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Faculty teach Mid-Eastern dance |
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
by JULIA HARR
Lifestyles Reporter
It started for women in the Middle East and moved across the world as something considered sensual and sexy.
“The empowerment [belly dancing] gives women is amazing,” local belly dance instructor and Appalachian State University faculty member Vickie Young said. “It’s about women being in control of their bodies. It really boosts self-esteem.”
She said belly dancing began in the Middle East as a way for women to entertain themselves.
Mothers taught their daughters and they would perform it at family events and weddings, Young said.
After seeing a belly dance troupe perform at a fundraising event in
Hickory, Young knew she wanted to learn and embrace the culture of
belly dancing.
 Photos special to The Appalachian
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“About five years later, I saw an ad in the paper for lessons taught by Becky Shook,” she said.
Young started belly dancing in February 2003 at a new studio in Granite Falls under Shook; her class had only two people in it.
“You have to be careful because you can get addicted,” Young said. “I
teach two nights a week in Boone and take a class once a week in
Granite Falls.”
Northwestern Studio, located on U.S. Highway 105 Bypass across from Bandanas, hosts Boone’s only belly dance classes.
Young said Asheville has a large belly dance community and she saw the
potential for the same in Boone and wanted to get it started.
Normally somewhere between 15 and 20 people take the classes held Monday and Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.
The class costs $50 per month no matter how often students attend the lessons.
“The more you come the cheaper it is,” Young said. “Lessons are an hour long with half an hour of practice right after.”
November and December function along the lines of a drop-in class for lessons due to a slower interest.
If students miss a class, they won’t be behind.
Performance is an option for those people interested.
In the past, the group has preformed at Boone’s Kraut Creek Festival,
Peace Celebration, Appalachian State University’s Diversity
Celebration, and Midnight at the OASIS, a fundraising event for OASIS.
“We have people who want to perform and those who do it for fun and
exercise,” Young said. “We want this to be accessible to both.”
Fliers were posted around campus advertising the event in various
locations including Welborn Dining Hall and Belk Library &
Information Commons.
Young said interest from Appalachian students fluctuates.
She has hopes the university will gain enough interest to get a belly
dance club or even a class offered by University Recreation.
The type of belly dance taught at the Northwestern Studio is called “ethnic fusion.”
“It’s a very good workout,” Young said. “I used to run five or six
times a week and now I just mostly belly dance and I’m in as good as
shape as ever plus it’s a lot more fun and you get to wear incredible
costumes.”
Belly dance is a non-discriminatory form of dance.
“It’s not one of those ‘maybe if I lost 20 pounds’ or ‘if I were younger’ kind of things,” she said. “Everyone is welcome.”
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