| Bellydancing is swaying its way into being one of | | | | and West. Hey, beats leotards! |
| the most popular forms of entertainment and | | | | 5. You'll love the music. Just as there many |
| exercise. Considered to be one of the oldest | | | | different types of bellydancing, there's also a wide |
| dances in the world-practiced by ancient cultures | | | | range of music you can choose to dance to. |
| from the Orient to the Middle East-the modern | | | | There are the traditional songs, which include |
| world has embraced it for numerous reasons. | | | | Indian and Egyptian influences, or modern Oriental |
| 1. It's a fun way of losing weight. Many women | | | | music that have all the elements of pop but retain |
| have problems losing weight in the abdominal area. | | | | the ancient rhythms, or completely contemporary |
| Bellydancing has a way of tightening that tummy | | | | songs that include rave, techno, and called "World |
| (and the flab in the arms, thighs, and oh, just | | | | Music." Find what makes you groove! |
| about everything). And what makes this so | | | | 6. It's relaxing. If yoga isn't your thing, |
| effective as a weight control program is that | | | | bellydancing's rhythmic movements can help clear |
| women rarely skip a session. The classes are so | | | | your head and get the adrenalin moving. A great |
| enjoyable you don't realize you're burning calories. | | | | stress reliever! |
| 2. You can easily adopt the program to your | | | | 7. You feel sexier. Bellydancing is not, as |
| needs or skill levels. Start with the simplest of | | | | Hollywood portrays it, primarily a dance of |
| moves and then develop your own choreography | | | | seduction. It had religious roots and was meant to |
| when you're ready for something more | | | | liberate the power of the inner woman, not turn |
| complicated. This easy adaptability makes it | | | | her into a man's plaything. That being said, you do |
| appropriate for women of all ages. Plus, you | | | | feel very sexy while doing it, which does wonders |
| never get bored-there's always something new to | | | | whether or not you have an audience. You feel |
| try! | | | | good about your body and you feel good about |
| 3. You can get in touch with your feminine side. | | | | yourself. |
| Bellydancing used to be part of a goddess ritual, | | | | 8. You can do it in your own time. Aside from the |
| and its moves had a spiritual significance. The | | | | large number of bellydancing classes where you |
| reason it focuses on the belly isn't to titillate male | | | | can find one that fits into your schedule, you can |
| viewers-it was to celebrate the womb, and the | | | | practice at home just by playing the bellydancing |
| power of women as the source of life. Very | | | | videos. |
| empowering! | | | | 9. You can get in touch with your ethnic roots. If |
| 4. Those costumes will make you look hot! If | | | | your family has roots in the Orient and Middle |
| you're the type of girl who loves experimenting | | | | East, bellydancing can be a great way of |
| with fashion, then you'll enjoy the sheer variety | | | | connecting to your culture. |
| of costumes that you'll be able to wear. | | | | 10. You just may earn money from it! Get good |
| Depending on which type of bellydancing you | | | | enough at bellydancing, and you can perform. |
| want to get into (yes, there are different | | | | Bellydancing is a popular form of entertainment, |
| schools!) you can wear something ethnic, | | | | and you can do gigs on weekends. Not a bad way |
| something exotic, and all the modern "fusion" | | | | to earn extra money! |
| clothes that mix together elements from the East | | | | |