How to get a belly dancer body

The Belly Dancer's Body - Stance on Dance

March 7, 2016

Editor’s note: Luna is an American belly dancer working in Cairo, Egypt. Her blog Kisses from Kairo is full of her musings and reactions to her life pursuing belly dance in the Middle East. She has generously allowed Stance on Dance to reprint two of her essays. Enjoy!

BY LUNA OF CAIRO

Back home, we have this notion that belly dance has a more accommodating aesthetic than other dances–that this art is for all sizes, shapes, colors and ages. And that may very well be the case, because, we insist on it being that way. And also because belly dance is not a mainstream form of entertainment there. The majority of high profile performances are unpaid and occur within the context of festivals, produced and attended by other dancers. It can therefore get away with having dancers whose bodies would be unsuited for traditional mainstream performing arts like ballet, hip-hop, music video, ballroom, etc. In the real world–and by that I mean the part of the world in which belly dance is a major pillar of mainstream entertainment–things are little bit different. OK, a lot different. In the Middle East, your numbers– inches and years–are just as important as they are for a ballet dancer in the US. There is an ideal standard of beauty held by a good majority of the people, and any deviation from that is less marketable. Now we don’t want to lump all the Arab countries together when it comes to this issue; the ideal aesthetic in Egypt is a bit different than what it is in Lebanon and in some Gulf countries. However within each of those countries, you’d be hard-pressed to find people who have an alternative vision of beauty.

That being said, fellow belly dancer and author Zaina Brown and I decided to share our experiences with body image, as we’ve both been working as professional dancers in the Arab world for years–Zaina in the UAE, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Mali, and India, and myself in Egypt. By the way, you can follow Zaina on her own blog, “Where’s Zaina.” And if that’s not enough, you can purchase her book “Stories of a Travelling Belly Dancer” from Amazon. It’s a great read that documents her experiences working as a dancer in the Middle East. Zaina also just produced a documentary called “Traveling Belly Dancer in India,” which is currently screening in film festivals around the US. It will be available for public viewing by the end of 2015. In the meantime, Zaina is dancing in the New York / New Jersey area and is working on a new book about dancing in the Middle East.

Arabia – By Zaina

I’m a naturally slim person. Of course, lifestyle plays a big part–I’m a pretty healthy eater and I love exercise–but I definitely got skinny genes. This has been a blessing in my belly dance career. For the most part, people haven’t had complaints about the size of my anything.

In the Gulf, the beauty ideal for a belly dancer is very Western – think Victoria’s Secret model. You must have curves but no flab: big boobs, big butt, and a toned belly. The perfect skin tone for the Gulf market is the golden tan of the girl from Ipanema. It’s no wonder Brazilian, Argentinian and Mexican dancers do so well there. The clientele consists mostly of locals and other Arabs living in Dubai, especially Lebanese. Many have been going to the same restaurant every weekend for years. They’ve seen a hundred belly dancers and their mothers, so they have expectations of what the entertainment should look like.

When working in the Middle East, a dancer typically lives in the hotel where she’s performing. This can pose a dietary challenge. It ain’t the Jenny Craig menu over at Sheraton! What’s a girl to eat after work when the only items on the late night menu are Caesar salad, cheeseburger and steak sandwich? With options like these, many dancers struggle to maintain their figure. A little weight gain is not dangerous, a lot can lead to the cancellation of the contract.

Most of the time, I would order breakfast staples at night. Yoghurt, boiled eggs, bread, fruit, cheese. At first they’d give me the “No madam this is not available now” routine but in the end I always got my way. I would become known in the building as the weird lady who orders boiled eggs every night at 2AM, but my body thanked me.

In Dubai, a couple of restaurant owners actually told me to put on a few pounds. I simply ignored it, knowing how quickly the scales tip to “She’s fat.” I’m not keen on messing with my diet – the only way for me to gain weight while dancing every night, and going to the gym many times a week, would be to deliberately eat extra sugar and junk. Besides, I took the ‘advice’ with a grain of salt. Some people always find something to say – it’s in their nature. A performer on the stage is a magnet for criticism.

One Emirati customer really drove that point home. I was trying out a new skirt on the stage. The elastic on the waist was a little tight, but I wanted to see how the skirt felt on before altering it. The look was far from a muffin top, but this customer took note, and made a hand gesture to the drummer behind me to indicate that I was fat.

The feedback I’ve most often received is “You’re too much white.” In Bahrain, one restaurant manager admonished the Lebanese singer for too much tanning (“The people ask me where you get your singer, Sri Lanka?”), and me for lack of tanning (“Tomorrow I’ll take you to the beach!”). I tried to point out how ridiculous this quest for the ‘right’ skin tone was, but it all went to deaf ears. A Lebanese restaurant does not run by any sort of United Colors of Benetton philosophy.

If this seems like Arab racism towards South Asians, let’s take a God honest look at South Asia itself. There is plenty of racism – or should we call it colorism – to go around in that region. Just look at how pale the famous Bollywood actors are compared to the diverse Indian population. While working in Delhi I shot a scene for a Punjabi movie, playing the part of a foreign girl in a nightclub. When watching the finished product, I noticed that the only dark-skinned characters in the entire film were thieves at the police station.

In India, it’s common to hire white females in weddings and other events as ‘hostesses.’ Their jobs vary from greeting guests at the entrance to handing out cocktails. Having pale foreigners around brings prestige to the event. You can then imagine what a hot commodity a white belly dancer is on the Indian stages. The obsession with fair skin is overpowering. I’m no anthropologist, and I’m just skimming the surface here when I say colorism in India is a complex mix of British colonial legacy, the ancient caste system, the country’s recent rise in the global economy, and the basic human need to categorize and stereotype in order to make sense of the chaotic world and where you stand in it. Dancing in India, I sometimes felt like I was taking advantage of this unfortunate situation and making it worse for the local dancers.　

On a happier, healthier and saner note: North Africa is an easygoing place where many flowers can bloom. Never once did I receive criticism about how I looked, dressed or danced during a total of eight months in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. It’s worth noting that these are countries where belly dance is not really mainstream entertainment as it is in Egypt, Bahrain and the Emirates. There aren’t that many clubs with belly dancers in Algeria and Morocco (I’m not taking into account some seedy places that may have a ‘dancer,’ but she’s not really there to dance). In Tunis the nightlife is mostly geared towards Libyans who come for the alcohol, which is not available back home. They come to have fun, not to nit-pick the lineup on the stage. In North Africa, a foreign dancer is accepted as she is, as long as she’s in reasonably good shape.

Egypt – By Luna

One of the things I simultaneously love and hate about Egypt is that I don’t need a scale here. I never have to weigh myself, because there is never a shortage of people telling me when my weight fluctuates. Part of me appreciates the honesty. We don’t always perceive ourselves accurately, so it’s good to know how others see us. (I’m only saying this because I’m an entertainer and people pay to watch me. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t give a fkc about their opinions.) Another part of me–the American PC part–wishes that people would just mind their own business. Not that I expect them not to notice my weight. I simply prefer them to keep their opinions to themselves. (Maybe because the truth hurts?) You see, in Egypt, one doesn’t merely say “you gained/lost weight,” which, though unsolicited, is a pretty neutral observational statement. They either say, “you got fat/skinny” or “you are fat/skinny.” And they say it straight to your face. (Unlike back home, where people either keep their opinions to themselves, or else say them from the protection of an anonymous Facebook account). What makes the words fat and skinny problematic for those to whom they’re directed is that they have connotations–an implicit value judgment, if you will. And most of us don’t like being judged. Duh? In the US and many parts of Europe, fat and varying degrees of fatness equals bad and ugly, whereas skinny and varying degrees of skinniness equals good, beautiful and sexy. In Egypt, it’s the opposite. Not to the extent that obesity is desirable, but that the ideal standard of feminine beauty is still very much about roundness. And a bit of flab. And it is very much indebted to the male sexual imagination. No shock there.

Before you start accusing me of perpetuating the Egyptian-men-love-fat-women stereotype, let me assure you that’s not where I’m going with this. Egyptians very much recognize obesity as a problem. And despite the fact that Egyptian women were found to be the fattest in the world, Egyptians are no strangers to ‘fat shaming.’ They don’t whitewash their words with terms like big-boned, thick, large, heavyset or underactive thyroid either.

I know from firsthand experience that fat shaming is very much a reality in Egypt. A couple of years ago, I reached a whopping 160 pounds (73 kilos). I’m 5’7″ (170 cm). I was beyond curvy. In fact I lost my curves as my waist expanded to meet my hip bones, and my stomach protruded as far out as my chest! A combination of bad diet, stress, and little rest was what did me in. The funny thing is that I hadn’t noticed it. Or maybe I noticed but just didn’t care. I was probably depressed too. Either way, I’ve never been one to fret about my weight, and at the time, I believed that in Egypt, the bigger the better. So I embraced my muffin top, puffed up face, double chin, and extra thick thighs as representing my initiation into Egyptian womanhood.

Until everyone started calling me the F word. Even really fat people were telling me I was fat! I was hearing it at work. I was hearing it from friends. And I was hearing it from fans who watched my clips on television. They would say things such as, “We like your dancing, but you are really fat.”

That being said, I still maintain that the preferred aesthetic is roundness with a little bit of flab. And proportions. T&A is very important, obviously. But so is having a curvy waistline. And fleshy thighs. Basically, an hourglass figure. And then some. Muscular abdomen and thighs aren’t appreciated. They are considered masculine. You can have muscle but it should be hidden under a layer of flab. Visible hip bones and rib cage are thought to be unattractive.

Last year, I got some pretty disturbing medical news. Without getting into details, I had quite a few things wrong with me. I would have to cut the sugar if I were to avoid scary complications. Completely. So I did. I stopped my daily glasses of Coke and Sprite. I quit the coffee and tea with however many spoons of sugar I used to consume. I ditched the macaroni, bread, rice and potatoes, and replaced them with whole foods. Fruits and vegetables. Lean meats. Lentils and nuts. Plain yoghurt and kefir. Fresh green juice that I would make with my new $1200 stainless steel juicer. I was scared. So I made the decision to eat my way back to good health. And I did. But with one unintended side effect: I’ve completely deflated. I’ve lost so much weight that a lot of my clothes don’t fit anymore. My costume skirts slide down my butt revealing crack, and the arm cuffs to many of my costumes fly off while I’m dancing. The good thing is that I’m healthy again. And I now have a waistline. But T&A has suffered. T is easy enough to fix with a larger cup and lots of padding. A, not so easy. I know they make padded underwear these days, but the thought of wearing them horrifies me. I imagine it would feel like I’m wearing a gigantic diaper!

The unfortunate thing is that, while here I am thinking I’m doing good for myself, I’m now subjected to a constant barrage of skinny shaming. From everyone. Everywhere. All the time. And it’s not enough for any given individual to say things once. No, he or she has to say it every time they see me. As though I may not have heard them the last time they said it. You got so skinny. You’re too skinny. You look shriveled up(!). You don’t look like a dancer anymore. Did you stop eating? What’s that shit you’re eating, that’s not food (referring to broccoli and other vegetables). Are you sick?

I’m not making any of this up. These are things I’ve heard from colleagues, friends, fans, costume designers, photographers, etc. Granted, there are a few people in the industry who appreciate the new me and praise me for losing my pot belly. They are the few who understand what a truly well-proportioned body in the entertainment industry is supposed to look like. But they are far and few between.

Bottom line, I can’t be fat anymore. As much as I would love to, it’s no longer a choice. Getting fat would require me to consume sugar, and that would be putting my health at risk. I will therefore continue to avoid sugar like the plague. No amount of criticism or lost opportunities will change my mind. What I’ve realized is that people just want to talk. If you’re fat, they’ll criticize you. If you’re skinny, they’ll tell you to gain weight. If you’re perfect, they’ll find some other ‘flaw’ to complain about, such as your hair color, your height, your dancing, your ethics or lack thereof. This is what happens in societies that haven’t undergone a PC revolution yet. People will just say things to your face regardless of whether they’re hurtful, or even whether they’re true. This is why you have to be very grounded to live in places like this.

And now let me take you on a minor tangent, which really isn’t much of a tangent at all. Fat and skinny aside, the one thing you absolutely must be in order to make it big here is fake. And not just a little fake. A LOT fake. Your fake boobs have to start at size E. Your fake butt should look like a shelf. Your eyes need to be any color but brown. You must have two thick straight lines tattooed in place of your natural eyebrows. Preferably running away from your face. Hair must look extremely processed. Super long hair extensions and/or wigs achieve that perfectly and are a must. Going on stage without a majority of these, uh, assets, is guaranteed to get you told that you don’t look like a dancer. In all honesty, I think it’s ridiculous that the modern Egyptian belly dance aesthetic is full blown drag. Nothing against drag–I love drag. I just don’t think it has a place in Egyptian style belly dance, even if Egyptians are the ones doing it. And I see nothing wrong with innovation or sexiness in the dance, but why do so many Egyptian dancers feel the need to look like pornographic versions of themselves? Is this all they can rely on to get work? To become famous? Is maintaining this look easier than actually learning how to dance and perfecting your craft? How about the fact that Egyptian society has become very puritanical over the years? Does the resulting high level of sexual frustration create a demand for this look? Has the lack of access to female beauty in the public arena ruined people’s taste?

I’m thinking of Samia Gamal. Of Soheir Zaki, Fifi Abdo. Naima, Tahiyya, Nagwa, Zizi, Mona. Sahar Hamdi. I’m thinking of their athletic figures. Of their natural beauty. I’m thinking of Samia’s beautiful short wavy locks. Did anybody tell them they were too skinny or too fat? Did anybody criticize Samia’s short(er) hair? Or Naima Akef’s lean body? Would anyone dare criticize Fifi?

All of these women were beautiful. And all of them were real. Granted, plastic surgery wasn’t an option back then. I’m sure they had their own beauty secrets, but you can see how the idea was to transform them into the best versions of themselves, not into pornographic super heroes. Not into some unattainable standard of “beauty” that would be impossible for the rest of the female population to replicate.

The one thing I wish for Egypt–for everywhere, really–is that people think of beauty and weight in terms of health. Not according to standards set by the heterosexual male desire, or by the homosexual male fashion industry. There needs to be greater nutritional awareness. People need to learn what to eat and why, rather than worrying about whose ass is inflating or deflating. And finally, people need to be more accepting of diversity. Not everybody looks the same. Beauty comes in all different shapes, sizes and colors. Deviating from the ideal standard, whatever arbitrary criteria that’s based on, doesn’t make someone ugly or less beautiful than someone else. It just makes them who they are.

This essay was originally published here.

"Why Do Belly Dancers Have Weight Around The Middle?" — Dance Life Studio & Fitness

by Arielle Juliette

Occasionally, I get emails from Quora, a website where anyone can ask any question they like, and one came up that asked, "why do belly dancers have weight around the middle?"

Among a number of good responses that stated belly dancers come in an array of sizes and it's an art form that accepts a wider variety of bodies than most dance styles, there was one which had a number of culturally-accepted responses that held so many falsehoods in need of debunking. The respondent answered,

"I remember taking a belly dancing class from an overweight instructor once. I surmised that she didn't do much else for working out aside from teaching her belly dance classes and maybe some performances. Or maybe she didn't follow a clean, healthy diet. Hard to say, Just remember that diet is usually key to how healthy and slim a person looks, so even if she did lots of performances, if her diet was off, that could explain her larger appearance (unless she suffered from a medical condition)."

As a belly dance instructor and performer with a soft midsection, I'd like to break this down. Here are some things you cannot tell from my or anyone else's appearance:

-How much exercise a person does

-What amount of physical activity a person is capable of

-What type of food a person eats

-How much food a person eats

-Whether they have a medical condition that affects body shape and size

A person's diet, activities, size, weight, and health are not measures of their worth as a human or whether or not they should be dancing. Large bodies exist, and they exist in people who eat a variety of foods and do a variety of exercise. There doesn't need to be an "explanation" for why someone doesn't exist in a small body. Humans come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and comments like these create real-world bias against those who don't fit the cultural "ideal". This type of ideology perpetuates antifat bias that keeps many people from being able to find clothing in their size (or at all) , from being able to fit in public spaces, from being able to have medical procedures (for example, MRI machines have weight limits that exclude a large segment of the human population), from getting (or even seeking) medical care, and from getting paid equally. The list doesn’t stop here, either.

Diet is NOT key to how a body looks. We could all eat exactly the same things, in the exact same quantities, at exactly the same time, and we would all still come in a variety of sizes and shapes. How our bodies are shaped and sized comes down largely to genetics and the conditions under which we live. While most people are capable of manipulating their body weight to some extent for a small amount of time through restriction, only a tiny percentage of people will maintain that weight loss longer than 2-5 years. The small minority of individuals who do maintain weight loss are not only statistical unicorns, but usually make it their life’s work to keep the weight off- often becoming fitness instructors, trainers or nutrition “coaches,” or dedicating much of their time to managing their food and exercise intake. Our bodies have a set point, "the range (5-20 pounds) where our bodies thrive and don’t fight against any subtle change", and there are a number of mechanisms that our bodies employ to get us to stay in that set point range. According to dietitian Sydney Bates (and many other nutrition and medical professionals),

“[Our bodies] will slow metabolism to conserve energy, reduce fullness signals, and increase the drive to eat. The body interprets dieting, AKA any attempt to shrink or control body size, as starvation. Hence, our caveman brains signal that there is scarcity- leading to activation of these sophisticated mechanisms to bring the body back to the natural set point.”

All of our set points are different, and despite what the BS BMI scale says, here is no one size or small category of weights that humans ought to come in. Furthermore, there's no such thing as "good" and "bad" foods, and moralizing something with no inherent moral value is what fuels eating disorders and low self-esteem. This standard narrative that this responder brings up is homogeneous and toxic, saying that health and fitness only looks like someone who eats with enough "discipline" to create a slim, toned, able body. This is a fantasy propelled by a mega billion dollar industry which has everything to gain from the general population believing our bodies are problems to be fixed. Not to mention the numerous people who will never be “healthy” due to chronic illnesses and conditions, no matter how much they restrict and exercise.

So, to answer the question, "why do some belly dancers have weight around the middle?" I would say, because that is a natural variety of human body shape. There's no way to look at a person and gauge their levels of health, and frankly, it's not important to be able to. Splitting bodies into "healthy" and "unhealthy", "worthy" and "unworthy" negatively effects us all, especially those who are already living a marginalized existence.

There's hardly a more villainized part of the body than the belly, and belly dance is one of the few art forms where we can celebrate all kinds of torsos, and the beauty that all torsos can create. Some humans, including me, are just naturally soft in the middle, some of us very soft, and there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing that's wrong is what we have been taught about soft bodies. If we can find the beauty and worthiness in rolling hills, in folds of sand underwater, in the shivering of water as wind blows over it, in the dotted constellations above us, we can find the beauty in how many of our bodies mimic natural landscapes, both in dance and in stillness. There is beauty to be found in every body. There is worth in all sizes. A person doesn't need to fit our culture's narrow idea of "health" to have value. Our worth is inherent in our humanity. The more we can make space for every size and for every health level, ESPECIALLY and most importantly for the most marginalized bodies in our society, the better and more dignified lives we'll all be able to lead.

Learn to dance belly: 8 steps to beauty and harmony | Beauty secrets | Health

There is no more ancient dance than belly dance. Even the walls of the tombs, erected on the orders of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BC, are painted with scenes depicting in great detail nothing more than a belly dance.

The choreographer was a bee

The legend claims that this erotic oriental dance appeared quite by accident. It was all the bee's fault. Bewildered by the delicate floral aroma emanating from the oiled body of a young dancer, confusing her with a flower, a bee flew under her thin outfit during the performance. Frightened by the uninvited guest, the girl began to rotate her hips and stomach with all her might. It was as if her hips and stomach were competing in mobility, teasing and provoking each other. The grace with which she made the movements delighted those around her.

European travelers eventually became acquainted with the ancient dance. However, his eroticism is perceived by Europeans in different ways. “Indecency and indecency,” some exclaim indignantly. Others consider belly dancing a real art.

The East is a flexible body

The secrets of belly dancing are carefully passed down from generation to generation. For what? Not just for beauty. In Arab countries, the fertility of a woman is still perhaps her main advantage in the eyes of the majority. From early childhood, Arab girls begin to be taught special exercises, which are the basis of belly dancing. Daughters diligently adopt from their mothers the ability to control the body, move beautifully and gracefully. These simple movements make it possible from childhood to strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen, lower back, and hips in girls - expectant mothers, which play a major role during pregnancy and during childbirth.

In addition, belly dancing is an excellent means of keeping slim and seductive forms for Eastern women. Even having grown fat with age, Arab charmers move easily, remain amazingly flexible. This is confirmed by official science. According to the research of modern scientists, Eastern women are less likely to suffer from cervical and lumbar radiculitis, less prone to scoliosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Following Hollywood stars

To maintain a perfect waist and elastic tummy, Hollywood stars are also fond of oriental dances. Imagine: in one dancing hour you can burn up to 400 kilocalories, strengthen the torso, improve coordination of movements, and make the spine more flexible. The dance will teach you how to move beautifully and follow your posture. And although at first it will be difficult for you, but in order to feel the gaze of men behind your back, it’s worth the effort.

Of course, it is better to learn belly dancing in the company of an experienced instructor, but some basic movements can be learned on your own. This simple but effective set of dance exercises in just a few months will make the abdominal muscles elastic and toned, and you - more sexy and erotic.

● Your clothing should be light and not restrictive. To begin with, tie a thin pareo (silk scarf) around the hips, which will effectively emphasize their flexible line. Raise your arms up and, clapping your hands to the beat, gently shake your hips. Do not start dancing immediately at a fast pace. Choose the rhythm of movement that suits you and try not to change it during the dance.

● Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, raise your right thigh sharply, then your left. Try not to strain your abdominal muscles. Repeat the movement 8 times.

● Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Swing your hips gently from side to side, like a pendulum, 8-10 times. Make sure that only your hips move.

● Rotate your hips 8 times in each direction, as if you were spinning a hoop. Please note: the body must be motionless.

● Feet shoulder width apart. As you exhale, stick out your stomach as much as possible, 6-8 times. Tired - take a 10-second pause.

● Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Place your right foot on your toes and lift your right thigh. Shift your body weight to your left leg. Vigorously rotate your right hip clockwise 6-8 times. Repeat the exercise by changing the position of the legs.

● Feet slightly apart. Move the pelvis forward (the stomach is tucked up, the muscles are tense), then back (the muscles are relaxed) 6-8 times.

● Exhale deeply, forcefully draw in the stomach - the diaphragm rises. Then slowly inhale through the nose, sticking out the stomach - the diaphragm goes down. Do not move your body - only the stomach works (repeat the movement 4-6 times).

Dance for half an hour a day (better in the morning on an empty stomach or 2 hours after eating), and normal blood circulation in the pelvis, good bowel function, beautiful gait and majestic posture, healthy joints, elastic muscles are provided to you.

Personal opinion

Alsou:

- If it is professionally done, then I really like this art. But for this it is necessary that several factors come together at once - the dancer's talent, a beautiful concert costume and the beauty of her body. Belly dancing cannot be danced by thin girls - here you need to have something with which to dance this dance!

News portal of the city of Pushkino and Pushkin city district

To be attractive and desirable is a natural desire of every woman. Oriental dance classes help to realize this desire. Belly dance (Arabic dance) is becoming more and more popular among women for various reasons. Some want to learn how to dance beautifully in order to add newness to familiar family or love relationships. Others enroll in training to gain a graceful gait, become graceful and captivating, realize the dream of a flat stomach and feminine hips, for some, belly dancing is an exotic hobby and a source of pleasure.

Today every self-respecting fitness club includes training in oriental dances in the list of services. Belle dance is not only fitness, not only sensual and beautiful dance. Arabic dance is an art, a subtle game that does not cross those lines where vulgarity begins. There are many benefits to belly dancing:

1. Gain confidence in yourself. Belly dance does not suppress individuality, but makes it possible to show natural beauty and hidden femininity, helps to get rid of complexes. Having discovered the wonderful world of dance, a woman understands that happiness does not depend on breast size or weight, learns to love her body and realize her own irresistibility, accepting the features of her figure and appearance. A skilled dancer, even if she does not have a perfect appearance, will still be attractive.

2. Charge yourself with positive energy and cheerfulness. A woman becomes liberated and looks at the world more positively, becoming inner calm and softer, enjoying every day she lives. The enchanting sounds of oriental music perfectly cheer you up. In the process of exercising, rhythmic breathing calms and promotes the production of endorphins - hormones of pleasure.

3. Express your own "I". Having studied the basic elements, a woman will be able to build a unique dance on their basis and show her temperament, character and rich inner world through it.

4. Learn to control your body. Plastic and flexible movements not only captivate the audience. Being engaged in belly dancing, a woman learns to feel her body and control it.

5. Strengthen the abdominal muscles. Trained muscles of the abdomen and internal organs, becoming strong and elastic, play a big role in facilitating childbirth.

6. Heal women's ailments. Regular belly dancing classes contribute to the improvement of the pelvic organs. Intense circular movements of the hips increase blood circulation in the genitals, eliminate congestion, and normalize the hormonal background. Contraindications are ovarian diseases and inflammatory processes in the acute stage.

7. Adjust the work of internal organs. In particular, the performance of large and small circles improves the motor function of the intestine. Fast shaking is an excellent tool for training the cardiovascular system.

8. Get rid of back pain and salt deposits. If a woman suffers from displacement of the vertebrae or vertebral hernia, then you must first consult a doctor. Often, in the process of training, displaced vertebrae are reduced. Elements of oriental dance - plasticity, blows, shaking improve blood circulation and relieve muscle spasms, make joints more flexible.

9. Normalize vascular tone. Arabic dance classes contribute to the normalization of pressure, help to get rid of the symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

10. Improve posture and gain an easy gait. The gracefulness of oriental dance is filled with mystery and femininity. In the process of training, a woman ceases to stoop, her shoulders straighten, her gait becomes smooth and easy, and coordination of movements improves.

11. Eliminate the orange peel effect. Belly dancing strengthens the muscles of the hips, abdomen and arms better than exercising on the simulators. During the execution of vibration movements, an effective massage of the upper fat layer occurs.

12. Shape the hips nicely. Movements such as hip kicks make the buttocks round and firm.

13. Get rid of excess weight. During the dance, a mass of up to 450 calories per hour is burned.

14. Remove extra centimeters at the waist. The abdominal muscles make active movements, which leads to a reduction in the fat layer. A loose and soft belly becomes flat. Translated from Turkish, “bel” means “waist”, which is why the Arabic dance is called “bel dance”.