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PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

Dear Shira

Shira

Dear Shira:

Too Heavy to Bellydance?

The Question

Dear Shira,

I've wanted to learn how to bellydance for many years. Recently, I've discovered a class that's being offered in my community that I'd like to take. But I'm overweight. Can I still sign up for the class anyway? Am I too fat to bellydance?

--Baroque Body

Shira Responds

Dear Baroque,

One of the great things about Oriental dance is that you can do it regardless of your figure type. The dance moves complement the way a normal human body moves -- they're not like ballet which is intensely atheltic and requires many years of training to achieve the look. I've seen a number of larger ladies in the belly dance community who move very gracefully.

Unlike jogging or aerobics, belly dancing is a non-impact form of exercise. That means that you can do the dance movements without placing undue stress on your knees, shins, and feet.

You won't have to compare yourself unfavorably against your classmates, because even the classmate who jogs 30 minutes per day and works out 4 times a week at the gym will probably have just as much trouble as you - maybe more! - learning how to do the movements unique to belly dancing such as rib cage isolations, snake arms, and hip articulations.

You can begin learning to belly dance even if you're out of shape, and the dance itself will help you guide your body into physical fitness. It doesn't feel so much like exercise when you're wearing chiffon!

Most belly dance teachers don't require their students to bare their midsections in class. In most belly dance classes, it's fine to wear a snug-fitting tank top, a pair of yoga pants, and a hip scarf.

If you stay with the dance and decide you'd like to perform, there are a number of costuming options that look great on plus-sized women -- you don't need to wear a midriff-baring bra/belt/skirt set, although you can if you want to.

Attractive costuming options could include:

A beautiful caftan accessorized with a hip scarf.
A tunic worn over pantaloons.
A baladi dress, like the one worn by Leyla Lanty (from the San Francisco area) in this photo. Although cut in the shape of traditional folk wear, the sparkly paillettes give this one a glamorous, glittery nightclub look.
An evening gown style of dress.
A folkloric costume, worn to perform a folkloric style of dance.

PHOTO CREDIT: This photo was taken by Leyla's dear friend Marcia Morris Conklin.

See Shira's separate Bellydance Plus web site for many photos of beautiful larger-sized dancers performing in a wide variety of costume styles.

Some of the faster belly dance movements, such as staccato hip movements and shimmies, are very aerobic. Practice doing those for 20 minutes per day, and you'll probably start shedding some of those unwanted pounds! Fast belly dance moves like these can burn 250-300 calories per hour.

So, sign up for that class -- chances are there'll be people of all sizes and shapes in that room, including some whose bodies are shaped a lot like yours! Be realistic in the goals you set for yourself, and you'll have a lot of fun dancing!

What About Working Professionally?

As a beginning student who has yet to take her first class, you'll need several years of study before you start thinking in terms of professional work. So for now, just immerse yourself in the learning process, enjoy bonding with your classmates, and enjoy the process of discovering this exciting dance form. Pursuing belly dancing as a career can actually take the fun out of it, and turn it into yet another stressful job. There are many opportunities to dance as a hobbyist at events created by the belly dance community, and I encourage all students of all body types to focus their goals on being a joyful hobbyist rather than a frustrated, stressed-out professional.

However, I know some people will still want to know what options there are for becoming a professional dancer, so here are some thoughts to consider.

This dance form celebrates all female body types when done as a hobby or social activity. However, as you establish your dance goals, it's important to be realistic about which performing opportunities are suitable for someone with your body type and which are not. If you're serious about becoming a working professional belly dancer, there are many things you'll need to do to prepare yourself for that day, such as acquiring professional-quality costumes, polishing your dance skills to a professional level, learning how to run a business, and yes, losing weight. But before you think this is unfair, please realize that even thin dancers face rejection when they seek professional work. For example, a thin light-skinned blonde may be rejected by a client who who prefers curvy olive-skinned brunettes with a Mediterranean look. Show business is like that, and a person's "look" is an important part of the product she is selling. Pursuing a career as a belly dance professional is not a good option for people who are devastated by rejection, even if they are thin and look like supermodels.

There are certain paying dance jobs for which an overweight dancer may not be considered a viable candidate. Be prepared to accept that, and set dance goals that aim for jobs that value dance skill more highly than body type. They're out there, waiting for an intelligent, ambitious dancer to seek them out.

--Shira

PS: You may not be as overweight as you think! Many beautiful women who have been admired by society were endowed with alluring feminine curves. Consider, for example, Marilyn Monroe. Now, nearly 40 years after her death, millions of people still fondly remember what a beautiful woman she was. Don't let the entertainment industry and fashion industry lie to you! Read Fit And Healthy by Despina Rosales.

Shira has created a special web site dedicated to the needs of plus-sized dancers. Please explore the Bellydance Plus! web site. It contains many of the same articles found here on Shira.net, plus some new ones created special for that site, and all is arranged to make it easy for plus-sized dancers to find the resources they need.

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