May 6, 2007
 
BOOK NOTES: Marshall Graduate ‘Ramona’ Reveals Secrets of Belly Dancing in New Book
 
By David M. Kinchen
Huntington News Network Book Critic
 
As readers of my reviews know, I read and review a wide variety of fiction and fact books. I have to admit that in 40 years of book reviewing, I’ve never reviewed a book on belly dancing!
 
I’m not going to start now, since nothing could be more out of my area of expertise. I’ve seen belly dancers in Middle Eastern restaurants in Chicago and Los Angeles. That’s the extent of my knowledge or interest in the subject.
 
Instead of reviewing a book by Ramona Klein-McConney a 1985 Marshall University graduate and a friend of my colleague and friend Tony Rutherford, I’ll describe the book as best I can. It’s called “Dynamic Belly Dance: The Joyful Journey of Dancemaking and Performing” (American Bellydance Innovations, 160 pages, large format paperback, $40, available from publisher at P.O. Box 1083, Atlanta, GA 30301-1083 or through amazon.com).
 
Here’s a quote from the product description on the Amazon site:
 
“Learn the secrets of international belly dance stars and be your belly dance best by reading this fabulous new book! The nuances of energy, style, design elements, musicality, emotional expression, performance psychology and more are inside Dynamic Belly Dance. Ramona demystifies the creative process of creating belly dance routines, guiding you through the creative process of dancemaking. Many examples and creativity-building exercises are included to give you new ideas for choreography and improvisational dances. Helpful illustrations in color and B&W show many styles of costuming. This book is helpful for all levels of dancers, from dedicated amateurs through professional instructors and performing artists.”
 
And here’s a comment from a fellow belly dancer professional: “Your book is fabulous! I found myself nodding my head while I was reading it. Your ideas and concepts are full of insight and true information. I especially appreciated the organization and scientific approach to the material. It was very easy and pleasant to read. --Carolena Nericcio, director of FatChanceBellyDance, San Francisco, CA.” Seems to me belly dancing is a lot like yoga, fueling the desire to bring out the inner creativity in every woman. “Ramona” is a scientist working for the federal government in Atlanta. Belly dancing is her hobby and avocation. In the mid-1980s, she worked with Tony Rutherford as assistant editor on a publication he edited, The Entertainer. And, to answer a question on everyone’s mind: Yes, that’s “Ramona” on the cover of the book. She includes photos of other dancers in her lavishly illustrated book – which might be the ultimate Mother’s Day gift. Her web site: www.DynamicBellyDance.com.