Belly Dancing for the Midlife Soul

Sandra Schriftpersonal expression of the dancer. Characteristic of
I have been a student and performer of the Middletoday's dance are movements of the pelvis and
Eastern belly dance for 12 years. I began this danceundulations of the body. These movements are not
form at age 52 when a friend of mine told me shesocially taught in our culture. Instead, there are
was taking an Adult Education class in Middle Easternrestrictions placed on the movement of certain body
belly dancing. Here was an opportunity right in my ownparts and how much they may be moved. Belly dance
community. I was going to live out my adult fantasy -breaks through those barriers, freeing up the body so
to be a belly dancer! And so I joined the class andwomen can fully express their feminine self.
have been a student ever since. I am now 64 andDance is a metaphor for life. In dance, we move
have no signs of slowing down.through time and space, just as we do while we live
out the passage of our lives. The belly dance is truly a
And why do I teach this class? Because I love helpingunification of body, heart and mind. It's also fun to get
the women re-discover the magic and mystery of truedressed up in a "costume", exercise our hips and our
feminine energy. Something miraculous happens tobelly, and do this in a non-threatening atmosphere of
these women when they belly dance; they begin toacceptance of our female sensuality.
emerge like an earth mother, a little girl, a prom queenAnd finally, the belly dance helps women to return to
and a seductress all in one. I help them to realize what Iwhere life begins, our primordial womb. What a
learned 12 years ago - that when we belly dance wewonderful way to find the connection between our
get in touch with the profound wisdom and beauty ofheart and soul and the expression of our body.
who we really are - no matter what our age or size ofFor more information and to enroll in the class, contact:
our belly.Sandra Schrift (teacher) 619-688-9467
I always tell them to love their belly...besides it is theCopyright © 2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights
only one they have! Eventually the women movereserved
towards greater self- acceptance and confidence.Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this
They learn to be empathic in response to thearticle in its entirety, electronically, or in print fre*e of
energetic music. They learn to lead, to follow and to letcharge, as long as you include my full signature file for
go.ezines, and my Web site address ( in hyperlink for
Belly Dance is improvisational. There are basic movesother sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where
to the dance, but once learned the dance becomes ayou publish to Thank you.