Belly dancing is mysterious difficult sensual and — thanks to Disney’s “Aladdin” — even cartoonish. Many associate it with Shakira who has made it her trademark move.
Few however delve personally into the art of belly dancing. Those that have find it an exquisite fusion of art and culture.
Pepperdine is quietly seeking to change the misconceptions about belly dancing by incorporating it into Dance in Flight and classes at the fitness studio.
Instructor Deanna Hallum introduced the women of Pepperdine to belly dancing the morning of March 19 in the George Page commons. Attendees were also treated to free Lily’s burritos.
“It’s a good experience as a dancer because it’s a whole new world of dance freshman Katherine Noblex said. It focuses more on abs and core muscles while arms and legs are almost ‘decorative’ though it emphasizes balance just like other forms of dance. It is also more sensual.”
Hallum instructed the class in familiar skills such as shimmying rib cage and shoulder isolations and “snake arms.” She also clarified and introduced different types of undulations and the basics of belly rolling.
“Think of moving your belly button up and down on its own she instructed, before demonstrating the belly roll as well as the advanced skill of moving the belly button from side to side using only core muscles.
She performed a few dances for the class including one while balancing a sword on her head.
Hallum majored in dance and has been performing for the last 11 years. She fell in love with the style and movement of belly dancing after just one class. She has since mastered the art.
Belly dance brings opportunity for the individual dancer to find self expression that is about their personal connection to the music through movement Hallum said.
Have fun with it she advises to any who attempt the art. Open yourself up to different styles to find which one you connect to most.”
Belly dancing exists in many different forms.
“All belly dance you see performed is a fusion of cultures in some way Hallum said.
The most popular of these forms is tribal fusion, inspired by a unique mixture of dancing from Turkey and Egypt as well as combining techniques from American jazz and European ballet.
Egypt has two styles of belly dancing, one incorporating older traditions and another more modern version, but both overlap.
The most common style of belly dancing seen in the United States is appropriately titled American cabaret. Sparkly costumed dancers with long, flowing hair perform high energy, flirty dance moves.
During Saturday’s class, Hallum demonstrated the difference between Egyptian and American styles, showing that Egyptian styles accentuate downward movements of the hips. American styles emphasize upward motion.
Belly dancing itself cannot be traced to a single area of origin, though many including Greece, Persia and Egypt claim the title. Hawaii’s native style of hula is said to be a form of belly dancing, though it differs greatly from those found in the Near East.
Belly dancing is not only a celebration of different cultures, but also of different forms of art.
In other styles of dance there are techniques that one must perfect and conform to but in belly dance it’s just the opposite. It’s a celebration of uniqueness of the individual dancers costumes and musicians Hallum said.
Belly dancing accepts and names new movements for the performers who performed them most often. For example, to perform a Maya” is to move smoothly and make a figure eight with the hips.
Hallum prizes the fusion artists and art forms as her favorite part of belly dancing.
“Belly dance celebrates dancers costume designers and musicians and how each connects with the music Hallum said.
Belly dancing is not for the timid. Advanced dancers can work up to performing risky moves and tricks with a variety of props.
Belly dancing may be tricky but with the proper training and skill developed over time anyone will be able to sensually sway their bodies.
