These hips don't lie: first official belly dancing group debuts

It's 1:45 p.m., and there are butterflies in sophomore communication major Quiana Bell's stomach.

In a few hours, Bell will to shake her hips on stage, revealing her stomach and shoulders while barely covering her chest in front of more than 100 spectators during the first-ever performance by Danse du Ventre, the university's first official belly dancing group. The group's performance last night - part of the Cultural Unity Forum at the Nyumburu Cultural Center - came only one week after its first meeting and one day before the group's first actual scheduled rehearsal.

And on top of all that stress is the fact that no one has ever seen Bell belly dance before - unless her mirror counts.

"I've always been conservative about revealing skin," Bell said while sitting in the amphitheater outside Nyumburu. "But I love my body and it's about time that I show it … Well, not all of it."

Though the group has no definite numbers on membership yet, about 25 to 30 people showed up to its first meeting last week, group founder Sonia Herrero said. Of those prospective group members, Bell, Herrero and freshman Vanessa Allen, who is in letters and sciences, were the only ones brave enough to take the stage last night.

But it's not as hard as it looks, Herrero, a senior English major, said. Herrero began belly dancing only last year and was inspired to start the club after attending a five-day workshop off the campus by belly-dancing superstar Rachel Brice.

"You don't need any experience," Herrero, who has belly danced at bars, theaters and on the campus at last month's Stampfest, said. "All I require is that you love your body and be willing to share what you appreciate about your body."

Belly dancing is an ancient form of dance indigenous to North Africa, Asia and the Middle East that combines hip movements and belly rolling in a style Herrero describes as "slow, sultry, soothing and relaxing." The group's name means "dance of the stomach" in French, and was a common term used in Europe during the 19th century to describe the dancers from French colonies such as Algeria and other areas such as Egypt, Tunisia and Syria, according to www.learn-to-belly-dance.com.

But to Herrero, none of these physical gyrations would be possible without the right mindset.

"You have to ... lose all your thoughts of imperfections about yourself," Herrero said.

This approach clearly resonates with Bell, who belly dances for fun on her own, emulating what she has seen on DVDs and YouTube videos. Despite this passion, Bell had never considered performing in public until she saw an ad for the group on Facebook a few weeks ago. The group now also has a presence on the online networking site, with 43 members.

"I've always had problems with low self-esteem about body image, and I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to boost my self-confidence and explore my femininity and sensuality," Bell said. Her eight-minute routine, which is mostly improvised, included hip sways and arm-twirling moves.

"It'll definitely take the nervousness out," Bell said of her opening move, which includes a 360-degree spin. "It's a very energetic move."

But the same dancing style Bell calls energetic, others may call smutty - a stereotype that group member Cristina Sciuto, a sophomore public health and romance languages major, disagrees with. Sciuto didn't perform at the event last night but sat on the sidelines in support of the group.

"There's a huge difference between embracing your body and going out on Mardi Gras and saying, 'Hey, look at my double-Ds,'" Sciuto said.

Herrero hopes to debunk the seductive temptress persona by emphasizing the beauty of foreign cultures through dance, music and costume.

"We definitely want to promote Middle-Eastern culture," Herrero says. "But, at the same time, we're going to surprise you every now and then. I don't want to reveal my secrets."

And, according to Bell, belly dancing is more about embracing a positive body image than showing off moves.

"I didn't go on a diet before this performance," she said. "You can't have belly dancing without a belly."

It's now 8:32 p.m. and the multi-accessorized, colorfully dressed Herrero has just executed her routine with the poise of a veteran. Afterward, Bell takes the stage and completes her opening swirl precisely as she had hoped.

"My self-esteem is through the roof," she said after exiting the stage. "Nobody can stop me now."

bpenn@umd.edu