Learning belly dancing.?

Question

I saw a show on belly dancing and I was interested.

Is it necessary to have a slim stomach to be able to learn belly dancing? And how hard would it be? Like if I don't know how to control the muscles in the stomach area.

Answer 1

Bellydance is made for women and girls of all ages and sizes.  There is no required body shape or weight.  In the Middle East many larger women dance, even professionally.  It is only among the western world that it's thought we must be super thin with a flat stomach.  Bellydance varies in difficulty depending on the person.  If you are young or old, physically fit or inactive, etc... If you have had previous dance experience it may be easier and if you have had experience playing a musical instrument it may even be easier.  There are many factors that effect the amount of difficulty you will experience.  Everyone can bellydance but some have a natural talent for it and others must acquire talent through practice.  When you start learning you will find that some movements come very easily to you while others seem impossible.  You will also find that what is easy for you may be difficult for someone else and what is difficult for you will seem second nature to another.  The experience is different for each person.  The name "bellydance" is actually a misnomer and the dance actually involves very little use of the  stomach.  Most movements are in the hips and the upper body.  There are only a few movements specifically for the abdominals and those are considered more intermediate and advanced moves and do require a lot of practice to perfect.  You will not need to know how to control those muscles as you will be taught how to do it in class.  Additionally you could bellydance without ever using those specific movements.  If you have any further questions please feel free to e-mail me through my site (which is listed below under the sources).

Answer 2

Take a class. With lessons, its not as hard as it looks, and lots of fun.

Answer 3

Absolutely not necessary to have a slim stomach to learn.  When I started my class, I was (as well as several of my class mates) 300+ pounds. I figured if I waited until I got thin, it would never happen...so I just did it.

In the beginning is hard because you're trying to find the muscles that you're suppose to control, then you're trying to control them. As you progress, you learn to have different muscle groups working separately, but at the same time (hips and shoulders, for example).  The intensity of working/controlling the muscles is a phenomenal workout.  It's part of the dance.  

Just know that if you go in expecting to be a belly dancer in six to eight weeks, it isn't going to happen.  But you will see a great difference in your coordination and control in that time.  And you'll be able to decide if you want to continue.

Incidently, I've lost over 150 lbs and am still dancing. I love it!

Answer 4

no its not necessary and you get a great workout too.

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