My Belly Dance Journey By Laurie Richards

I discovered belly dancing through a class at the University of Utah in 2002. The instructor was somewhat curvy and very enthusiastic and patient. During the course she taught her four students some of the basic walks, shimmies, and a few combinations. I had never danced before and I was amazed that I could do a few of the moves-- even if they were rather clumsily done. After six weeks the class ended and for another year I tried to remember what I learned and bought a belly dance DVD to practice with (it wasn't a very good DVD). I told one of my friends, Jodi, about the class. She wanted to take belly dancing classes as well, but neither of us knew where to go. There was a belly dance festival every August in downtown Salt Lake. We were mesmerized by all of the wonderful dancers. I was surprised to see women of all shapes and ages dancing and having such a great time. Jodi and I went from booth to booth asking questions and picking up fliers. Jodi told me to pick a place for classes. I ended up picking a dance studio based on parking lot size. It takes a lot of space to park a 1975 Cadillac (my baby). September 2004 Jodi and I took our first belly dance class together. Jodi was pretty much a natural when it came to dancing. I was pretty much a klutz, but a very, very enthusiastic klutz. I loved the energy of the movements, the way shimmying felt so much like bouncing. I loved mastering an undulation and how snaky and sensual my body felt. I loved feeling coordinated. A year later we joined our first troupe-- a large group of 15 other women of varying sizes, ages, interests, and of course shapes. We had all been taking beginning classes for the last six to twelve months. Our first performance as a troupe was the following March. It was exhilarating and addicting. Stepping on stage wearing a very sparkly costume and dripping with costume jewelry made me feel like a princess. I managed not to fall or have a wardrobe malfunction. Over the years Jodi and I have continued to dance. We still dance with three of the gals from our original troupe. Two of them are beautifully curvy as well. The unexpected side effect of dancing has been the close relationship I have with these lovely ladies. They have inspired me to keep dancing even when I'm self conscious and depressed. As I get older, I am more inspired by the dancers who are older, curvier, or more experienced than me. I love to watch their expressions and their sassiness because that's the sort of dancer I aspire to become. Belly dancing is a wonderful way to get to know your body. Our bellies are the source of our creative energy-- what better way to honor that sacred space than to use it in a creative way? Belly dancing is low impact and it can be as fast paced or as slow as you'd like to make it. Belly dance isolations can increase your flexibility and balance-- both of which can protect your body from major injuries from falls (I fall quite a bit. I suspect the injuries would be a lot worse if I didn't dance). Belly dancing can give you the chance to escape the mundane and become someone just a bit more exotic. It gives you the opportunity to explore your emotions and express yourself. Belly dancing can relieve stress and it's good for your heart and soul. Have I convinced you to try belly dancing? If so, here are a few guidelines: Belly dancers are everywhere. If you want to find an instructor near you, type belly dance and your city into your favorite search engine.

Once you've discovered the belly dancers in your area, give the prospective instructors a call. Here are a few questions to ask them (parking lot size isn't the best reason why to choose one instructor over another. We got lucky. These are the questions I wish I had known to ask): Do you teach beginners? How long have you been teaching? How are you growing as a dancer? What are the days and times of classes? What's the daily/monthly fee? How do you feel about dancers of different sizes or ages? Will we perform? If so, how experienced will we be? Is there the opportunity to join a troupe? So you're taking the plunge. What should you wear to class? Comfy work out clothes are fine. Keep the flowing skirts in the closet for now. Wear a stretchy top that shows your belly or a t-shirt that you can tuck up if necessary. Typically I wear stretchy pants and a t-shirt or choli for practice. This allows my instructor to see what I'm doing and she can correct anything I'm doing incorrectly (and you want that-- it'll help you avoid injury). A hip scarf is extremely useful, especially a jingly one. This gives you a better idea of how your hips are moving and if you're doing a move properly. A shawl or wrap that fits around your hips will work just fine. I'll be honest here. It isn't all that easy to find plus sized belly dance costumes. I've made my own costumes and to be honest, it's easier to make a shiny bra and belt from scratch than to make major alterations to make a factory made bra and belt fit. Nevertheless, there are a few wonderful places where you can find belly dance things that will fit: By Ro! Dancewear: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ByRoDancewear I love Ro's pants. She's a plus size designer and she knows how to make clothes for curvy gals. Her pants are a bit pricey (belly dance clothes usually are), but she uses a higher quality fabric that doesn't feel cheap...and it breathes! I have three pairs of her pants and a swimsuit from her. Yes, she is that awesome. Creations by Angelia: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CreationsByangelia Angelia is another fabulous designer who knows her stuff and she makes plus size dance wear. I really like this woman and her work. Nothing but rave reviews from her clients. Moondance Belly Dance: http://www.moondancebellydance.com/ Not the best quality, but definitely economical. If you need a two-piece bedlah (after you've got a bit of experience under your belt), you will inevitably have to either make your own or find someone who does custom costumes. I've had pretty good luck with Dahlal. http://www.dahlal.com/. Pricey, but they have layaway and you can get a custom made costume for just a bit more than an off the rack costume. Just be aware that you'll still probably have to make some minor alterations (like moving the clasps so they fit you). I would be remiss if I didn't mention http://www.shira.net/. This is the place to learn more about belly dancing in general. She is fabulous and her site has a ton of information. If you need to find out about something, this is the first place to look.