Hips Don’t Lie

As soon as I get settled here in Birmingham I’ll be on the search for a belly dance class and I pray I’ll be able to find an instructor as awesome as Taletha of Louisville, Ky.

I only had an opportunity to take a few classes from Taletha (my little run in with an automobile happened shortly after I started studying with her), but those few sessions were amazing. Not only is her dancing mesmerizing, but her experience and skill allow her to tell you exactly what muscles to use to execute moves — which is exactly what you want in a dance teacher.

I had a chat with Taletha recently to learn more about the art of belly dance.

Tell us a little bit about all the different styles of belly dance that you do.

I perform two styles of belly dance and several styles of authentic folk dances from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and the Middle East. I perform Modern Egyptian style belly dance and Gothic belly dance.

Egyptian style belly dance is derived from the old folk dances of the Egyptian people. As a Western influence became prominent, the dance evolved into a solo art form primarily for women. You can see the result in the Golden Era movies of Egypt, which are a lot like the Golden Era movies of the United States. However, instead of having tap dancing and singing, there are belly dancers and Egyptian orchestras.

Gothic belly dance is an aesthetic fusion of Gothic subculture music and fashion with the movements of Middle Eastern dance. The results of this fusion are incredibly diverse and vary from dancer to dancer depending upon her personal dance experience and tastes in music. My personal style of Gothic belly dance is based on my experiences with the Gothic subculture and background of Egyptian style and World folk dance styles.

How did you get into belly dance?

I was interested in Middle Eastern culture and belly dance from a young age, but didn’t have the opportunity to learn until I relocated from my hometown of Denver, Colorado to the Kentuckiana area. I met a dancer from Lexington, Kentucky about six years ago. When she learned I was interested, she began teaching me private lessons in my living room.

I became absolutely obsessed with the dance. Oftentimes, I would practice until 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. I spent countless hours researching culture, music and costuming online as well.

It was only three weeks before she decided I was ready to try performing. She was incredibly supportive and had me up and dancing with a troupe in Lexington in no time. My first performance with that troupe was also my first solo performance at the Fourth of July parade out there.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions you think people have about belly dance?

I come across a lot of people who don’t understand the hard work required to become a professional belly dancer. This is something you can’t major in in college. There is no belly dance degree program. This means one has to put in countless hours and personal funds to study the art form. You must be incredibly devoted and self-motivated if you want to become a professional. And because it is a dance that celebrates the feminine form (though there are many wonderful male dancers as well), belly dancers are often met with the attitude that what we do is not an art form which requires skill. It’s unfortunate that belly dance doesn’t get the same amount of respect as some of the Western dance styles.

However, I have had many instances where I had been hired as a novelty act, only to have audience members approach me after a performance to tell me how much they now realized the hard work that goes into it. I’ve had people say, “Wow! It’s amazing what you do! It’s a real art! Beautiful!” And that’s why I go in with a positive attitude and with confidence in what I do. It really pays off in how it educates the public when you approach it in that manner.

What would you say to a woman who wants to try belly dance, but is afraid to do so because of body image insecurities?

It’s understandable to feel insecure about one’s body. We all have things about ourselves we wouldn’t mind changing. But we have to accept ourselves as we are, even if we want to work to make changes. When one feels bad about oneself, it hampers potential for change.

The first step in exploring belly dance is remembering this dance is fun and a good way to start toward a healthier lifestyle. It offers a chance to learn about an entirely new culture too. Belly dance is not only good for the body, it is good for boosting your self esteem and overall sense of independence and well being.

It also comes from a completely different culture where the female body doesn’t absolutely have to fit in to an ideal. And what’s interesting is I don’t think women here in the U.S. are held to the expectations we often say we are. The fact is, if you love yourself in the first place, everything will fall into place.