We
receive so many rewards from dancing we want to share with
you. Please share with us also.
Belly
dance is fun and great exercise! When I worked in Mountain View, Ca
(SF Bay near Moffet Field and San Jose) I would drive between
Phoenix and Mountain View or Phoenix, Los Angeles and Mountain View.
I found that the dancing strengthened my ab and back muscles so I
did not get back aches like before. Hip and ab circles are great to
do after driving for a while too.... It's about a 12 hour and 750
mile drive from Phoenix to Mountain View and about a 5 hour and 370
mile trip between
Phoenix and Glendale/Burbank area....
.........John
Giving Back
the Gift of Dance
I
don't make New Year resolutions. Normally, I ask, "What
changes do I want to make in my life?" Changes are not
resolutions. Changes are the way we want to do things in our
life. Also, I reviewed the changes that occurred in my life
and the changes I want to occur in my life this year. I
remembered a special moment that happened last year.
Since
belly dancing has become a big part of my life in the last two
years, naturally some of the changes I want concern belly dancing.
One of the scheduled events, that Naj of Epicycle Belly Dance does
each year, is to entertain the veterans at the VA Hospital.
Both
times I have attended and been part of the entertainment, I was
overwhelmed at the wonderful feeling I had being part of the lives
of these men and women, who have served our country. They are
the best audience you could have and are most
appreciative.
The special moment came when an 89-year-old lady with a
walker, by the name of Goldie got up and danced with us. The
hands of the other residents reached out and touched our hands as we
danced. I thought, WOW! most of these people are here for the rest
of their lives and still have such joy in their hearts. It
suddenly hit me that it doesn't matter how well you dance, but that
you use the gift of dance to give back to the people that are unable
to attend our shows.
We
have so many belly dance troupes that could give up just one day a
year and entertain people who are unable to leave nursing homes and
other facilities that take care of long term care patients.
Give back he gift of dance to those less fortunate. A small
change in how you do things in your troupe, can give you such a
natural high and make someone feel so much better. I look
forward to the opportunity to dance at the VA hospital, soon.
Do it too, so that you can give back the gift of dance.
......Astarte
Dance helps with confidence and posture too as
told by Toni......
"My husband said that he noticed something different
about me. That I somehow looked more confident.
Then, he
said he knew what it was: It was the way I was standing with my
shoulders back, chest out and my back slightly arched. He said that
it made me look like I was more confident in my appearance.
I have been working a lot on my confidence skills,
and I have been using the suggestions that Naj have gave me. I have
been using the one that Naj described as: 'Walk into a room and act
as if you were a Princess. Everyone else are your subjects.
Pretend that they are throwing flowers on the floor in front of you
as you walk through.'
At first, I kind of thought it was
really an "egotistical" way of thinking about it, but it really does
work for me. I am not being "snobbish" when I do it, or acting
like I am better. It really does help with feeling more
confident.
I have also been working on my eye-contact with
strangers. The 'princess method' has help me with that as well.
Thank you for your advice. I am using it wisely and to the best of
my ability to make myself a better and more confident person!"
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