PITTSBURGH -- Belly dancing can tighten and tone muscles in your body, making them long and lean. The ancient form of dancing is being taught at one Pittsburgh-area studio and WTAE Channel 4 Action News anchor Kelly Frey took part in one of the classes.

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Watch Kelly Get Down

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Fitness With a Twist is a South Side fitness studio owned and run by Vanessa Connell. They offer a class to women who want to learn the moves.

"We can keep it all women-oriented and give them a place to be free and play with their curves," said Connell.

The wild dance shakes your hips and rump, but it's a tummy-tightening good time.

"Finding your abs, because you know how hard it is when you are working out and finding that strength and feeling them and becoming in touch with them," said belly dancing student Danielle Lammert.

"Eventually, you get so confident," said student Rachel Zubrow. "I mean, I have big hips, and I'm not shy to show them off."

Instructor Amy Cottrill or "Amethyst," as she's called in belling dancing mode, isn't your typical aerobic or cardio commander.

Her voice is fluid, calm and confident. But don't be fooled. The ancient art turned modern day exercise gives you quite a work out.

"It works out the entire body," said Cottrill. "We use every muscle group. We are squeezing the glutes, using your sides. Your obliques. Your abs. Your back. Your arms. Everything. Your whole body gets a work out."

In fact, the average belly dancing class will burn more calories than walking for the same amount of time, while it tones your tummy, thins your thighs and whittles your waistline.

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