The Ball State Belly Dance Club is an outlet for students to express themselves through dance.
Umi.
Maya.
Hip Drop.
These are the basic moves of belly dancing.
An umi is an inner hip circle, a maya is a reverse vertical figure eight, and a hip drop is lowering your hips at a rapid pace.
In a dissertation written by Bonnie Paul, she found that belly dancing can promote self-confidence, fitness, stress relief, femininity, personal growth, and spirituality.
Paul says that belly dancing was historically used as a way to prepare for childbirth.
Belly dancing originated in the Middle East and has since gained popularity in the United States.
Established over 10 years ago, Ball State’s Belly Dance Club says their mission is to promote empowerment and self-love through the art of dance.
Kami Geron, a Ball State University sophomore, joined the Belly Dance Club her freshman year, in hopes of pushing herself outside of her comfort zone.
“It isn’t something where you need to be this waist size or this chest size to join, anyone could join and even just practice dancing; you don’t have to perform,” says Kami, “And performing, you get to be whoever you want to be. The costumes are ones you can pick so you get to make your body look its best, move its best, and feel its best.”
Courage plays a huge role in belly dancing, according to Geron. You are putting yourself out and in front of a group of people who are there to watch you perform. This is something that Geron knows a lot about.
“I think there is a lot of courage that goes into belly dancing,” she says. “Really just putting yourself out there to make friendships was the most courageous for me.”
Kathryn Reitman, a Ball State University senior and now president of the club, joined at the student activity fair her sophomore year. The club had a table set up and they were in full costume and performing various open dances.
“They looked so vibrant and confident, and I wanted to be like that. I went to the first club meeting just to test it out, and it was so much fun, I was hooked,” Reitman says.
“The Belly dance club is a very open and supportive community. I have been a member for two, starting three years, and not once has anyone ever judged me for my body. From day one, the belly dance club works to destroy the idea that you have to look like a model or celebrity to be considered beautiful,” Reitman says, “When dancing, especially with shimmies, body fat tends to shift and jiggle, but it doesn’t matter. We have a saying, “If your body jiggles, you’re doing it right.”
Reitman says that there aren’t any skills that someone needs to have to belly dance. They only need to start off with that shred of confidence and a willingness to try it out. After that they will learn the basic dance moves that are specifically belly dance related, such as umis, mayas, hip drops, etc. As they continue to dance they can learn more advanced moves like layering, veils, or floor work.
While belly dancing they will develop rhythm, timing, muscle control, and isolations. If interested, they can even start learning how to create choreography. The members of the Ball State Belly Dance Club also have to memorize their routines if they choose to perform.
This year, the club is meeting virtually on Zoom on Mondays at 7 p.m. They are always looking for new members to join. On Thursdays, Reitman will be sending out links to videos that will focus on technique or new choreography.
