Belly dance uses ballet movements - pliés, relevés, and arabesque don’t just look graceful, the ballet moves also lengthen and strengthen muscles and burn calories.

Ballet-inspired classes are a popular workout trend that incorporates moves from ballet, and movement to upbeat and beautiful Middle Eastern music. Boutique Belly Dance classes are ballet-inspired fitness classes that offer classes dance movements that provide overall body conditioning as well as targeted workouts for abs, thighs, or glutes.
You don’t need a full belly dance costume, or ballet slippers. Instead, dress in comfortable workout clothes and show up to the 90-minute classes prepared to dance the movements your teacher shows you.
Some classes also use silk veils, or incorporate floor work for other beautiful movements of Oriental Raqs Sharqi dance. Belly dance is a low-impact workout that focuses on proper alignment and performance posture.

The classes blend cardio, strength training, flexibility, balance and core conditioning in a total body workout that targets the entire body including: hips, glutes, abs, back, and arms.

Intensity Level: Medium
The emphasis on proper alignment, balance, and core engagement means the classes move at a moderate pace. You might not leave a boutique belly dance class drenched in sweat, but you’ll feel the burn after a class thanks to moves that target specific muscle groups.

Areas Targeted
Core: Yes. You'll do a combination of ballet positions and isolated moves and body undulations to target the abs as you perform with performance posture and core strength. Body undulations are central to fluid and musically flowing movement in this dance genre. Upper torso shimmies and flowing figure 8 movements strengthen the core.

Arms: Yes. Classes include dance movement exercise through graceful fluid movement and dance with swirling veils: lateral arm raises, and triceps lifts to work the arm muscles.

Legs: Yes. Expect to perform movements like pliés, dégagé, leg lifts/extensions, and other ballet-inspired moves like Arabesque that target the legs. Belly dance movements create beautiful body lines and fluid total body movement.

Glutes: Yes. Targeted moves like glute locks and shimmies help tone the backside. Many dance movements are performed with layered shimmies: e.g. undulations with shimmies, flowing movements with shimmies.
Back: Yes. Belly dance movement and workouts target the whole body including the back muscles, in relationship to your core. The entire regime of belly dance requires the use of musculature in the back and torso to create sinuous undulations and movement that is unique and characteristic of belly dance.

Flexibility: Yes. Belly dance is a flowing dance genre and workout and will gently improve your flexibility and range of motion in your joints. Contrary to most dance posture and hold with a regimented structure, belly dance requires controlled musculature and flexibility in joints. Every body articulation requires flexibility including fingers, hands, and toes.

Aerobic: Some might argue that the beautiful moves of belly dance are too slow to give you an aerobic workout. Yet, fluidity and flow in belly dance requires control and this dance offers exercise conditioning from controlled use of musculature and isometric conditioning. Or, you're in a class that includes dance moves to high energy Turkish music that gets your heart rate going from fast and energetic Turkish style dance.

Strength: Yes. Some belly dance classes use weights and resistance bands, and others use your body weight to strengthen and tone. In my belly dance boutique classes, you will gradually increase your strength and flexibility from your dance workouts.

Sport: No. It’s not a sport and it is not competitive. Boutique Belly Dance classes are a combination of: ballet-type movement, Tai Chi, Yoga, and Middle Eastern dance including: Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, and dancing with different styling to match Turkish, Armenian, Lebanese, Syrian, and Greek music.

Low-Impact: Yes. There is no jumping or bouncing in bellydance classes, so the workout is easy on the joints. Many dancers enjoy the increased range of motion and flexibility as a result of this low-impact form of dance exercise.

Cost: Drop into a class – no ongoing continuing commitment required. However, prepayment for a Dance Class Card provides discounts for multiple classes. Dance Class cards never expire and may be shared with friends attending classes together.

Good for beginners? Yes. Belly Dance Boutique classes are good for beginners who want to try a new workout, revitalize their workout regimen, and feel good and feel feminine.  Come enjoy belly dance and move like Shakira.

At home: Yes. There are instructional notes provided and DVDs for sale of bellydance-inspired workouts that can be done at home. In fact, Ma*Shuqa encourages students to dance at home and enjoy the power and beauty of this dance to empower and enhance your lives through joy and physical conditioning and wellbeing.

Equipment required? Yes. Belly dancing is a performing art, thus you will want to purchase: finger cymbals, silk veils, dance shoes, music, and perhaps even costuming. You may need to buy some of those things for at-home workouts.   New coin hip sashes to purchase. Finger cymbals available to borrow in class, and finger cymbals for sale. Finger Cymbals and some costuming is available for sale at the studio. Students who wish to perform at Dancer Nights sponsored by Ma*Shuqa receive coaching for performance costuming and resource lists for obtaining performance wear.

Is It Good for Me If I Have a Health Condition? Belly dance exercises and movement are often gentle on the joints and can be an excellent choice if you have arthritis or joint problems. You’ll also build stronger muscles, which gives more support to your joints and lessens pain.

 

What Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan Says:
Belly dance boutique fitness is ideal if you’re just getting into exercise. The classes will improve your balance, build strength, make you more flexible, burn calories, and improve stability through a stronger core. Most women agree that they feel more energized, graceful, strong, empowered, happy, and satisfied when engaging in this dance, form of exercise, and art form.

Belly dancing is both a beautiful art form and dance and at the same time challenging for all women. These moves are a lot harder than they look and can help anyone take their fitness to the next level. As you get more comfortable and fit, you can ramp up the intensity by taking more classes and adding more challenging moves. If you have more experience and are looking for something new to challenge yourself, private coaching classes can do the trick.