NAU Lumberjack Jackcentral.com

Belly dancers shake up Flagstaff dance scene
Kayla.Mueller - January 24th, 2008

“Hungry, hungry hippo hips”, “bicycle legs” and “the armpit sniff” are just a few of the many moves one may learn while attending Sherry “Crimson” Hammond’s American tribal belly dance class. Sprinkled throughout the lessons are metaphors to help the beginner understand how the move should feel. After a good stretch, Crimson, as she requested to be called, pumps the modest Paul Moore Studios with ancient drumming music infused with new-age influences. The music and the tin ceiling, dimly lit by three small scarf-covered lamps, contributed to the move-your-body atmosphere.

“I am (also) the director and founder of Troupe Shuvani,” Crimson said. “Troupe Shuvani is a middle-eastern, gypsy and American tribal belly dancing troupe here in Flagstaff. We specialize in American tribal dance, which is a fusion of many dance styles in an improvisational format.”

According to Crimson, Flagstaff often gets overlooked as a belly dance community. However, lessons, studios and workshops are becoming increasingly prevalent.
“The belly dance scene has grown considerably in the last few years,” Crimson said. “It takes love, passion, hard work, and the appeal of our beautiful town to bring instructors here.”

Belly dancing is an ancient tradition; in fact, it is the oldest dance form that exists.
“It was developed by women for women to teach life changes, menstruation, sex, child birth and so on,” Crimson said. “It was entertainment and education for women by women. It is the life line of all other dance forms. It shares the same blood.”

In addition to being an ancient tradition, many say belly dancing can have positive psychological effects as well. Hilary Giovale, an NAU alum, did research on tribal style belly dance and body image for her thesis in the Master of Liberal Studies Program.

“There are so many pressures on women to look perfect,” Giovale said. “Tribal Belly dance promotes the feeling that we are each perfect in our own way already. It celebrates women’s real beauty.”

“I have seen belly dance change people’s lives,” Crimson said. “Belly dance can often get a bad rap of being a very erotic or sexually charged performance. I think it can also be overwhelming for some to see women in their most glorious power. The movement often tells a story of various emotion, earth elements, life cycles and spirituality.”

Unlike other forms of dance, there are not many confining limitations deciding who can or cannot partake in this often-moving experience.

“Belly dance differs from other dance forms because there are no limitations on body type or age,” Crimson said. “It is based on a sisterhood of support and encouragement.”
Freshman undeclared major Star Shannon says she has always had an interest in belly dancing.

“I’ve always been curious about it,” Shannon said. “I really like to dance and I was considering taking classes up here (in Flagstaff). What I like is that belly dancing seems really unique. It’s definitely not your everyday kind of dance.”
For many belly dancing is not just a hobby, but a way of life.

“Belly dance is a life style, no matter how little or much you have danced,” Crimson said. “Once you have belly danced I truly believe that it resides in you forever. It is a lifetime study and you can never know or master it all.”

“It is a spiritual practice,” Giovale said. “It creates community. It builds trust among women. It’s joy expressed in physical form.”

For beginners interested in learning, Giovale is offering a six-week tribal belly dance on Tuesday, Feb. 5. For more information, Giovale can be reached at contact@bellyroles.com. Information on Crimson’s classes can be found at www.troupeshuvani.com or by calling 220-1098.