Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul Part
2
by: Sandra Schrift
Isadora Duncan, the mother of modern
dance, says, “The dancer of the future will be one whose body and soul
have grown so harmoniously together that the natural language of that
soul will have become the movement of the body. The dancer will not
belong to a nation, but to all humanity.”
In October 1989, while taking a brisk
walk with my friend, Judy Cullins, I was given an idea that would allow
me to merge my body and soul so harmoniously that my life literally
changed. Judy had casually mentioned that she was taking a belly dance
class through an adult education program in San Diego. Her exact words
were, “It’s a hoot,” and that was just enough to spark a long held
adult fantasy. So at the age of 52, this mother of five registered for
the Tuesday night belly dance class and never looked back.
During my first night of class, our
teacher greeted us at the door with these instructions, “Grab a veil
out of the box,” she said. “There’s a dancer inside of you and she
just needs to be let out.” It was right there that I caught the belly
dance bug and it changed the course of my life forever. Although my
friends and peers couldn’t quite grasp the concept and repeatedly
asked why a mature woman decided to belly dance, I could only say that I
found the whole idea of this type of expression both provoking and
rewarding.
I have found that belly dancing is a
metaphor for life, for in dance we move through time and space, just as
we do while we live out the passages of our lives. As I studied the art
of movement, I was also learning the art of living, since belly dancing
teaches one how to be in the moment, to be in the body and most of a to
feel with the entire being. I’ve not only learned how to stay in
shape, but I’ve learned to lead, to follow and best of all, to let go.
Ten years after taking my first lesson,
I started teaching classes to a group of mature women, age 50 and over
(My oldest student was 91) Students come with loads of self-doubt and
self-consciousness, fearfully displaying their belly, yet eager to
exercise and have some fun. They all stay because they love the chance
to play and be in the present moment just like we did as children.
“Love your belly” is what I say, for it’s the only one you have.
“Belly dancing can be equated to removing a curtain as you start to
express yourself,” states Valentina Kouznetsov, a computer engineer
from Russia. “It’s an exercise for my soul and puts me in touch with
my inner femininity.
According to a recent Psychology Today
survey, fifty-six percent of women are not happy with their bodies, most
of whom are troubled by their abdomens, hips, muscle tone and weight.
But things are changing and believe it or not the change is coming about
through the unusual art of belly dancing. During my classes we work our abdominals
and hips in a way that our culture doesn’t teach. Sheila Disper, a
retired social worker says, “We may be seniors but we’re not in
rocking chairs.” I’ve noticed a lot of young people who can’t even
keep up with us,” says Audrey de la Houssaye a retired chemist. Twenty
years to tighten my abdominal muscles that were weakened by surgery, I
am finally achieving results by belly dancing.
Several women have told me they wished
they had known about belly dancing in their child birthing years as they
really see how it would have helped them surrender and open more easily
to the birth energy. What Lamaze calls “pelvic rocking” and “deep
breathing” are referred to as “belly roll” and “flutter.”
Since life begins in the belly we now get a second chance to get back in
touch with our bellies without becoming pregnant.
Something absolutely miraculous happens
to women as they swirl their veils and isolate their hips while waving
their snake-like arms. I love seeing my students rediscover the magic
and mystery of their true feminine energy for belly dancing truly puts
one in touch with the profound wisdom and beauty of who we really are,
no matter what our age or size of our bellies. We are transformed into
earth mothers, playful little girls, queens in ornate costumes and
seductresses all rolled into one desirable woman.
In as much as belly dance is
improvisational, there are basic moves, but once learned the dance
becomes a personal expression of the dancer. Eventually each belly
dancer moves towards greater self-acceptance and confidence. Valentina,
whose mother often called her a clumsy child, says, “I no longer feel
awkward. I am now a dancer with a soul – and the soul is beautiful!”
Clinical Therapist, Susan Siegel says, “The dancer was sleeping within
me. It was not in my master plan but I love being alluring and
spontaneous in my performance. It’s more about feeling than thinking.
During belly dance, the mind, muscle,
hip and shimmy celebrate a woman’s strength and the goddess within.
It’s also very festive as women dress in alluring costumes, shaking
their hips and their belly, coming together as “sisters” in a
non-threatening environment. Audrey de la Houssaye states, “I always
want to look my best in a costume which motivates me to take better care
of my body.”
While spending seventeen days at Ground
Zero, Rachel Chavez, a San Diego nurse, and long time belly dancer,
visualized herself dancing. Doing so seriously reduced her stress. “I
found myself swaying my arms to remove myself from the incessant sounds
of the cranes and jackhammers.”
Once a student feels comfortable with
the dance moves and their ability to express themselves in an
unstructured way, the women easily don costumes and eagerly look forward
to participating in monthly performances at senior centers and nursing
homes in San Diego. Both the men and women in the audiences smile as
they watch the dancers flail their veils, balance swords and act
flirtatious. When a dancer drapes a perfumed veil over the head of a man
in the audience, all the men smile, secretly flattering themselves that
the gesture really was intended for them. The women smile too, because
they all know better. “I love the sense of feminine mystery” behind
my veil and the feeling of mastery says Susan Siegel.
The women who enjoy this form of dance
find it to be a powerful yet joyful expression of their inner souls.
Belly dancers will never let their age get in the way of their lives for
dancing is more than fun
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©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights
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About The Author
Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker
bureau owner and now career coach to emerging and veteran public
speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking
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