2008 Woodie Awards
These hips don't lie: first official belly dancing group debuts
Ben Penn
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
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.
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.
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Sasha
posted 3/08/08 @ 1:56 AM EST
Haha. Awesome story. I wish I could bellydance.
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