Belly Dancing

[Bush Bunny]

I'm giving my man the usual gifts we all give plus a special one. I have signed up for 2 months of belly dance classes starting from beginners to advanced. I have even ordered the costume. Anyone else taken these classes and how did your partner respond?

[dancingdoc2]

Dancing? As a dancer, I can only encourage you to do this and to follow your heart. Regardless of the type of dancing, it can be plain vanilla in how it is performed up to very sensual and seductive. Often dancing has been expressed as "the vertical expression of a horizontal desire". In this context, Belly dancing can be performed "cold", "warm", or "hot", however the moment, music, and energy move you. Watch your "audience's" response and vary your dance routine to get the desired affect.

As an aside, or, perhaps in addition to this, I would also encourage you to learn some Pole dancing moves. While you may not have a pole in your home or apartment, you can certainly adapt some of the movements and add some interesting and alluring "body language" into your performances. If a pole is not available, try using other props like a walking stick/cane, mop handle, or whatever you have handy. Here are some links to interesting and helpful videos:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/331382...ance_practice/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr4pU...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msy7TtyAVIc

There are other videos on YouTube, just search.

Good luck! Happy Holidays.

[tommy_tucker]

that would be so hot! i think the only gift that would be better than that would be a classic sport car or maybe another dance. an ex girl friend of mine used to do amature belly dancing and i found it very pleasing, i thoguh it was better than a normal strip teast because i didnt know what to do. i say do it and get as much out of it as you can. your lover will not be disapointed

[machine_rat]

I was at Half Price Books today and saw a beginner belly dancer kit. There was a how-to manual, two sets of finger chimes, and a CD of music to dance to. All for like $10.

[xfiendfyre]

I know this is an old thread but I'm going to respond to it anyway, since this is an interest of mine, lol.
I was a belly dancer LONG before I was even old enough to be in a real relationship (I was about 10 when I started). Yes belly dancing is sexy, but you also need to understand that the dance itself is NOT about the sex appeal. To be a real belly dancer you must consider the dance a way to express yourself, not just a bunch of attractive moves.
The sex appeal is just a plus.

[RedRoses]

Originally Posted by xfiendfyre

To be a real belly dancer you must consider the dance a way to express yourself, not just a bunch of attractive moves.
The sex appeal is just a plus.

I couldn't agree more on this! Classes in Egyptian bellydancing are at times refered to as lessons in (re)discovering your essence. It's a dance of elegant movements that come from within. Since our belly is our core it's logical the movement is centered around your belly. Though arms are certainly of importance too; moving softly just like water wrinkles in circles from a drop in the center I also love the more wild brazlian bellydancing which is about freeing your soul and releasing all that energy in the rythm of the dance.

For anyone interested in moving from within, but not to perform; a beautiful way is JourneyDance with Toni Bergins. This is dancing for yourself with all the spirit you've got! It's sometimes called meditative dancing. I do this in the center of my living room at times and it feels great!

[xfiendfyre]

Originally Posted by RedRoses

I couldn't agree more on this! Classes in Egyptian bellydancing are at times refered to as lessons in (re)discovering your essence. It's a dance of elegant movements that come from within. Since our belly is our core it's logical the movement is centered around your belly. Though arms are certainly of importance too; moving softly just like water wrinkles in circles from a drop in the center I also love the more wild brazlian bellydancing which is about freeing your soul and releasing all that energy in the rythm of the dance.

For anyone interested in moving from within, but not to perform; a beautiful way is JourneyDance with Toni Bergins. This is dancing for yourself with all the spirit you've got! It's sometimes called meditative dancing. I do this in the center of my living room at times and it feels great!

You said it girl! Haha. Bellydancing also wasn't generally performed for men, it was a dance that women did together and performed for each other, and the men usually were never allowed to watch... I mean I'm sure that some women used it behind closed doors to seduce their husbands, I'm not trying to say that it never happened, it's just that it's not meant to be a sexy, seductive dance. It's the dance that celebrates being a woman, and the movements were used to strengthen the muscles used for childbearing. Women do some of the same movements today to move the child into the correct position before giving birth. To me, using it for the sole reason of being seductive almost seems like a mockery of something that is much larger than that. I am from the middle east and let me tell you, the people there aren't happy about what has happened to their traditional dance.
I sometimes dance in private for my boyfriend, so I do it as well.... but that is not the sole reason why I bellydance, I do it because I think it is probably one of the most beautiful things the human body can do!

[PriscillaSabina]

I like belly dance very much, I would like to learn belly dance please suggest from where I can get knowledge about belly dance

[dlb]

Belly dancing or Arabic dancing is growing quickly in popularity. In most medium to large cities you can probably find classes. I brought back a very nice costume for my wife from Egypt and some costumery for myself. We use it for more than just dancing though

[EvilEvilKitten]

Let me count the ways:

belly dancing
pole dancing
stripping
lap dancing

How come I NEVER see men doing these for their women?

Come on, guys! Swivel a hip or two, dammit!
ZUMBA looks 'interesting'.