Arabian Dance Costumes
Belly dancing is found in Mediterranean countries such as Egypt, Turkey and Morocco. Many dancers disagree over the art's origin but say the different forms of belly dancing reflect various regions that they came from.
Today, numerous versions of belly dancing are taught nationwide. One is the oriental form, which can be found in many traditional belly dancing classes. Those students often are required to wear veils that they carry across their shoulders, finger cymbals and hip scarves that sometimes are adorned with dozens of coins. Berman has been taking such classes at Jasmin Jahal's School of Dance in Chicago since November.
''It's particularly good for women. You see people all shapes and sizes, and it's so unlike a lot of exercise classes where you compare yourself to everyone else,'' Berman said. ''It's a form of dance that encourages camaraderie.''
Other forms of belly dancing include American tribal, which was created in the United States, and another is cabaret, which is glitzier than tribal.
Belly dancing also is offered at some neighborhood gyms. Oreet Jehassi, who teaches an aerobic-like belly dancing that she calls SharQui at seven gyms in New York City, says all her classes are packed with people eager to learn belly dancing.
''It's very high intensity, just like taking a step class,'' said Jehassi, who started teaching classes five years ago. ''It's a total body workout, but it's not just about working the body, it's about working yourself, increasing self-confidence.''
Boosting self-esteem is why many dancers say belly dancing is becoming more popular.
''You feel beautiful when you dance,'' said Marianna Hanchar, who takes classes with Berman. ''You feel more sensual, as opposed to sexual. It's very ladylike.''
It also can be a tough workout.
''It sculpts your body, but it sculpts it like a belly dancer,'' said Sonya Hohmann, an instructor at Jasmin Jahal's School of Dance. ''You're not going to have a washboard stomach, but you'll have curves.''
Besides, doing camel walks and belly rolls is fun.
During one of Hohmann's evening classes, her arms are spread out like wings as she twists her hips front and back.
''It's kind of like your hips are the agitator in your washing machine,'' Hohmann explains. Her students smile and continue the twisting, which crescendos into fast shimmying. The coins on their hip scarfs sound like a chorus of tambourines trying to compete with the loud Middle Eastern music in the CD player.
The more fervent the music, the more dramatic the students' movements and by the end of class, each woman has looked in the mirror and smiled at her reflection.
''In belly dancing, you're actually applauded for your body,'' Jehassi said. ''You just thank God for what He gave you and that's what fitness should be about. We want women to come to class to feel good about their bodies.''