Dear Future Bellydancer,
Bellydancing has an almost mystical reputation. If you say you know how to bellydance, women give you a tad more respect. It’s different enough to get attention, and is challenging and enough fun to keep your attention. I took lessons from Chellcy five years ago, and we’ve been friends ever since.
At one point she emailed me and told me I was one of her best male students. She wanted to train me and have me perform in a trio with her. Interesting idea. So I met with her to look into it more. She had me show up at a hafla, which is a belly dance party/show. Although it was an informal get together in a bar with a stage, it was amazing. Someone announced, and different women from schools in the Chicago area would get up on stage and perform, solo or in groups.
That is when I realized just how fun belly dancing REALLY is.
I have never seen anyone at a hafla not having fun. Ever. (Except maybe some awkward boyfriends/husbands who were dragged there.) What struck me most was a complete and total lack of cattiness. The bellydance community is incredibly supportive. EVERY woman was applauded. EVERY woman was cheered… Screamed at actually! Not by the men… but by other women! It didn’t matter if they were good, bad, slightly awkward, whatever. The beginners seemed to get more screaming and clapping. It was NOT a competitive environment at all.
I once heard that women dress well for other women, not for men. Apparently they don’t want women to be able to make snide comments about them. When women get together, it can get ridiculous. But not in the bellydance community. Do you want to know the absolute worst comment I’ve EVER heard any bellydancer say about another?
“She doesn’t smile enough!”
Well, after the hafla, Chellcy gave me a tape to watch, with some guy named Arturo performing in a trio. It was much like the kind of performance she wanted me to learn to do with her.
I watched it, of course, and was struck by something. When women bellydance, it’s beautiful. Hypnotic. Sensual. Entrancing. And I’ll say it again, just plain fun. But when men do it…
It’s wiggling! (Eww!!!)
Well, I’m slightly envious of you. I’m going to assume because you’re reading this, you’re a woman. You have assets and curves that I don’t, and can learn how to move them well… and have a lot of fun just being a woman. Me? I can only wiggle. I could never have the feeling and sensual effect that you can – bellydance is made for a woman’s body.
One good thing is, it moves definitely carry over to other kinds of dance. I once took a dancer out to Crobar, a famous bar in Chicago. She didn’t need a costume. She also didn’t need any special music. She just knew how to move, and had my full attention. Just plain eye-catching and smooth. She also definitely caught the attention of other people in the club, WITHOUT being showy, sleazy, or freaky. Just sensual, subtle, and sexy. I don’t know many dancers who can do that, but she did, easily.
Even if you don’t care about the effect you have, and never plan on dancing in public, bellydance is still great for women. Legend has it that it was originally designed as an exercise to ease childbirth. Someone else explained it to me,
“It's exercise, but feels like you're having a great time!”
It’s way better than going to the gym. Doing a boring workout that doesn’t feel good. With little social interaction or learning.
And in bellydance you do learn.
Because, despite all the fun, camaraderie, and exercise, bellydance is an art form thousands of years old. In the Arabic language it is known as raqs sharqi رقص شرقي, which literally means “eastern dance.” It’s occasionally known as raqs baladi رقص بلدي "national" or "folk" dance. Chellcy once told me that it is “a respectable, serious, challenging, and demanding art form.”
There are different moves and styles from almost every Middle Eastern country. Egypt, Turkey, Iran, the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine), and even parts of Europe contribute different styles and moves. Chellcy primarily specializes in the Egyptian forms (both modern and classical), but also Spanish Fusion and Zaar. She dances with veils, skirts, finger cymbals, fans, and more. There is a LOT more variety than the Shakira “booty-shaking” as Chellcy calls it.
Although I ended up not being a dancer myself, I did have a good time learning about it, and getting to know Chellcy better. And I’ll tell you a dirty little secret…
Chellcy doesn’t especially like performing. She just likes to dance.
I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of teacher I want. Someone focused on the art itself. I’m sure some women get caught up in the glamour of it all and the attention it gets, but in the end, what’s important is enjoying yourself and the dance. That’s what struck me … all of her students seem to enjoy the classes. Not just struggle through them. Enjoy.
I only took one 4 week class session with her, but since then I’ve joined a few of her classes for an evening. It’s pretty consistent – her students have fun.
I’ll tell you another secret. Chellcy is absolutely crazy about belly-dancing. Wow… I’ve called her and when she answered she told me she was driving to Toronto from Chicago for a gig. That’s a 10 hour drive, one way – I had to look it up. She always seems to be doing that type of thing. That’s just insane.
Recently she taught workshops in Sweden, Malta, Ohio, California, Toronto (again), and a few other US cities. I think she was gone for about 5 weeks in all, just on a bellydance tour. (Note to self, never lend Chellcy a book I need back again – who knows where she’ll be if I need it????)
Chellcy performs a lot, yes. But she’s also constantly studying with various teachers. When I first met her, she was teaching just one class, and performing a night or two a week. Now she’s just dedicated to dancing. I think that’s so cool, going after your passion like that.
That’s why I wrote this letter for her. There’s a lot more to enjoy about bellydancing than you’d ever realize at first glance. That makes it hard to get the full story across in just one sitting. I hope this letter does that for you… shows you just how fun and enjoyable it can be.
It’s obvious to me, even though I’m an outsider. Like I said, I’m a guy – I can only wiggle. But if I were a member of the fairer sex, I think there might be no better hobby than bellydancing. Dancing, hanging out with the girls in a great, supportive environment, learning to move my body in sensual ways, getting exercise, meeting people, and of course, having FUN.
Sounds great to me.
So if you’re interested in seeing just how much you would enjoy dancing, call her right now at (312) 952-5826! Or join her email list at www.chellcyraks.com. And when you dance, just remember one thing. Smile!
Yours,
Burton Kent
P.S. There are actually more interesting parts to the story. I don’t really know the different kinds of bellydance, there are Middle Eastern restaurants where Chellcy and other dancers perform, and there are workshops, etc. I don’t have much firsthand experience with these myself, so I didn’t write about it. You’d have to ask Chellcy.
P.P.S. What are you waiting for? The first class is free to try out … again, call her right now at (312) 952-5826! Or join her email list at www.chellcyraks.com.
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