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 birth energy. What Lamaze calls “pelvic rocking” and “deep breathing” are referred to as “belly roll” and “flutter.” Since life begins in 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 magic and mystery of their true feminine energy for belly dancing truly puts one in touch with 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 dance becomes a personal expression of 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 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, mind, muscle, hip and shimmy celebrate a woman’s strength and 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 incessant sounds of cranes and jackhammers.”

Once a student feels comfortable with dance moves and their ability to express themselves in an unstructured way, women easily don costumes and eagerly look forward to participating in monthly performances at senior centers and nursing homes in San Diego. Both men and women in audiences smile as they watch dancers flail their veils, balance swords and act flirtatious. When a dancer drapes a perfumed veil over head of a man in audience, all men smile, secretly flattering themselves that gesture really was intended for them. The women smile too, because they all know better. “I love sense of feminine mystery” behind my veil and 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 way of their lives for dancing is more than fun

Register for a free teleclass on "How To Be a Better Public Speaker Immediately"; Thursday, August 26, 2004 from 7-8 p.m. EST. Register by sending an email to: freeteleclass@schrift.com