Welcome to another student spotlight! This time, we talked to Stephanie about her experiences with bellydance and WIM.
How long have you been bellydancing?
I have been bellydancing for 6 years.
Why did you decide to start taking bellydance classes?
I started taking bellydance classes as a reason/excuse to get out of the house with an infant at home.
What classes have you taken at WIM?
I have mostly taken Tribaret, which is an awesome mix of Tribal and Cabaret style bellydance. I have also taken a class or workshop or two that Sara has done, including one on shimmies, of which I am always in need of practice. I took a great makeup workshop, and also enjoyed one of Emily's choreography classes to learn baskets.
What do you enjoy most about bellydancing?
I enjoy the way I feel when I dance. I am more comfortable in my body, as myself. You can feel it when you dance with others. It's a bunch of happy, expressive women, learning to move and control our bodies. So it's relaxing, but like a mind-body awareness exercise, as well.
Who is your favorite bellydancer?
As a mom to 2 young kids, and plenty of other hobbies, I don't "get out much" or watch much extra bellydance, so from my limited exposure, Emily Beaman is my absolute favorite bellydancer. Her grace and stage presence is fantastic, beautiful. I always enjoy watching her dance. I also like her creative mix of bellydance styles, which fits with my own personal like of picking and choosing your favorite parts of things. I am always in awe of her creativity and thoroughly enjoy learning her choreographies, watching her dance, and watching LXBD perform.
Do you have any favorite props or bellydance movements?
I think my favorite prop would be fan veils. Regular veil is fun, but fan veils are like twice the fun. I like all the different ways you can dance with fan veils: wrapped around you, acting as a veil, and then the fun of closed and open veils. There's just something about all that pretty silk!
What’s your favorite part of taking classes at WIM?
I look forward to Thursday nights each week. It's my night of "relaxation". How can you not relax when dancing with a great group of ladies?!
Do you have any advice for prospective bellydance students?
Just do it! You'll be glad you did. And if you're nervous about the idea, convince a friend to try with you. Even if they don't stick it out, it's always more fun to have a friend in new adventure.
