Belly beautiful
Dance teacher and performer Hilary Cinis, tells us why Bellydance is so hot right now, and no – it’s not because of the harem pants!
Unique and accessible
There is nothing like the feeling of stepping onto a stage knowing that all eyes are on you and, if only for a moment, you are beautiful and radiant. Bellydance is unique in that it is a style that is accessible to anyone regardless of body type, age or even sex. No other dance style can make a someone feel so good about themselves just the way they are.
Journey of self discovery
I remember my husband coming to pick me up from a class one saturday arvo and he said, he was moved at watching a room full of women of varying ages and sizes so at ease with themselves, clearly feeling beautiful from within. Being the overly ambitious perfectionist that I am, I of course wasn’t happy with just feeling good in a class and since those early lessons nine years ago, I’ve been on an amazing journey of self discovery, community and friendship.
Tribal fusion
Even though I started with orientale/cabaret bellydance (the kind you’ll see in most restaurants) my real bellydance story starts about seven years ago, after seeing a troupe that literally, blew my mind. Having spent 12 years studying classical ballet I was always slightly troubled by the “looseness” of most of the bellydance I saw. Now I had found a style with a noble character, with set arm positions and a central discipline of strong posture and precise movements: known as American Tribal Style (ATS). Created in the US in the 80’s it’s a modern fusion of bellydance moves that can be danced by modern western women. Being this contemporary western style, it has naturally branched into many variations, some of which, barely resemble bellydance anymore. Tribal fusion bellydance is the term used to describe what I teach and perform now.
Sense of self
The impact the dance has had on my life has been so rich -I found a new level of personal confidence. I can’t impress enough, how just the simple act of standing with the tribal bellydance posture can change the sense of self. Back straight, shoulders down, chest lifted, chin level. You walk taller, stronger, more confidently. Standing with your arms wide, open to your dance partner or an unknown bunch of strangers is confronting! But you do it and you win them and confidence grows. ATS is a group dance form, so learning trust and communication with other dancers is central to its success. As a tribal fusion soloist now, my level of experimentation with moves and music has led me on wonderfully creative journey where I have found a medium of expression for very personal experiences.
Exotic & glamorous
Dressing up, wearing glamourous make up and exotic jewellery all makes us feel special and most tribal dancers take these elements into their daily life. Its funny but when we all get together you can tell we share something special. There is a sparkle that is more than just the shiny bits. We are a strong and supportive community which accepts everyone without demanding anything. Prior to dance, I can’t really say I had many strong friendships but now my best friends are all women I dance with. Interestingly enough too, most of us are professional urban women with careers and creative pursuits.
Beauty into form
There are very few areas in our lives where we can be totally self -indulgent, where we must follow our hearts and needs to grow; dance is where I do that. For me dance is about transcribing beauty into form. What I am always attempting to aim for is elegance. Whatever I do with a set of moves needs to be fluid and graceful (and it’s not always a success!). I am drawn to moves that have extended lines and interesting shapes, that interpret the music and texture. Dance should use every part of the body from toes to fingertips. I love the feeling I get when I watch amazing dancers and hope I can share that with other people when they watch me.
For classes and events go to: www.hilarycinis.com/dance.html
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Authors Website: http://omigoddess.com.au
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