USU's Middle Eastern dancers shake their way to fun and fitness

By Brooke Barker

June 29, 2005 | She's about to go on stage and shimmy. She made her own costume. She practiced the steps. Her arms and thighs are sore from swiveling and shaking. She did the workout and now it's time for her hard work to pay off.

She's wearing a beaded bra and belt. She can't believe she's doing this, but it's the big event, and her first show as a belly dancer. She walks onto the stage and the spotlight is on her.

The Middle Eastern Dance club (MED) has two performances at Utah State University. Each fall the club teaches classes for beginners, intermediates, and professional belly dancers. About 60 people from the University and community attend classes at the HPER. The big events are the fall and spring shows in the Taggart Student Center.

For the fall show, the club brings in professionals and troupes from Utah State University to perform. In November 2004, the club invited Ansuya, a belly dancing superstar, to perform.

"She loved it so much, she asked to come back again this fall. She loved the crowd," said Holly Swenson, the vice president of USUMED.

The club was organized in 1997, and has evolved over the years. Each president has had a unique style. The current instructor and choreographer, Sumra, is famous among belly dancers in Utah. She even has a move named after her.

No one is really sure how old the art of belly dancing is, but it is something that can be enjoyed by women of all ages. Women ages 13 to 70 come to the classes USUMED teaches on Monday afternoons. Those who attend can wear anything they want, and aren't forced to show off their bellies.

Students who begin attending the classes should be prepared with several things: a $50 to $60 registration fee, zills, veil and a hip scarf used to accentuate hip movements.

Zills are finger cymbals belly dancers are commonly seen playing while dancing. Jenni Blumberg, the president of USUMED said it's helpful to learn to play zills and also belly dance at the same time. That way when combined, it's not as awkward and difficult. Blumberg has been dancing off and on for 10 years and is a part of the Shizadi troupe at USU.

Shizadi performs and competes throughout the state. At their first national competition in 2003, they placed second in the Ensemble of the Year category. There are five members: Sumra, Maayyadah, Sevdah, RaSahra and Sadeema. These women teach the classes and organize the activities throughout the year.

Belly dancers often use professional names, a tradition from the Middle East. In an online article by Me'ira, a Middle Eastern dancer, says dancers have used other names because belly dancing wasn't a respected position in olden times, and today it is a source of protection and meaning. Most dancers pick names that suit their personalities and dance styles. Swenson, told a story of a member, Shems, whose name means sun.

Shems had picked her name based on the way she danced. Someone said they had the perfect name for her, at a competition. The name they offered was Shamsa, a different version of the word Shems. She happily told him, "that is my name."

When a dancer picks a name for herself, it may be pretty, but she should understand the literal definition of the word. The name usually has some special meaning. Blumberg and Swenson told a story of one girl, whose name meant "horrible smell." Even though her name had sounded really pretty, it meant something horrible. Dancers should research their names as to avoid embarrassment by those who speak the foreign languages.

Although belly dancing may be considered a scandalous art form, Swenson says, "we wear as much, if not more clothing than cheerleaders."

There are two styles of belly dancing the club practices: American cabaret and American tribal. They often combine Egyptian style oriental dance into the traditional styles.

Cabaret is flashy and glittery. These are the dances often associated with thoughts of the words "belly dancers." Belly dancers, performing these bright dances have been seen in movies such as Charlie's Angels, The Jungle Book, Casablanca and The Man with the Golden Gun. They appear exotic and foreign.

When dancing cabaret style, a woman will wear a hip belt and matching beaded bra top. The outfits are "jewel colored," according to Blumberg.

These dances are usually the favorite of the dancers and audiences at USU. They are often solo acts. Some of the accessories that USUMED have used are zills, wings of Isis, swords and canes.

"I like dancing with swords. People think it's dangerous," Blumberg said.

The other kind of dancing style: Tribal seems foreign but it actually started in California in the 1970s. The dances are methodical and repetitive. The women decorate themselves in many layers, with facial tattoos, tassels, coins and beads. The colors of the costumes are earthy tones and light reflects off the coins. Women dancing tribal style will throw their hair around and pull their sleeves over their heads.

Sarah Hatch, a member of the intermediate class, describes the dress as a "giant muumuu, with holes for the head and arms." The dances don't accentuate the body as much as the dress.

So why be a belly dancer?

Sarah Hatch picked up the interest after studying abroad in France, and watching a fellow student practice by the pool. She joined the club because it offered something unique.

"I couldn't picture myself as a ballerina," Swenson said.

"It was a new creative way to express myself. It seemed womanly," Blumberg said.

Belly dancing has just started being recognized as a form of exercise in the public eye. There are numerous videos and classes throughout the United States devoted to the art form.

"It's mostly toning. When I first started, I noticed my arms were really sore," said Hatch.

"People will sometimes ask me if I have strong abs. I tell them no, but I have really tough legs," Swenson said. "It also helps posture."

People of all shapes can belly dance. Some of the faster movements such as staccato hip shimmies can help you lose weight according to an article by Shira, a woman who has been studying middle eastern dance for over 20 years. Although Shira has one of the most comprehensive web-sites on belly dancing, she also teaches classes in the LA area.

Belly dancing burns an average of 250- 300 calories per hour according to Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat's web-site. Shira lost 55 pounds while belly dancing regularly and eating healthy. She believes that it can help you lose weight but not prevent weight gain. Practicing with faster music, and getting into a class that keeps you moving the whole time will help weight loss.

Swenson described that in the beginning class at USU there can be a small girl and curvy girl doing the same dance together and both look good. Belly dancing is a good way to increase self-esteem, because all you have to do is shake whatever you've got and get the crowd cheering "Opa!" (great).

The girl walks off the stage, she's made the crowd cheer, people loved her for who she was and how her body was shaped. She can't wait until next year's show, when she can make an even brighter, bolder costume and get the crowd to cheer "Opa!" once more.

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