Frequently Asked Questions
Q: "You're a what?!?!"
A: "We are belly dancers."
Q: "You're ballet dancers?"
A: "No, we are belly dancers."
Q: "Isn't that a little risque?"
A: "No. It's genuinely an ancient art, created by women for women. We are proud of our dance and our families & friends are proud of us too."
Q: "Aren't you a little too old, young, small, big, rigid, flakey, &/or American for that?"
A: "Belly dancing is a wonderful sport for women of all ages, sizes, abilities, personality-types, & backgrounds."
Q: (Glancing around . . . ) "Are men in the troupe?"
A: "Not at the moment, but if a man is dedicated to & serious about the sport, he is more than welcome to be a part of the troupe. There some incredible male belly dancers out there."
Q: "Are you required to perform if you are in the troupe?"
A: "No. We realize that not everyone is a performer."
Q: "How did you get involved in this?"
A: "We were all drawn to belly dancing for our own personal reasons. Some of us wanted a challenging sport that was low impact. Some of us loved music & dance. Some of us wanted to strengthen & empower the softer side of ourselves. You will get a different answer from every belly dancer."Q: "How does belly dancing change your body?"
A: "Better posture, stronger core, greater flexibility, a more confident stride. Basically, you become more sure of yourself in mind & body. You find your inner diva."
Q: "Can you lose weight with belly dancing?"
A: "Yes, that is possible. Some of us have found that by exercising our core muscles which are located next to our internal organs, our appetites have been reduced. We have no idea if there is any scientific basis for this, though.
However, it's probably better to get that weight loss idea out of your head. Read over the above Q&A again . . . I mean, honestly, do you really want to be a waif when you could actually be a diva?!?!"
Q: "How much does it cost to participate in your troupe?"
A: "Currently, as we are just getting started, we have no troupe dance fees. We ask for a $5 cash donation to cover the cost of utilities at the church where we meet on Thursday nights (see "Classes"). If you fall in love with the sport and decide to join the troupe, you might choose to invest in dancewear and/or costumes (which will add to your costs). We try to help each other out as much as possible to keep the costs down."
Q: "If I join a class, do I have to show my belly?"
A: "No, not every belly dancer reveals her midriff."
Q: "What should I wear to class?"
A: "For your first class, we recommend wearing yoga pants & a comfortable shirt that you can tuck up or tie up if you decide to get brave & show your abdominal area. After the first class, you will have a better idea how you want to dress."
Q: "Do you offer childcare at your classes?"
A: "Currently, we do not offer childcare, but the church nursery is just off to the side of the main dance floor, so I guess you could keep half an eye on your kid while belly dancing."
Q: "Do you offer any belly dance classes for children?"
A: "Wow! What a great idea! Kids (particularly kids in early childhood) LOVE this dance! Currently, we do not offer classes for children, but maybe someday in the future . . . "
"If a child shows interest in belly dancing then s/he is probably developmentally ready to dance. This is an art that was traditionally passed from mothers to daughters, so we encourage this. It lines up with the values of the dance. Oh, & yeah, if a boy loves this dance, let him dance!"
Q: "Do the classes & troupe work in tandem together or are they separate entities?"
A: "We like to train people to get their dancing body up to par before they enter into the dance troupe. At the moment, the classes & troupe are working together. However, down the road, we hope to establish a viable troupe that functions on its own & we also hope to offer separate belly dance classes that prepare participants for troupe participation."Q: "I'm burning with questions . . . How do I get all my questions answered?"
A: "In time . . . have patience! We're still trying to figure out all the answers. One step at a time!"
Thank you for your questions!!!!!
