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Belly dancing is a wonderful way to express yourself. I can only be considered a novice at it, but I can share what I know.

I began my love for that dance form quite innocently. My mother was a member of the International Women's Club in my home town-and later its president. One year, for our Christmas celebration, we had a gathering where all the members and their families came together to eat, and celebrate the season together. For entertainment, a local belly dancer came to perform for us.

From the moment she began to move, she had me ,hook, line and sinker.

I was fascinated and watched her move. The music appealed to my ears, sinuous and and graceful; the dance entranced me, for there was color and passion in each movement.

From that day on, I had to learn more and joined a class sponsored by our local city parks, where the dancer had told me to go if I wanted to learn.

It was awkward at first, for me. Teaching your body to move differently is something that takes time and practice. For an hour and a half, each Tuesday night, I went to try the intricate steps, isolate my muscles, and move to the beat. What I learned is that the old notions of belly dance were incorrect: the dance is an expression of celebration, of being female. There is a joy to the movements, and a deep satisfaction in doing it well. Knowledge of the dance's history, of connections with temple dancers long ago, and its continuing evolution as a modern phenomenon, add to its lure.

My proudest moments came when we had our concerts. At the Faith Fourth of July celebration, I performed a solo, enjoying myself immensely, playing to the crowd, and making this dance my own...

Dancers learn control of their bodies and individual muscle groups, painting the mood of the music. Playful and happy, slow and sensuous, the movements work with the music to create unique magic for the viewer.

One of my fellow dancers was pregnant with her second child. She continued coming to practice-one and one half hours every Tuesday night-until two weeks before giving birth, and returned, remarkably, a short time after having her baby. This dance keeps a person supple and fit.

Those who look down on this art form haven't seen it for what it is. It is ancient, expressive, joyous. A good dancer can be spontaneous, literally making each dance hers(or his-for there are male belly dance practitioners!). It is song in motion.

Learn more about this author, Tina Loflin.
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