Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul Part 2

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TITLE: Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul Part 2
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
CONTACT: sandra@schrift.com
COPYRIGHT: ©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved
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Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul

Isadora Duncan, the mother of modern dance, says, “The
dancer of the future will be one whose body and soul have
grown so harmoniously together that the natural language of
that soul will have become the movement of the body. The
dancer will not belong to a nation, but to all humanity.”

In October 1989, while taking a brisk walk with my friend,
Judy Cullins, I was given an idea that would allow me to
merge my body and soul so harmoniously that my life
literally changed. Judy had casually mentioned that she
was taking a belly dance class through an adult education
program in San Diego. Her exact words were, “It’s a hoot,”
and that was just enough to spark a long held adult fantasy.
So at the age of 52, this mother of five registered for the
Tuesday night belly dance class and never looked back.

During my first night of class, our teacher greeted us at
the door with these instructions, “Grab a veil out of the
box,” she said. “There’s a dancer inside of you and she just
needs to be let out.” It was right there that I caught the
belly dance bug and it changed the course of my life
forever. Although my friends and peers couldn’t quite grasp
the concept and repeatedly asked why a mature woman decided
to belly dance, I could only say that I found the whole idea
of this type of expression both provoking and rewarding.

I have found that belly dancing is a metaphor for life, for
in dance we move through time and space, just as we do while
we live out the passages of our lives. As I studied the art
of movement, I was also learning the art of living, since
belly dancing teaches one how to be in the moment, to be in
the body and most of a to feel with the entire being. I’ve
not only learned how to stay in shape, but I’ve learned to
lead, to follow and best of all, to let go.

Ten years after taking my first lesson, I started teaching
classes to a group of mature women, age 50 and over (My
oldest student was 91) Students come with loads of
self-doubt and self-consciousness, fearfully displaying
their belly, yet eager to exercise and have some fun. They
all stay because they love the chance to play and be in the
present moment just like we did as children. “Love your
belly” is what I say, for it’s the only one you have. “Belly
dancing can be equated to removing a curtain as you start to
express yourself,” states Valentina Kouznetsov, a computer
engineer from Russia. “It’s an exercise for my soul and puts
me in touch with my inner feminity.

According to a recent Psychology Today survey, fifty-six
percent of women are not happy with their bodies, most of
whom are troubled by their abdomens, hips, muscle tone and
weight. But things are changing and believe it or not the
change is coming about through the unusual art of belly
dancing. During my classes we work our abdominals and hips
in a way that our culture doesn’t teach. Sheila Disper, a
retired social worker says, “We may be seniors but we’re not
in rocking chairs.” I’ve noticed a lot of young people who
can’t even keep up with us,” says Audrey de la Houssaye a
retired chemist. Twenty years to tighten my abdominal
muscles that were weakened by surgery, I am finally
achieving results by belly dancing.

Several women have told me they wished they had known about
belly dancing in their child birthing years as they really
see how it would have helped them surrender and open more
easily to the birth energy. What Lamaze calls “pelvic
rocking” and “deep breathing” are referred to as “belly
roll” and “flutter.” Since life begins in the belly we now
get a second chance to get back in touch with our bellies
without becoming pregnant.

Something absolutely miraculous happens to women as they
swirl their veils and isolate their hips while waving their
snake-like arms. I love seeing my students rediscover the
magic and mystery of their true feminine energy for belly
dancing truly puts one in touch with the profound wisdom and
beauty of who we really are, no matter what our age or size
of our bellies. We are transformed into earth mothers,
playful little girls, queens in ornate costumes and
seductresses all rolled into one desirable woman.

In as much as belly dance is improvisational, there are
basic moves, but once learned the dance becomes a personal
expression of the dancer. Eventually each belly dancer
moves towards greater self-acceptance and confidence.
Valentina, whose mother often called her a clumsy child,
says, “I no longer feel awkward. I am now a dancer with a
soul – and the soul is beautiful!” Clinical Therapist, Susan
Siegel says, “The dancer was sleeping within me. It was not
in my master plan but I love being alluring and spontaneous
in my performance. It’s more about feeling than thinking.

During belly dance, the mind, muscle, hip and shimmy
celebrate a woman’s strength and the goddess within. It’s
also very festive as women dress in alluring costumes,
shaking their hips and their belly, coming together as
“sisters” in a non-threatening environment. Audrey de la
Houssaye states, “I always want to look my best in a costume
which motivates me to take better care of my body.”

While spending seventeen days at Ground Zero, Rachel Chavez,
a San Diego nurse, and long time belly dancer, visualized
herself dancing. Doing so seriously reduced her stress. “I
found myself swaying my arms to remove myself from the
incessant sounds of the cranes and jackhammers.”

Once a student feels comfortable with the dance moves and
their ability to express themselves in an unstructured way,
the women easily don costumes and eagerly look forward to
participating in monthly performances at senior centers and
nursing homes in San Diego. Both the men and women in the
audiences smile as they watch the dancers flail their veils,
balance swords and act flirtatious. When a dancer drapes a
perfumed veil over the head of a man in the audience, all
the men smile, secretly flattering themselves that the
gesture really was intended for them. The women smile too,
because they all know better. “I love the sense of feminine
mystery” behind my veil and the feeling of mastery says
Susan Siegel.

The women who enjoy this form of dance find it to be a
powerful yet joyful expression of their inner souls. Belly
dancers will never let their age get in the way of their
lives for dancing is more than fun

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