Women curious about the ancient art of belly dancing participated in a free introductory class Monday night with local belly dance teacher Marissa Porte.

Some of them came, as they do on a weekly basis, to practice the empowering movements — others just couldn’t resist a chance to get to shake their hips with a group of fellow females.

Whatever the reason, the women who dared to learn got a workout they won’t soon forget.

Nancy Gillespie, 54, has been taking Porte’s classes for nearly two years.

“It is women’s way of celebrating women’s bodies. Everyone looks good belly dancing,” she said. “Everyone can express themselves.”

Gillespie is a second grade teacher in Clancy and has a background in ballroom dancing. Gillespie’s husband, however, does not dance, so she decided to seek out a dance form that doesn’t require a partner — which led her to belly dancing.

“It is a combination of ballroom and yoga and really is an art unto itself,” she said.

The free introductory class demonstrated tribal belly dance isolation, rhythm, designed for all ages, shapes and sizes.

“Not everyone has to be skinny,” Gillespie said.

Porte said the greatest benefit for women is the confidence building she has witnessed in her classes.

“I think that is why it is so popular,” she said. “Women love coming into a room of supportive women who praise you for your attempt to dance.”

Belly dancing gives participants a cardio and low impact workout, while stretching and toning all major muscle groups of the lower and upper body.

Porte grew up in Helena and has been belly dancing for 11 years and teaching for six.

She got most of her training in Portland, Ore., and offers Helena residents her experience through classes.

She said many women take her classes just as much for exercise as they do female camaraderie. She has students that range in age from 17-60.

“It is a way for women to connect,” Gillespie said.

“Many women are taking it for time out for themselves,” Porte said. “It is really fun to watch ladies get together in dance class, especially belly dance because it is such a feminine form.”

“People that have studied it (belly dancing) think it came about as a birthing ritual to help women through labor,” Porte said.

There are many forms of belly dancing and Porte teaches tribal dance, which she describes as a community dance that allows women to dance together.

Porte uses tribal dance as her creative outlet.

“I like the music — it tends to be traditional, rather than electronic,” she said.

Katherine Neiman and Rosie Worthen, both juniors at Helena High School, were two of the most experienced in the class.

Worthen and Neiman have been friends since kindergarten and started taking the class together a couple years ago.

“I don’t do a lot of physical activity,” Worthen said.

She described herself as “shy”, but said that belly dancing has brought out her personality.

“Everyone looks beautiful,” Worthen said.

Neiman said she has always been into dance but, “belly dancing suits me with the way I move.”

Both of the teenagers’ families are supportive of their efforts. Worthen’s mother is even taking classes.

Celebrating the female body and spirit is one of the belly dancing foundations. Porte said that dance is a metaphor of life and she encourages women to overcome their fears and listen to the voice inside telling them they can dance.

Porte offers eight-week belly dancing sessions year round. For more information call 442-8056 or log onto www.mayastudio.org