What Does a Belly Dancer Look Like?

Dilara has a great blog on "what an American looks like". I'd like to expand that further and talk about... what does a belly dancer look like?
I test drove some cars this past weekend while I debated taking my current vehicle off life support (it made it through the night and should live to see a few more thousand miles).

When I told the car salesman I worked for HipMix.net, he said, "Oh I sold a car to a belly dancer a few weeks ago. But she wasn't what I expected a belly dancer to look like."

Before you started belly dancing, what did you think a belly dancer should look like?

What is your opinion now?

Capture the Details: Still-Life Photography and Belly Dance

Oh hi, did you forget about me?

It's been a bit of a delay since I posted last. With holidays, and shopping, and trying to get a load of work done before my week-long holiday (woohoo!), I haven't had a lot of time to chronicle my journey into belly dance.

So instead, I thought I'd do one of those fun photo posts where I tell a bit of a story. Mostly I want to tell you 4 things I learned during my attempts at being a still life photographer for HipMix.

Belly Dance Has Changed My World

Last night, at a belly dance workshop, I had a surreal moment. I gave a 15 minute pitch for the clothes and services the company I work for, HipMix.net, offers. After the talk, the dancers had only a few minutes to ask questions before the workshop began, and one dancer came over and asked me:

"How do I do, what you do?"

It was one of those moments where, as an outsider to this belly dance world, I felt confused. What did I do? I stood and awkwardly talked about clothes I happened to be wearing (and liked). I was concise, personable (hah, one of my few personable moments. I've found anyone can stomach me for at least 15 minutes, I think or hope). But what did I really do?

And then I realized, this is a passion of hers. A hobby. How many of us desperately want to be able to make our hobbies our living? It wasn't that I gave a great pitch (well, I mean I DID but that's not the point). She wanted to be able to have belly dance be a part of her career.

Then I felt really blessed. Here I was, a stumbler into the world of belly dance, and I have yet to see how large and wild it all is. I've been lucky to fall into a career that makes the best of my strengths. And more than that, I work in female-dominated environment that celebrates all types and sizes and strengths of women.

So despite the fact I was wearing a choli top and harem pants in low 40 degree weather, I felt warm inside. Belly dance has changed my world, like so many others.

How has it changed yours? Share your story at HipMix.net/share.

Don't Look Like Santa After Thanksgiving

It's more bad news for women everywhere! According to RealAge.com, the average woman gains 1-5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's! Hooray as in, "Thanks for the pants, Grandma, but I'm going to need you to get me a bigger size."

Yes, in an already stressful time, now we have to watch our diets when everyone around us is chowing down on turkey, cakes, and other holiday goodies.

Well, hopefully you're feeling Hip+Fit, and have gotten a little trimmer.

I have to admit that I cheated. I got a flu bug over the weekend and swear I've lost an inch everywhere, including my appetite.

But not everyone gets nature's diet (haha) this time of the year. So I am going to let you in on a secret my mom always told me:

"Put less on your plate than you think you can eat."

If you're still hungry, go back for more, but you'd be surprised how little we actually need to fill us up.

As Dilara says, "Moderation is key!"

I've got a lot on my plate with work, and then holidays... but I'll be sure to post when I'm back to work after the holidays. Hopefully not plus 5 pounds :)

The Boyfriend and the Belly Dancer

Saturday night, I begged and begged my boyfriend to take me to the local hookah bar and watch some belly dancers. After all, I've only taken one class, and I haven't seen any belly dancers live since that time an Australian belly dancer showed me a hole in her shoes (interesting night).

So we finally went. I bought us hookah and paid the cover charge (my bribe for getting him to get outside his comfort zone). We settled down and waited.

I'm not sure when the dancing was scheduled to begin, but we apparently got there too early. As such, we got to watch the hookah bar slowly fill up. Having been to the bar on non-belly dance nights, it was incredible to see how much traffic the belly dancing brought to the business.

In fact, the bar was so crowded we were asked to share our large couch area with a group of strangers. They were very nice, so I didn't mind.

Then the dancing began.

It was really interesting to see the moves I could put names to, as well as the moves I couldn't. It made me feel like I still had a lot to learn (after one lesson? wow!). My boyfriend loved, I mean LOVED, the music. He thinks that because we have Rock Band, he can drum. But it was pretty adorable to watch him play the music on his leg.

While surrounded by newcomers to belly dance, I was heartened to see their response. Many of the girls were impressed, "I could never do that!" I wanted to tell them they could.

Only one guy near me made leering remarks. "Bow chicka wow wow," he kept saying.

After all was said and done, I felt very impressed by the caliber, diversity, and enthusiasm of the dancers. Some of them looked so happy, I wanted to join. I could see people around me dancing in their seats. The last belly dancer even brought people out of the audience to dance!

Somewhere near the end of the show, my boyfriend put his arm around me and said, "Best $5 you've ever spent on me."

Another person converted to the love of belly dance!

I Can Only Look in the Mirror After a Beer

Ever since my belly dance class, I've been trying to practice my moves in front of a mirror. As anyone knows, practice makes perfect, and I am a perfectionist.

However, the longer I stand in front of a mirror, dancing, the sillier I feel. Is this vanity? Do my hips really look like that?

I don't know what my problem is.

I'm not afraid of my reflection. Sometimes, him and I are friends. Sometimes we aren't. But I have to stare at myself in a mirror to fix my hair, put on makeup; all of which are judging activities (we have to make sure our eyeliner doesn't look crooked, and our hair isn't falling down in the back).

So why does dancing in front a mirror freak me out?

Last night, after my usual Wings Tuesday, I'd had a beer or two, and while brushing my teeth, decided to try out some shimmies. Then I worked on my snake arms and had a huge breakthrough. Now I can move my arms so they look somewhat snake-like. And I didn't feel embarrassed at all!

Today it's been a little easier testing my dance moves, but I can feel the insecurity creeping back in.

I thought I'd made such big inroads to increasing my self-esteem. I'm beginning to wonder if I've fixed my body image issues at all, or if I'm just avoiding my reflection.

Hip+Fit: Falling off the Wagon

Well, it's been one week of Hip+Fit and I already fell off the wagon.

After that article about alcohol, I've been avoiding drinking. I even went to a bar and didn't have one sip of alcohol to drink. But Thursday after my belly dancing class, I went over to a friends to have one beer and...

It's like that commercial about good choices. I wish I could think of the product being promoted, but essentially it's a woman in split screen, making one bad choice on one side that leads to a bunch of more bad decisions, whereas on the other side she makes a good decision and continues to be healthy.

At first, the advertising major in me raised an eyebrow at that ad. I didn't believe it at all.

But last night I realized that making good decisions makes it easier to keep making good decisions, and vice versa. I had a one beer on thursday which led to three, then on Friday I had fast food, and Saturday I didn't work out like I'd planned, and so on.

Yesterday, I felt sick so I skipped my normal morning coffee. I had life cereal. For lunch, I opted for sushi. Dinner, I made some spanish rice and samosas. Then, my boyfriend asked me if I wanted a beer with dinner. I thought back to the good decisions I'd made during the day, and said no. Then, I woke up this morning and went for a run.

Of course, this is barely more than a day of good decisions, but it really made me believe in the steamroll effect of good life decisions, and just how easy it can be to get off track.

Hip+Fit: My First Belly Dance Class

After my waiting, talk, and planning, when it came time for my first belly dance class, I wanted to back out.

See how happy I look before dance class?

Kaitlyn will tell you how I was dreading my class all day at work. One of my coworkers invited me over to her house, and I normally subscribe to the better offers club and peace out on prior commitments.

I tried to call Tiffany/Kitana in the morning to confirm my appointment, but, since she has a day job, she was unavailable. Kaitlyn made me promise,

"Call Tiffany again. 

If she doesn't answer, then don't go. 

But if she does, then you should go."

I called. No answer.

"I'm off the hook!" I exclaimed.
Instantly, the fear and dread melted away (reminiscent of my high school days, right before swim practice).

I don't know why I feel that way about after school/work commitments that involve classes. Is it a fear of not being good at the activity, missing out on other activities, or the unknown?

Then my phone rang.

Uh, ma'am this is a bar. You can't drink that water in here.

After a week-long cold, I am so anxious to start jogging my little heart out. Unfortunately, the later stages of my cold include fear-inducing coughs that make high-powered cardio workouts a tad unrealistic.

And all of this coincides with our November Hip Fit Challenge (ok, I made up that title). Maybe I'm doing this to keep my job, but really I do want to get stomach TONE. You know, the kind I used to have when I swam 6 days a week.

Luckily, Kitana's classes are starting back up this week so I will FINALLY get to try belly dancing! Only the entire reason I started this blog, hah. And with luck, because I've recently discovered how cute I look in a hip scarf:

Ok don't be too jealous now :). I'm off to go to a bar. Oh yeah, and NOT drink because that's part of a well-balanced diet. And because I've been scared off by how bad alcohol is for you. Who knew?

Fashion Shows and Skinny Models My Coworker Wants to Feed

I attended a fashion show last night hosted by Posh Couture Magazine at Venue in Houston, Texas. While I enjoyed the clothing, I couldn't help but be appalled at how thin many of the models were.

Kathy Griffin once joked that all clothes look good on Nicole Kidman because she is basically a coat hanger. After my first fashion show, I felt like the clothes could have been displayed as well on a revolving coat hanger apparatus.

I understand that as a fashion designer, designing clothing for one size makes it easier to display your drawings on any model. It's the same reason drill teams and dance squads require everyone to wear the same makeup and hair style - uniformity is important for the end result. If all models are the same size, than design samples don't have to be altered if displayed on different models in Paris, New York, Milan, etc.

But do all design samples need to be size one? Can most clothing look just as good on a larger model?

Don't Honk at Me!

One of my coworkers and I have been motivating each other to be more proactive. Ever since I've started my new job, I've been lax on my workout schedule. It's really easy to fall behind in working out, mostly because after awhile we only remember the work and not the good feeling afterward.

I was getting tired with my running routine, and that's why I was excited to take up belly dancing. It will be a lot more low-impact, and I'm hoping to lessen the shin pains and blisters (I really need to take better care of my feet).

Alas, some good things you have to wait for. And while I spent much of my childhood praying for patience, I just didn't enjoy waiting around to get some. Patience, that is.

Speaking of patience, you know what I really don't have any tolerance for?

Ewww Your Epidermis is Showing!

It took me 7 years, but I'm really starting to regret the chocolate muffins that have literally started renting jean-side property on my hips.

My coworker needed me to model a few clothing items to take updated photos of our inventory, and I lamentably had to show off my midriff in some adorable, though revealing, belly dance outfits.

I'm blaming the camera phobia and a wrongly-tilted mirror for my initial fear and apprehension for stepping out of the office I'd chosen as my dressing room.

But the funniest thing happened: the longer I stood out in that outfit, the more I wanted to keep wearing it, stomach bare and everything.

Also because the dress made awesome swishing sounds when I walked.

I have this thing about twirling in dresses. I love doing it, even when holding a plate of spaghetti in hand.

You'll have to ask my mom how she ever got the red sauce out of the white kitchen walls.

Not quite a belly dancer yet / Dread meets disappointment

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find belly dancing because, hey, I'm in Beaumont. There isn't even a Chipotle, let alone a Belly Dance class. Right?

Wrong!

Using the find function on HipMix.net, I searched for schools and instructors in Beaumont and found Kitana's Bellydance Studio (see the website or her HipMix.net profile - I love that pink outfit!).

I searched on Wednesday, and the next beginner class was on Thursday. Breathe in, breathe out.

Traumatic Childhood Encounters with Dance and Drama Leave One New Beaumont Resident with a Fear of Dance

One of the reasons I moved from Austin, Texas, to Beaumont, Texas, was to try new things. And by new things, I don't mean inventing new answers to the question "why in the expletive would you ever move to Beaumont?" Although, to be honest, I'm going to start inventing really creative ones (witness protection, persecution due to having graduated from Texas Tech, an addiction to giving money to homeless people, etc.).

So when the opportunity to try belly dancing fell in my lap, I said, "Ok!" But really???