Page 8 - June/June HER 2020

8 JUNE HER
HER Fitness
How did you get into belly dancing?
CP: I love telling this story.
I was attending Henderson State University at the time and visiting my par-
ents in Mena. I was still operating on the college student schedule so I was up super late flipping through the channels, which were nothing but infomercials, and I stumbled across “American Bellydancer” on the Documentary Channel.
Since I was not in the market for a new waffle iron, I decided to see what this documentary was about. At the time, I was unaware that belly dance had multi- ple styles and deep, complex origins. When I began watching, the documentary was showing dancers doing what I later learned to be “American Cabaret” style belly dance.
Now, at the time I was not into being flashy in my appearance nor would I have considered myself an overtly feminine person in regards to my appearance. I had always struggled with how I looked and was bullied for it growing up, so seeing the American Cabaret style did not speak to me as a person at that time.
However, as I continued to watch, this dancer dressed in more darkly colored costuming with highlights of shimmer here and there slicked across the televi- sion screen. She moved like a snake; slow and confident with a slight smile on her face that was not like the big bubbly smile that I noticed from the American Cabaret dancers. She was also barefoot and not wearing the heels that I had seen other dancers wear.
In that moment, I stopped. I was in awe of this woman and her subtle, yet powerful confidence and I had to know who she was. I learned that this dancer was Rachel Brice and the style that she was doing was called “Tribal Fusion.”
After that, I dove deep into research. I did not have internet at the time so I would visit my grandparents and watch hours upon hours of YouTube perfor- mances of these Tribal Fusion dancers, taking notes along the way and then I would go home and try to emulate what I saw. I would like to note the lack of quality camera phones to which I am forever grateful did not capture those first few years of my journey!
While I was at HSU, I was majoring in Communications, but minored in Dance, and that gave me a chance to re-explore my body and I was able to apply these techniques on my body while trying to recreate what I was seeing in these belly dance performances.
Years after graduating HSU, I had moved back to Mena and began taking
8 JUNE/JULY 2020 ¯ HER MAGAZINE
American Tribal Style classes from Deb Weddle in Van Buren. Class was held each Sunday, so for about three years I would drive over an hour and a half, one- way, to learn this style of belly dance from her. ... To this day, she is a treasured teacher and mentor of mine.
Currently, I am in phase three of four of “Rachel Brice’s: The 8 Elements of belly dance.” ... In my classes and performances, I mostly perform fusion style belly dance but I am a certified American Tribal Style instructor, as well.
What is your favorite part about belly dancing?
CP: The confidence and physical connection that comes with learning it. When I first began belly dancing about 13 years ago, I could barely look at
myself in the mirror because I did not like what I saw. Years of bullying and trying to meet the “status quo” of what beauty is considered in our culture had taken a huge toll on me.
As I began learning the dance, I started gaining more confidence and felt more present in my body than I ever had before in my life. I realized that move- ment was the key to feeling present. I also gained a whole dance community of women and men from all walks of life that had similar experiences and found their place in belly dance.
When I teach, above all else, I try to convey the importance of movement and the benefits it has for the mind, body and soul. You do not have to be the best dancer, you do not even have to consider yourself a dancer, you just have to get up and move!
Who can belly dance?
CP: Anyone can belly dance! That is what I love and admire about this style so much.
I have seen women, men and children all doing belly dance and each person brings their own unique flare to it. You do have to be aware of your body and listen to it during practice. If something hurts, do not do it! Most often, there are modifications that can be made to accommodate any physical limitations.
What are some of the health and mental benefits to belly dancing?