Bellydancer

Top 12 Reasons to Belly dance                       

1.Health and Fitness                                      

2.Sensuality                                                                                 

3.Spirituality

4.Fun

5.Creativity

6.Self-Confidence

7.Better Posture

8.Grace

10.History

11.Premenstrual Relief

12.Fertility and Childbirth

Quotes

"It is not the movements that make a dance beautiful, it is the emotions that inspired the movements that make it beautiful"-Kristy Nilsson

"Hold your hands out gently . Ask others to do the same.See how different each person looks.Each person has their own unique and natural beauty. Use this beauty when you dance. Respect your individuality"-Artemis

"Learning to walk set you free. Learning to dance gives you the greatest freedom of all; to express with your whole self the person you are"-Melissa Hayden

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion"-Martha Graham

"Do not separate dance as a special thing all by itself. It is life. It is exactly what one does."-unknown

Katina 1988                                                                                                                                                                                                   Belly Dance has change my life in so many ways. I have been dancing since I was a little girl. I had a true passion and love for dance. I was constantly dancing around my house spinning and twirling. Music was constantly filling my heart and soul and I danced wherever,whenever I felt the urge. I knew that when I grew up I would dance professionally, with an eventual goal to open a dance studio of my own. As I got older I worked so hard to become the best dancer I could be by practicing up to 10 hrs a week; trying to perfect this art. I then thought I would go to college to pursue this goal. I prepared long and hard to get into the college of my dreams S-U-N-Y Purchase. After one failed audition I thought I would go for it again. I prepared  again, perfecting my solo and my technique and yet again I did not get in. I was crushed and devastated. I may not have been as strong technically , but I was sure that I would get in by my pure passion and desire to do this. I was so discouraged I thought about giving up on dance, but how could I give up on my dream?

That's when I moved to Florida. I continued on with jazz and modern dance, but I was constantly discouraged and didn't stand up to other dancers. That is when I decided to take a break from dance, but I hadn't completely given up on my dream. A few years after that I started to get the dance bug. I needed to dance again, but wasn't sure I wanted to put myself into the pressure to be perfect; so I looked into other options. That is when I discovered belly dance. I had heard of it before, but never had the opportunity to pursue it. I felt like this was something I had to learn, so I took classes and fell in love with it. This was my true dance passion. I could feel it radiating from my soul. I no longer felt I had to live up to other people's standards. My weight didn't matter, my height didn't matter, how flexible I was didn't matter. I could just be me.

Belly dance has benefitted my body and my soul. I no longer feel that I have to be this perfect dance mold, but I can still express myself through art. I have also suffered for years with anxiety and this dance has helped to calm my fears. It gives me energy and life. It has given me self-confidence, new friendships, a real understanding of how my body works, a sense of truly being comfortable in my own skin.  Belly dance can benefit women with previous dance training or no dance training at all because, it let's you be free, to feel unihibited, to express yourself through movement and not have to worry who is judging you or critizing you.

I dance because, I love to dance and now that I have found belly dance I will never give it up. I teach because, I want to pass on what I have learned and to see women enjoy themselves through movement. I perform because I want to express myself through art and movement; to bring joy to other people, to see people smile and have fun, to see them enjoy what I have to offer the dance world.

I just want to say never give up you will find your true passion. Belly dance is my true dance passion, but I am still grateful for what I did learn in my traditional dance background, even if I felt like I never fit in, and for all of my teachers who got me where I am today Thank you !

                                                                                         Katina June 2006