Belly Dance...  just say it!  Belly Dance!  Didn't that feel great!?! 

Well, guess what... that was made up by a guy trying to sell tickets to a bunch of folks who (up until that point) thought it was folk dancing at the World's Fair.

Since that time, that folk dance has had a bad reputation.  My Mama near about died when I told her I was gonna take a belly dance class.  She told me that I shouldn't go, I didn't even know these people teaching that awful beally daynce.  (You have to say it that way if you're in the South.) 

Well, I tried to explain that it was at a local health club, and I had not read in the paper about anyone being kidnapped out of that particular location.  That didn't help her much, but I went anyway.  I wanted to move!

Now, I've known since I started dancing (in a cheerleader outfit at 4 years old, to the Dallas Theme Song), that I was gonna be a dancer.  Come what may, I was gonna be on stage!  My modest background was working against me from the begining, but I waited.  I had to wait until I was grown and married, but I waited.

Starting class was a little wierd.  Everyone had these hip scarves on, some with more sparkle than others.  They fascinated me!  As the ladies moved, those hip belts shimmered and jingled.  I was hooked! 

As the teacher led us through class, I felt excited.  I was doing something that I never thought I'd be doing, not in Tallahassee!  My hips moved, swayed, circled and my feet found foot patterns.  Shimmies were tricky.  I did pretty well.  No one was kidnapped.  So, I promised that I'd go back.  And I did!

Week after week I found myself meeting new people, learning new moves, and having a ball!  These classes taught me all sorts of things about myself.  Now, I look at my students and see them learning.  It is so exciting knowing they are finding themselves one move at a time. 

Amy Renee

Director & Lead Choreographer

http://www.arabianflair.com/

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