Unlike many dances such as ballet, belly dancing does not age discriminate. Of course you can bellydance! As long as you are healthy and able to move, you can bellydance! ;)

Isn't getting ready to take your shower in the morning something like stripping?

Nope, the roundness of my stomach is caused by the fact that I have a uterus and I have to have a place to put it. No amount of dieting or belly dancing is going to make that uterus go away (although I hear you can get it surgically removed, I don't suggest it...)!

Nope! By the time I load myself up with all those beads, sequins, coins, mirrors, and yards and yards of skirt, I weigh ten pounds more than I did before I got into costume!

No, but I work up an appetite when I dance, and the triple-scoop ice cream cone I eat after class probably makes my belly bigger.

Beginner Questions

Although the United States's "perfect body type" is that of a tall, skinny model, it is quite opposite in most other areas in the world. In bellydance, curves are desired and are thought of as very attractive.

So, yes, you can bellydance if you are overweight. ;)

Movement Questions

I was also unable to walk and shimmy at the same time for quite awhile ( I still have a trouble! LOL!), but my teacher, Danielle, told me the following trick:

Start your shimmy in place and get comfortable with it.

Once you're comfortable with it, slowly shirt your weight to one leg so you're on your toe on one side. Get comfortable with that. Now slowly switch legs. Get comfortable with that. Go back and forth like this.

Do this often, and once it becomes easy, try to lift the foot completely off the ground and shimmy. After that becomes easy, try to walk with it! ;)

Backbends can be very stressing on the body, so make sure you have these things before you begin:

A foamy mat you can do it on and kneepads.

Now, get onto your knees. Slowly bend back, keeping your back arched. Make sure your head touches the floor before your back! Once your head touches the floor, slowly pull yourself back up to your knees.

Practice, practice, practice and soon you'll be doing perfect backbends!

Also...if you're sore after this, try taking a hot bath or using a heat pad to soothe your muscles. You may want to cut back on backbends during practice as well if the soreness persists.

Costuming Questions

There are currently no Costuming FAQ.