[MidnightCafe]

In the past few months I've discovered some excellent instructional bellydance DVDs & wanted to pass the info on to all of you! I've been doing the Instructional Bellydance with Jillina - Level 1 - and I just discovered her level 2 video this past weekend. I love how authentic these videos are & I really think Jillina gives good, understandable instruction. I bought the DVDs at Borders, but you can get them online at Amazon. I haven't looked anywhere else.<br><br>
Any other belly dancers out there?<br><br>
P.S. This is not a claim to actually being any good at bellydancing. I'm not. I'm still too embarrassed to try most of it in front of DH. But it makes me feel good about myself. I've gained some flexibility & ab strength. And DD (who is 2.5) loves it. So, I can do it while she's around without too much interruption.

 

[mountain]

I want to learn too! I do use some moves my friend taught me, great for abs! As bding was originally for women in labor, I think we should all know it! It totally makes me feel sexy too, and I'd like to learn some more arm movements.<br><br>
Good for you mama sounds like fun!

 

[NinaBruja]

I really really really should.<br>
we have a boxed set of bellydancing excersize videos with the belly dancing twins. my daughter loves them and will dance along with them and i know i should too but when she gets distracted i slip away and clean something.<br>
omg my life is boring :LOL

 

[christiab]

I bellydanced for about a year before I got PG. I lost 33 lbs. It also got me knocked up, b/c everytime I was practicing in the mirror, DH would come in the room w/ that "frisky look" in his eye

 

[Sleepy Owl]

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<div style="font-style:italic;">I bellydanced for about a year before I got PG. I lost 33 lbs. It also got me knocked up, b/c everytime I was practicing in the mirror, DH would come in the room w/ that "frisky look" in his eye</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> I need to start belly dancing! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[broodymama]

i want to start but don't know what video to get. i think i'll try the one midnight mentioned, i'd love to learn!

 

[philomom]

I've taken a class and praticed on and off. It is so much fun.

 

[ryssann]

I've taken classes and am hoping to get back soon. I might get out the videos in the meantime.

 

[1jooj]

I have not been online much and have not seen this thread. but I have been bellydancing! Not enough to suit me, but some. My dd (13mo) doesn't tolerate a whole tape, so I end up doing half an hour at a time or so. I bought the twins box set from a mama here at mdc, and I have pretty much got the basic dance moves down, and I am into "beyond basic" now. Once I get really comfortable with all three videos, I'll definitely look for dvds with more moves.<br>
I'm down a lot from my pp weight--actually, I weigh 10lb less than when I first got pg (4 yrs ago), which is awesome--but I have a LOT of weight to lose. I lost the first 20 pushing preschooler in a stroller with infant in sling. It was a great workout, but wrecked my back. Now we're housebound, since it's below zero outside, so last week we were doing 2 videos a day.<br>
I LOVE IT!!! Love it love it love it. I hope I can get my body to a shape that I am not embarrassed to do these moves in front of more than just my wee ones. I find the arms, steps and hips to be easy, but the rib isolation stuff is really hard for me--it feels foreign to me, like rubbing my tummy while patting my head. I also don't have a mirror in the living room for checking myself out, which I find frustrating. Although, it's just as frustrating to see my big old belly bouncing when I am trying to do nice clean hip drops. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><br>
I'd love to do a Y class. Two of the local Ys offer them, I think, but the times conflict with our family schedule, so for now they're not possible. I am thinking that when the kids get a little bigger, though, we will join the Y and I might get to do a class. I think it would be a lot of fun to do with other women.<br>
I have a pretty good Middle Eastern music collection, too, so we do a lot of dancing on our own.

 

[mountain]

What's your favorite middle eastern music source? Names of good bands needed here <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"> thanks!

 

[bikruca]

I wanna learn!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I have been dancing along with 'the barefoot dancer' on TV in the mornings. When DS fusses I put him in has sling and do what I can.. I love love love it.. makes me so much happier all day.

 

[1jooj]

I actually bought dh a box set years ago--titled "Music of Islam," off Amazon. It's like an 18-disc set, and a lot of it is not suitable, but a lot of it is, too. There's an Al-Andalus collection, an Indonesian collection and a Tunisian collection I really like. My dh also has some old cassettes of High Atlas Berber music, on labels that I don't think are distributed outside N. Africa.<br><br>
I'm not really into the Arab-pop "Habibi" music, but I do like Omar Diab (sp?).

 

[mountain]

Thank you!

 

[be11ydancer]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wave.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wave"> My user name says it all. I danced for two years before I had my second child. Then DH went back into school and it became hard to find a free evening to go to classes. But I will be starting back up very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably in May!<br><br>
Bellydancing totally changed me. I learned to move in ways I hadn't before. I gained an amazing amount of confidence in my body and my abilities, which translated into confidence in other aspects of my life. The costumes, the music, the teachers, the friends. Total girl power. There's nothing more empowering than being in a room surrounded by other women who are learning to love their bodies the way they are. It's so perfect for anyone of any weight or size. Pregnant or not. Young and old. Flexible or not. It fits everyone. I miss not being able to go to class. I'm a different person when I'm bellydancing. I intend on enrolling my daughters when they are old enough.<br><br>
And there's a saying "Bellydancers husbands have more fun." <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/heartbeat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="heartbeat"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/whistling.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="whistle">

 

[love2all]

My dd- age 9- and I just started taking classes together.<br>
It was awesome - my dd kept saying 'I can't isolate my hips- I don't have any!!!" If only i could share with her lololloll

 

[MamaChris]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Hey! I'm a bellydancing mama. I danced for about 7 years before and am still dancing 2 years later. I also moderate a discussion group for moms who bellydance. You can check it out at<br><br><a href="http://www.bellydancingmamas.tribe" target="_blank">www.bellydancingmamas.tribe</a> net<br><br>
If you have any questions about bellydancing pre or post pregnancy I'm the woman to ask!<br><br>
blessings,<br>
Chris

 

[bikruca]

Chris-<br><br>
Your link isn't working for me <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[MamaChris]

hmmm...maybe this will work better<br><br><a href="http://www.bellydancingmamas.tribe.net" target="_blank">www.bellydancingmamas.tribe.net</a><br><br>
if that doesnt do the trick try typing bellydancing mama on google and the link will pop up at the top of the list

 

[mountain]

yay, i'm starting a class on thursday, i'm stoked!

 

[athansor]

Hi,<br>
I'm also a bellydancer, been dancing for about 24 years (eek!)<br>
I'll have to check out your link, but I just found this board today, so I'll save it for tomorrow!<br>
I started taking classes when I was a sophmore in HS, and have been involved with it ever since. These days I'm part of a troupe, and will be teaching again this summer. I used to do a lot of teaching when I lived in Roswell (yes, that Roswell <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">) and now am lucky to live near a community with a great teacher and troupe director.<br>
I also try to get to Albuquerque for workshops and seminars when i can, and have a huge collection of DVD's, videos and CD's for home practice, so if you want reviews, I'd be happy to tell you my favorites!<br>
(I do like Jillina's DVD's quite a bit, think that you get a lot of bang for your buck with Delilah's videos, and right now my favorites have to be Hadia's and a great new DVD from a local dancer and teacher, Leyla Najma)