Natasha BellyDance
A Brief History of Belly Dance
Oriental Dance or Belly Dance is the oldest form of recorded Dance in the history of mankind. Historical evidence shows that belly dancers are in Egyptian tomb paintings as early as 14th Century BC and Persian miniature paintings in the 12th and 13th Centuries. Though movements come from many related dance traditions throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean rim.
In the Arab countries, this dance is known like Raks Sharki that means literally, Eastern dance. The name "Dance of the belly" began to use in century XIX by the European that travelled to the exotic countries in search of new cultures. These travellers gave to that term to the dance by the surprising movements of belly and hip that did not exist in the European dances.
About some towns of the antiquity one thought that the human fertility directly was related to the Earth. To women, that was those that created new lives, attributed magical powers to them. In old Greece and Rome different dances from the fertility were made these rites or similars took place in Mesopotamia, Phoenician, Egypt, Arabia and India. In these ceremonies they participated great number of women. In them she danced myself, she sang myself and even in some the women offered themselves to the men in honour to the goddess. The intention of these ceremonies was to bring the power of the goddess to the Earth and to favour the fertility.
During S. IV D. C. the Christianity and the Islam happened to dominate the Middle East. Although they took certain celebrations and pagan rites and took control them adapting them to their new religion, also they destroyed the rituals with cult to the goddesses and tried to eliminate the feminine dances related to the sexuality and fertility.
From principles of this century, the dancers have occupied an important place. At the moment, practically all the Arab women know to dance Raks Baladi, learn from children in celebrations and familiar meetings, but they are few those that decide to be professional, because to be dancer not this good seen in a Muslim traditional society.
Nowadays, as much in east as in the West, the Arab dance, also called BellyDance, has been developed and popularised. At the moment many western women and men exist who dedicate themselves to the practice of this dance.
BellyDance is still a dance for any social occasions in many countries around the world.
In the Middle East, Oriental dance is performed primarily in family situations, for example, social dinners, family outing, and New Years celebrations. It is used as a way to socialise amongst women and women's functions. The women would gather in a circle, taking turns dancing solo or with others, showing off their skill, grace and beauty to the encouragement of the others. When a girl danced for the first time, it was a rite of passage into the world of womanhood.
Health Benefits of Belly Dance
Why has Belly dance steadily gained popularity as the new fitness solution for busy women?
The most important factor in sustaining an exercise program is the 'fun factor'; Belly dancing comes with great music, exciting moves, noisy coin belts and its own special dress code. When one considers safety, the emphasis on posture, core stability, and mastery of technique makes Belly dancing a low impact workout that tones and conditions the body, in keeping with a very modern approach to fitness!
Is Belly Dance a Good Fitness?
Belly dancing offers the three workout in one glittering package. Slow sinewy movements improve suppleness and postural alignment. Constant, repetitive moves build muscle strength and definition, with the body often using forces of resistance to create the move. To obtain a great cardio workout, shimmies, energetic accents and vibrating moves boost oxygen to the muscles, and more importantly, burn fat, and continue burning it.
Why Do Some Women Who Belly dance Become Fit While Others Don't?
The secret of harnessing the magic of Belly dancing is to learn how to sustain certain elements to create a powerful workout effect. It is important to understand that two categories exist: 'Dance for expression/art' and 'Dance for fitness'. Keeping the two separate will make it easier to construct a workout. Repetition is important, and so is a solid, steady beat to drive the movement for 'Dance for fitness'.
It is paramount to do the movements correctly, making sure they generate from one’s core, (the containment of energy generated in the lower abdominal and pelvic muscles). This action must be conscious; one needs awareness in order to access core strength to support the lower back, lengthen the spine and maintain optimum postural alignment. Movements that begin from a strong core or center of the body will improve the posture, help rebalance the endocrine (hormonal) system and will make other muscles function in fully supported and balanced action. Correct posture is essential for those who suffer from any form of back problems. The truth is that many women around the world are dancing in a free-form way that can stress the lower back because they are not using muscles correctly. Posture is paramount! Luckily, an instructor can teach it, and a student can learn and incorporate it within weeks.
How Can Belly Dancing Tone Muscles and Give Definition?
The Belly dance moves that create muscular definition are: snake arms, undulations, belly rolls, shoulder rolls, hip circles, figure eights and slow traveling steps. Floor work can be included, and since Belly dancing doesn't stretch the legs muscles enough, it would be wise to include some leg toning exercises.
How Can Belly Dancing Make Dancers Stronger?
Lifting arms high over the head engages muscles and is a form of resistance that will tone your biceps and triceps. For increasing strength, one must do it regularly, so there should be a drill or repetitive factor. The dancer should push arms up higher than normal to create a successful workout. Thigh muscles powering accents, shimmies and hip moves will creating a tension and resistance too. Because the grounded nature of Belly dance causes thigh muscles to continuously contract to sustain hip movements, it is also a natural leg strengthener. However, it is a good idea to balance this with some muscle lengthening exercises such as: kicks, leg stretches and lifts against a ballet bar, wall or even on a chair. The aim is to get the leg high and use its own weight as resistance to work the muscles. The belly rolling moves will improve the strength of the abdominal muscles, and thus, support the lower back.
Does Belly Dancing Burn Fat?
The good news is that regular cardio workouts at least four times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes of sustained vigorous, low impact exercise will alter the body's BMI (basic metabolic index). In other words, dance, shimmy, do traveling moves and step to 120-130 BPM and the body must burn fat. The music here is important, and it should be fast and steady. The arrangement of songs should build up, peak, and slow down only at the end. Remember: posture, core strength and repetition. A reasonable sweat is a sure sign of fat burning. The body does get used to certain exercises, so try to vary the movements used every few weeks.
"I have the Belly for it! Why does Weight stay around my Belly?”
WEIGHT GAIN through the middle of the body is the first sign of metabolic imbalance of insulin in the body. Unfortunately, it often accompanies the ageing process, and usually starts at around age 30! Chinese medicine and Taoist exercises use the BEAR exercise to improve pancreatic function, by walking with the belly protruding to create a rubbing or massaging effect on the pancreas. It is very similar to the abdominal movements used in Belly dance. Belly dance exercises that massage the pancreas are the abdominal exercises, including the hip circles, pelvic rolls and undulations. Raising the arms actually helps lymph nodes under the armpit clear excess toxic waste from one’s body. Did you know that orchestra conductors usually outlive the band? It's true! Lifting your arms is healthy and detoxifies. Rolling the belly and hips regulates the sex hormones produced by the gonads, which in Chinese medicine rule the entire endocrine system.
Glowing Skin with Belly Dance:
Belly dance workouts can improve circulation, and hence, improve skin tone and radiance. You can buy a loofah and use it after workouts when showering in order to remove dead skin cells and improve circulation to fight cellulite. Shimmies reduce cellulite around the bottom by breaking up the adipose tissue and freeing the brown fat that creates the cellulite “pockets.” So, shimmy regularly!
Emotional Re-balancing Through Dance.
Dance is an expressive, dynamic form of kinesthetic art that requires a special kind of mastery that relies on awareness, movement, balance and spatial geometry. Although dance presents itself as a physical art, it brings out emotive response through the body's articulation of the music. On an emotional level it is liberating, uplifting and helps the dancer experience instinctive rhythmic patterns and feelings. Since its days as an ancient fertility rite, Belly dancing directly supports sexual and sensual function of a woman's body. It improves all aspects of her life: fitness and hormonal re-balancing, confidence and communication, sensual expression, and dynamic living.
Happy BellyDancing to You All!
