With every sweeping arm stretch and hip swivel is the discovery of muscles she never knew she had until now.
“Belly dancing is exhausting,” Minton said. “It's a lot harder than it looks and it doesn't help that Kelli makes it look so easy.”
This is first time Neumayer has taught winter session at UM, but ever since she began teaching campus courses last spring, she's had full-to-capacity classes. That's 30 students per class in each of the several courses she offers, said Adrienne Corti, UM activity program coordinator for Human Health and Performance.
Like most of her classmates in the January dance class, Minton said she signed on for two main reasons - to take classes outside her anthropology major and to have fun learning.
“I dance during the day and I take a Germanic mythology class at night,” Minton said. “It's really great because I didn't have the time to take these classes under my major and they aren't required. I really wanted to take them, and I just thought winter session would be the perfect time to do it.”
“So far, it's been a really good experience,” she said, “but I am sore from the belly dancing.”
UM Registrar David Micus has tallied up the winter session enrollment numbers and learned the 2007 edition has surpassed all previous sessions.
A head count shows that 1,693 students have forsaken UM's long five-week winter recess and are sampling the 80 courses offered during January. That's 589 more students than were enrolled in last year's winter session.
Micus said he believes the increase is because students are taking advantage of changes in how UM counts spring semester credits.
This year, for the first time, UM is allowing students to roll winter session classes into their spring semester course load. By doing so, students can take advantage of UM's “flat spot” in tuition, Micus said. Essentially, students who take a full credit load of at least 12 credits will be allowed to take up to 21 credits for the same price.
Maria Hamm decided the offer was too good to pass up for many reasons. Not only could the UM sophomore pick up extra credits, but she could learn something that was both relaxing and would help keep her fit.
“I didn't want to be at home the whole break - it's really long, and I have to be on campus some days because of my job,” Hamm said. “I love the class - I'm really glad I'm doing it.”
Neumayer isn't surprised by the robust turnout.
“I think there has always been an interest in belly dancing,” she said. “It's the oldest dance artform, and I suppose that's why it has survived this long.”
Most people think of the dance as suggestive hip swiveling, but boiled down to its essence, it's about concentrated focused breathing, posture and flexibility. All of which takes a deep mind, body, spirit connection.
“I think there is a transformation that takes place when people learn the dance,” Neumayer said. “And when we are looking at teaching young adults about healthy lifestyles, belly dancing is really user friendly.
“It's slow movements, slow breathing, and it forces you to slow down and think about the fundamentals - like breathing.”
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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