Even if we have terrible memories (like I do:), most of us will remember in vivid detail our first belly dance class. In my effort to share the inspiring stories of other dancers in the belly dance community, this week I asked a dancer friend of mine, David of Scandinavia, to share with us what…
Category Archives: Blog
How to Wear a Belly Dance Hip Scarf
Belly Dance hip scarves (also known as coin belts or coin scarves) go along with belly dance like peanut butter and jelly and make you want to get your hips shaking and start belly dancing! Something magical seems to happen when you put on a belly dance hip scarf and hear the jingle of the…
How Sparkles Helped Me With Emotional Eating
Having been in Japan for not even three weeks now, it’s been quite an adjustment for me. This is my third country to readjust to in only six months, and my head has been spinning from the culture shock and all the new things and experiences to absorb and assimilate. Being in Osaka is amazing…
Walk Like a Pigeon: Belly Dance Hip Stretches
We’ve all heard the Bangles song “Walk Like an Egyptian”, and considering this is a belly dance site, you probably thought I would go there. Don’t get me wrong, I do love that song that is so emblematic of the 80′s, but when it comes to improving your belly dance technique and overall just moving…
Shimmy for Stress Relief
Shimmies have always been my most favorite belly dance movement to do. When I do a shimmy I feel both invigorated and relaxed. If I really concentrate on it I can literally feel the stress being shaken out of my body. As a former acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Medicine I learned about how energy…
Why are you moving?
I have been taking private lessons with an incredible dancer in Tel Aviv named Tamar Bar-Gil. She has really expanded my awareness and led me to ponder the meaning behind the movement. Every time we work on refining a particular belly dance movement, even if it is a simple raise of the elbow, she asks…
My Top 5 Ways to Improve your Belly Dance Technique Without Even Trying!
Has this ever happened to you? You decide you are absolutely committed to improving your belly dance technique. You see a movie montage in your mind of you practicing for an hour a day and within a few short months becoming the next Bellydance Superstar. The next day is your first “practice” day and you are…
How To Choose a Belly Dance Teacher
So you’ve finally decided that you are going to learn how to belly dance! Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for a long time and you’ve decided that now is finally the time and you are going to do it instead of just thinking and talking about it! Well, how do you get started? If…
What is the best way to practice belly dance?
There are many reasons to belly dance, ranging from just pure fun and enjoyment to wanting to become a professional belly dancer. However, I don’t think that most people who start learning belly dance do it with the initial intention of wanting to become professional. Most people start belly dancing because it looks like fun,…
Top Take-Aways from Lesson with Orit Maftsir
It took me 5 hours, three bus rides, one train ride and a taxi ride to have a one hour group lesson with Orit Maftsir, but it was all worth it. Orit Maftsir has been one of my favorite dancers for a long time and to finally have an opportunity to study with her on…