers, who perform regularly at different
> coffee houses and clubs who are absolutely beautiful and who can do
> amazing things with there bellys.
>
> Em
>
The troupe you mentioned, "Fat Chance Belly Dance", is American Tribal,
and wonderful. I'm finding out that there are a lot more women in
bellydance all over the US than I'd ever expected. You'd be surprised
to find out who has had some classes!
Have you ever read "Snake Hips: Belly Dancing and How I Found True Love"
by Anne Thomas Soffee? Quite an entertaining read. www.snakehips.com
--
aMAZon
zeszutko at nycap.rr.com
"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."