Beautiful bellies

Belly dancing can be a good workout, self-esteem boost

"We tend to get really friendly here," said Jane Sutton as she straightened the scarf-draped hips of one of her students.

The other students in her Wednesday night belly dancing class laughed knowingly as they stood in a circle, making slow figure-8s with their hips.

A Middle Eastern melody with a strong beat poured out of the stereo in the corner of Sutton's dance studio while the seven women undulated uncertainly. It was only their second class together, but they chatted and joked like old friends.

It's part of the mystique of belly dance, a dance that Sutton says is really "mainly for other women." It's gaining popularity across the country, and not just because of the colorful costumes and sinuous choreography. Many dancers believe it's a great workout, too, and a self-esteem builder for women uncomfortable with their bodies.

"It's good for all sizes, all shapes, all ages," said Sutton, who teaches belly dance at her Casper studio. "The benefits are so far-reaching. If you're uncoordinated, it'll help you become coordinated. If you lack rhythm, it'll develop it. If you have low self-esteem, it'll help you feel better about yourself."

The style of belly dance Sutton teaches is an American version of Egyptian cabaret dancing. The women were in constant motion, swaying their hips, parading in a circle and gently waving their arms.

"Every muscle group is being worked," said Sutton. "Next to swimming, belly dance is one of the most complete workouts you can find -- we're even working our toes and our fingertips."

As the hour-long class went on, the students started breaking a sweat.

After Sutton added arm movements to the dance, there were comments about burning arm muscles and loosened-up hips.

"My first teacher called it 'pumping chiffon' when we did veil work," Sutton said. "It felt like you just did two hours of weights.

"It's especially good for your quads and hamstrings, and obviously your belly. Your core is getting an intense workout."

Belly dance's effectiveness as exercise is reflected in its popularity on the home fitness market. A search of Amazon.com for "belly dance" brings up three pages of matches -- books, videos, CDs and clothing.

Some of the dance's benefits are more easily found in the studio, though. The warm environment in Sutton's class helped erase self-consciousness. The students complimented each other throughout the class, and shared tips and colorful scarves.

"I think it should be a requirement for young women so they can appreciate their bodies and avoid some of these destructive eating patterns," Sutton said.

"It's a wonderful, joyful thing to do," said Kat Fullmer, 49, one of Sutton's students. "It helps you release your inhibitions, and it brings women together. ... You see how we laugh and have a good time."

"Jane makes me feel really comfortable, said Sherrie, 51, who declined to give her last name. "She'll grab you and show you, 'This is how you do it.'"

Sutton, who said she's been belly dancing for 13 years, is committed to spreading the word about belly dance. She also teaches a belly dance class at Casper College on the weekends, and performs with another dancer as the Desert Stars.

She said she wants to start a student troupe to perform around town. Those students could eventually join the Desert Stars after they get experience, she said.

"It takes a really good, solid two years to get adept, technically speaking," she said.

And if there are any Middle-Eastern-dancing men out there, Sutton would like to hear from you.

"We're always looking for a good male dancer," she said. "(The men's) version has a more masculine feel. We don't want the men mimicking the women because, let's face it, it wouldn't look good."

That's because belly dance celebrates a woman's hips and curves. As Sutton put it to her class last week, "All your goodies are gonna shake. That's the way it is."

Staff writer Kathleen St. John can be reached at 266-0586 or Kathleen.Stjohn@casperstartribune.net.

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