How to get started belly dancing.

For those of you who may have stumbled upon my blog & have an interest in taking up bellydancing, you may be wondering "how do I get started?" Here's some tips that I hope will get you pointed in the right direction.

The first thing you will want to do is find a teacher. Have you seen bellydancers performing in your area? They would be a great source to let you know who is teaching. Do you have a restaurant or club in your area that features bellydancers? Many dancers performing regularly in restaurants also have local classes. Previewing your teacher dancing before joining a class is a benefit that can help you to determine if you like her style, and if it is a fit for you. Another way to find teachers is to check your community programs. Bellydance teachers are often found teaching in community programs. I teach bellydance classes throught my school district's community education program. I also know many teachers who do the same.

So what do I do if I've checked around & haven't found a teacher? Don't give up hope. You can also find teacher directories online. Three of my favorite trusted teacher directories are:
www.bhuz.com
www.Shira.net
www.bellydance.com

Mostly keep your ears open & ask around. Even in the smallest communities I am sure that a bellydancer or bellydance enthusiest can be found who can give you some referals.

Lastly, get some DVD's. Although dvd's can be great tutorials, I really recommend having a live teacher. She can you vital critique & a good teacher will always guide you on executing the moves properly. All a dvd can do is show you, then it's up to you to interpret whats been shown.

I hope that you have found these tips to be useful & can point to your journey of becoming a bellydancer. Most of all don't forget that learning is a process that takes time. Be patient with yourself & practice, practice, practice.