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An Art Form For All Reasons -- Bellydancing

By 250 News

"Your Chance To Bellydance" Student Night at the Hart Community Centre

It was an evening filled with music, colour and dancing...lots of dancing as students of "Your Chance to Bellydance" performed for family and friends at the Hart Community Centre earlier this week.

In all, there were 47 students performing a number of choreographies that had been learned over the past two months.  Instructor Donna Bentham says the reasons women take classes vary,  "For some women, it's a chance to do something with their girlfriends, something that's away from the family and the kids, and for themselves.  And for others, like exercise, they see it for health benefits, as well."

"Some women see it as a very feminine art form as compared to jazz or some the other kinds of exercise," she adds, "the feminine aspect of bellydancing is something that intrigues people and they're wanting to learn a little bit more about themselves and explore that side of themselves."

Bentham (to the left) and her sister, Jeanne-Anne, began offering lessons in Prince George in 2001 after moving to the city from Chilliwack.

"Your Chance" offers fall, winter and spring lessons, with a student night capping off each session.  Bentham says the beginner classes are typically full with between 20 and 24 women.

Also performing at student night were members of the Borealis Bellydancing Troupe. (shown in picture below)



Bentham says the troupe was formed almost three years ago when a few women who enjoyed performing, were looking for opportunities to dance outside of student night.


Since then, the women have entertained audiences at Summerfest, the local Run For The Cure event, a fundraiser for the library and numerous birthday parties and anniversaries.


Unlike the caberet-style of bellydancing that is often performed in restaurants, Bentham says, "The style we do is more storytelling, a little bit more of a folklore background, it's more of a fusion of different styles of bellydancing, so that we can dance to the music we like -- whether it's modern or something from different countries -- without trying to stay true to a specific form, like Egyptian or Turkish-style bellydancing."



The motto of "Your Chance To Bellydance" is 'Anybody and any body can do it' and Bentham says that's one of the unique features of the art form.  "It's a dance that everybody can do, it doesn't matter how old or what size you are -- it looks beautiful on everybody."



Anyone wanting more information can contact "Your Chance To Bellydance" at 962-4993 or, by email at pgbellydance@shaw.ca







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