The Serena Technique of Belly Dancing: The Fun Way to a Trim Shape

Belly dancing is growing in popularity in the United States and is emerging as a creative and natural dance incorporating beautiful movement and a great deal of personal expression. In this book the world's foremost artist in Middle Eastern dance shows, step by step, how a beginner can teach herself belly dancing at home, and benefit from the full exercise and physical fitness values inherent in the motions of the dance. In order to make this the most complete book as possible, she has included a chapter on the history of the art of belly dancing, illustrated with photographs of some of the famed artists in the field. Serena discusses the specific benefits of the dance, covering such areas as the physical therapeutic aspects of the dance, how it is used as a preparation to natural childbirth, how it helps the dancer acquire good posture and flexibility, and how it creates a valuable emotional environment with outlets for creativity and personal expression. An entire chapter is devoted to explaining the exercise values of the dance, and charts and illustrations are used to help the reader choose the best physical exercise program for her needs. A ninety-six step program which actually teaches the dance, carefully devised by Serena, takes the reader through beginning, intermediate and advanced sections, demonstrating not only the moves, but also which parts of the body will benefit. Serena discusses the six basic body types and which steps are the best for each. There are five appendices which give readers additional information on how to create their own costumes, how to understand the music, how to play the zills, and how to put on a show.