Welcome everyone please feel free to share you stories here.

Hello beautiful dancers! My name is Amirah, and I've been belly dancing for 5 years now. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility type, which means I'm a veritable one woman circus act with my joints. I've since learned that my 'party tricks' are probably not very good, so I'm not longer performing, ha. Basically, anywhere two bones come together dislocates and moves around. It didn't used to be so bad, with the circus tricks and super flexibility. But in the past 6 months, all my smaller joints (ribs, vertebre, collar bones, and in my hands and feet) are moving around a lot and causing some serious problems. So I may have to have surgery again soon, boooo. I've had 6 surgeries so far, and I'm just not in the mood for another. However, it's really starting to affect me moving my arms, so I might just have to get it done.

I have to say, that bellydancing has changed my life! I started when I didn't really have many problems, but as my body got worse, I was still able to keep up with my dancing, It's literally the only physical activity I can do, and I absolutely love doing it so it really works out well. :) I also believe it is going to keep me walking longer by allowing me to keep my muscles in shape and active. So it's really been a blessing to me, and I'm sure to all of you too.

Thank you for starting this group Selimah!! It's really nice to meet other dancers going through similar situations.

Take care of yourselves! :)

Firstly, thank you for creating this tribe. It's really good to know that there are others dealing with disability issues!

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5 years ago. The unfortunate thing about that is the fact that it's a syndrome - and one which does not have a cure. But it can be dealt with. And dance has become my method of dealing.

I've only been dancing for 2.5 years (though I can't imagine how I lived without it!), Belly dance is what keeps me mobile and helps me build both strength and stamina. There are bad days, of course. There always are. I've been in a flare-up for the last few days and had to skip dance class both last night and tonight due to muscle pain and stiffness.

Still, knowing I may be better able to move tomorrow makes dealing with today's pain a lot easier.

First, let me start off by thanking Darkdove for having started this tribe.
Wonderful that theres a place for us w/ physical limitations/disabilities to share/air/vent. "Other" dancers can say they sympathise - but unless you deal w/ something yourself - one just cannot know...

And now for my little intro [ta da...]
I became involved in BD at the suggestion of my physical therapist.
I had been involved in a car accident (under workcomp - was a limo driver who had been seriously rearended). Resulting injuries included broken leg (six times between knee and ankle and crushed ancle - multiple herniated discs in cervical and thoracic regions of spine, and nerve damage in lumber region.

I was paralyzed from waist down for nearly a couple of years - and spinal fusions have made it possible to move again, but there are still unresolved issues and pain (which can oft be quite debilitating in and of itself). Nearing the end of my treatment under workcomp (cut loose from the system before everything completely addressed). Anyhoo, my physical therapist recomended BD as a way to posibly improve balance/stamina.

I cannot thank her enough!
Yeah, I still have issues w/ my cervical spine (loose my ability to grip when use or overuse my arms) - tends to be cumulative, so I try and space activities out when possible. When I do get to the point that loose grip, I compensate by using a large rubberband wrappeed around my hand to squeeze fingers together and insert item I'm trying to use (toothbrush, pen, fork/spoon, etc) between fingers and rubberband. I find my flexibility due to fusions somewhat limited - and really nothing can be done there, so just avoid backbends and most floorwork. The nerve damage still there (again, nothing to be done for that), but I see where my body does/is utilizing other capabilities areas to compensate - just need to watch to not overdo it there also.

Bellydancing has done so much for my - both physically and emotionally
helping me to not only move normally again, but to also love my body again.

It's been two years since I started my first BD class - and I have perform both publicly and professionally now. I've begun teaching BD (just a basic foundations at this point) and preparing to open my own studio (Beledi Bay - just waiting on last of remodeling to be finished and the fire marshall to inspect premises). My first instructor is my biz partner, and my Tribal instructor (who BTW, owns her own studio) is going to instruct at my studio as well.
Oh, and I'm entering my first BD contest as well this month (in the ensemble category - not yet confident enough to solo)

And that's me.
You can read a bit in my profile
or check out my Myspace page at myspace.com/themysticscauldron

Hi all,

Thanks for this group that I had no idea existed until today. Actually up until now, I thought I was the only dancer dealing with major physical issues. I had back surgery in 1991, and ended up with "massive & ecessive scarring at the site" . In addition I've got arthritis.

In 1999, I started studying belly dancing. Then I noticed that the REALLY bad days got further apart. And if I go for too long without dancing, my back just gets worse. I still have days where I hurt to bad to move, but I remember that I was soooo much worse before.

I've compensated for my back issues by accepting that I'm not ever going to be able to do Turkish folds or deep back bends.

My students don't know it, but the stretches and warm-up we do at the beginning of class are to benefit people with low back problems. : )

Reyna

www.risingsuntribe.com

Hi all!

I'm a disabled veteran. I've problems with my back, hip, and knees.

I get very frustrated in yoga or dance class when an instructor seems to know what's good for me but my body tells me "hell no." As a former Marine, I'm pretty familiar with different types of pain and pushing my body for my own good. But I also know my limits. No headstand or Turkish drop for this gal--ever!

I dance (and other things) to help encourage health and fitness, not torture myself.

;)
Feiruz

YAY!! A tribe for those of us who aren't the "normal" dancer.

I have a connective tissue disorder similar to marfan syndrome and almost the opposite of Amirah's when it comes to joints. I've had open heart surgery, back surgery, and two c sections ( in order to not die when bringing my children into the world) I have been dancing in some form since I was 4. I have been bellydancing for 5 years this April. Also, I have begun taking lessons in Irish step dancing.

Thank you so very much for starting this tribe. Fantastic idea! A place to discuss and share with bellydancers who are going through similar things.