Does belly-dancing REALLY work?

Question

I just finished trying these videos:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=In1bptHtm0I&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=K1lT2J0IiUE&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pqd3pXg9N14&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Uw2ublwIg&feature=related

And I barely felt my muscles being used that much (except legs). I barely broke a sweat too. Am I doing something wrong? =(

Answer 1

It depends on what your goal is, and what you are expecting from belly dance.  You aren't going to get much from these videos that will help you really learn to belly dance.  This is focused less on technique than it is on keeping you moving.  There are better videos for learning technique for various movements.  If your goal is primarily fitness, they might be okay since anything that gets you moving is better than not doing anything.  If your goal is to learn to do belly dance, you aren't going to learn performance technique with these videos.  

Of course, the best way to learn movements is usually in a live class.  You could start by checking with a gym or recreation center in your area. Sometimes they have dance classes, and those teachers may also do private lessons.

You can look on Shira's website.

http://www.shira.net/

http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

other websites where you can look for teachers

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/Dancer...

http://www.bhuz.com/

http://zaghareet.freeservers.com/

http://www.bdancer.com/med-guide/

You can e-mail or call some of the dance instructors to find out what ages they teach in their classes, more about their background, their style of instruction, what they expect from students, and fees they charge for classes. If you don't find a

teacher listed for your area, you might want to contact one from the websites and find out if they may know of an instructor who may live closer to you. You might want to see if you can contact other students of theirs to get their opinions of the classes. A good teacher should encourage this.

If you really prefer to use videos, you can read reviews on Shira's website.  

http://www.shira.net/reviews.htm

Good luck!!

Answer 2

Belly dancing most defiantly works.  I have lost weight taking belly dance classes.  I only watched part of the first video, but it looks like it is a lot of leg work.  

Try taking a class, a video like that isn't a good way to start.  If you don't know how to do the moves, you aren't going to get the most out of it.

Answer 3

belly dancing really does work if you are doing it right. i think you should go to a dance class or just a one day workshop and have a professional show you how to properly do the movements. that way you can get the most out of it because it really does make you break a sweat and its a great way to lose weight and feel hot!!