Despite the name "belly" dance,the
movements are generally more focused
on hip movements than the belly. In
general, however, the dance form
is characterised by movements
involving isolations of the body - that
is carrying out a move in one part
of the body, whilst the remainder
of the body remains relaxed
and unaffected.
Bellydance has developed
differently from region to region
around the world, with countries
including Egypt, Lebanon and
Turkey each developing their own
distinctive style.
Whilst it is often simply the idea of just
having a dance that often gets people
involved in bellydance, the stage at
which people often get hooked is when
they can connect with the music and
the sentiments of a particular style and
the culture that surrounds it. For Claire,
it is Egyptian dance in particular that
has inspired her. The music and the
relaxed earthiness, strength of self and extremes of joy, love, despair and humour that it can express are what she finds addictive.