• Can I use Middle Eastern dance as an exercise to get my heart rate up like a cardio class? 

Yes, Middle Eastern can be used as a cardio workout. Just like many other dance forms when the steps are done at a quick tempo and for 50 minutes a day, 5 days a week it would meet the cardio requirements to help lose weight. 

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In this class, we will focus on the dance as a social dance, not just an exercise.

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• How is Middle Eastern dance different from zumba or other exercise classes?

Middle Eastern dance is more about the music and dance, not just aerobic exercise. 

-Self Expression-   As you become comfortable with the steps and music you are able to emote what the music is saying to you. 

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• Is Middle Eastern dance hard to learn, doesn’t it require a lot of flexibility and the ability to do belly rolls?

I believe that flexibility comes from doing the dance. Muscles are slowly moved and stretched, over time flexibility increases, along with stamina and great posture. 

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Believe it or not, belly rolls are not required to dance. Many dancers don’t do them at all, of course, there are great dancers who are very talented at belly rolls. It all depends on your physical ability. And if you choose to do them. 

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• How long will it take me to learn how to dance.?

Most women who come to class once a week and practice at home are able to feel comfortable with the basics in 10-12 weeks. Just like any other dance or sport, how much time and effort you put in, will determine how long it takes to learn it. 

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• I’ve heard that belly dance is really hard on the knees and joints.

Traditional belly dance is not meant to be hard on the joints and body. In ancient times (tomb paintings) the dancers are portrayed doing more gymnastic moves into their dance. Some of the dancers today also incorporate this history. In this class, we will only be doing non-gymnastic moves. We will be doing the dance as it was done by women in the home and at women’s parties. 

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My classes are more gentle on the body, with no jumping or bouncing moves to irritate knees, hips, or back. I have a history of back issues and Middle Eastern dance is the one thing that I can do that soothes my back. 

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• Where does Middle Eastern dance come from? Do only young women dance?

Typically we think of the dance as being just from Egypt, but from Morocco to Iran, Turkey, Greece, the Saudi Arabian peninsula, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel all have dance that we call Middle Eastern dance. With such a wide geographical range there is a lot of variation in the dances that are done, unfortunately we lump them all together and call it "belly dance". 

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Everyone dances!! What we think of as only a performance dance,  started out as social and folk dance, everyone did it. Just like at a wedding here, most people will get up and dance to a polka, old rock or a great country song. From Grandma to the littlest one, everyone is out on the dance floor having fun. Same thing different place.

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• If it is just dance, “over there”, why do we call it belly dance?

"The origin of the name ‘belly dance’ comes from the French Danse du ventre, which translates as “dance of the stomach”. Sol Bloom is said to have been the first one to use the English term belly dance, for the dancers of the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893. Belly dance is also often referred to as “oriental dance” and also sometimes Raks sharqi. This is Arabic for “Dance of the East”. The term Dance du Ventre, from which belly dance originates, had originally racist connotations so there is currently a debate going on about whether the term belly dance should still be used.”  www.worldbellydance.com/history

A little more on Sol: Sol created an ethnic village which was not getting a lot of attention and not making the money he thought it would. Sol had brought over musicians and dancers from North Africa and Egypt to mimic a street in Cairo.  Since Sol's dancers, danced differently from Europeans (a lot different). European dance was stiff and controlled, compared to the flowing movements of the arms, and sharp movements of the hips of the ethnic dancers.  Sol figured if he started calling it belly dance it would be scandalous and bring in more people. It worked and belly dance was born. 

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• When did belly dance start?

No one knows for certain how old the dance is. The Egyptian tomb paintings from 3000 BCE depict dance. Zils have been dated to and the first written record of the music is from the 7th Century. 

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• What should I bring? Do I have to get a costume and veil for class? 

No, the only thing you need to bring is your sense of fun, a willingness to try new things, and a water bottle. 

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