Tulaa is a Danish executive with a high-powered job who has visited Egypt many times. Among other attractions she enjoyed besides the Pyramids and the Nile was belly dancing. But more than a decade ago after Tulaa avidly watched a show staged by famous Egyptian belly dancer Nagua Fuad at the Cairo Marriott, she had pictures taken of herself in some of the gorgeous belly dancing costumes. But her interest did not end at the costumes as I had first imagined. " No, I have been practicing the art for the past few years, revealed Tulaa. Her craze for belly dancing at a time when the trend had just been catching on with blondes, was even more surprising than the photos that showed the businesswoman in the revealing attire. A few years ago Tulaa was badly injured in a road accident and remained under medication and physiotherapy for over two years. Doctors then advised her to regularly practice any hobby that involved systematic body movements. After she came to Egypt she realized that belly dancing was the answer. Blonde belly dancers performing in various Arab nightclubs are becoming a common scene that is, perhaps, overshadowing other interested groups - blondes and otherwise - who practice that art for therapeutic purposes. Many women who boast shapely figures take pride in the fact that they have never done any exercise other than belly dancing. Today belly dance classes are available at reputed gyms. But while some gyms are still reticent about over publicizing them, this art as a form of exercise, is gaining momentum in the West. Simply google 'belly dancing' and you will be stunned at the number of websites devoted to featuring related practices. Instructors point out that while other types of exercise are about perseverance and duty, belly dancing is in itself a pleasure that makes you more energetic and shapely. Foufa, a belly dancing instructor at Samia Allouba Centre in Maadi, underlines that there is so much demand for her classes that she sometimes cannot cope. "We get female tourists who dabble in the art despite their short stay in the country, says Foufa. "Some also come to do courses that would qualify them for teaching back home. "We have morning classes for housewives and evening classes for working women who register to relieve office stress, she continues. Foufa explains that in spite of the reserved attitude of Egyptians women in general with regard to belly dancing, many are now opting to take it up. Devotees admitted that they were surprised to have noted that stiffness, migraines and stress levels were dramatically reduced following the first two or three classes. It is also the best remedy for depression and overweight. It is said that belly dancing has you move more than 100 muscles at once. Smaller muscles are used as opposed to many that remain dormant despite conventional training regimes that mostly focus on the major muscle groups. Foufa Notes: " While belly dancing all your muscles, from the chest down to the feet, move to the changing rhythm, which is why the art has emerged as the best form of body toning. She adds that only aerobics could stand out due to its relevant stress on arms, but Westerners still prefer belly dancing because it's new and different. They are bored of aerobics. But the traditional Oriental dance is much more complicated than it appears. "Some women perform well instinctively but this is only talent and to perform properly they have to attend classes to learn the rules, says Foufa. Dr Misaki Ikegame of Potts Point Family Medical Practice, Australia, said belly dancing could help better certain conditions such as lower back problems, sciatica, osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint pain and any other soft tissue back strain. "It's particularly good for these conditions because it is of low impact and strengthens the back and abdominal muscles, she said. But Foufa warns that for people suffering from permanent back problems belly dancing is not the right thing to do. But since belly dancing is the specialty of women, what can the men do? "All folk dances from Upper Egypt and the Delta benefit the body, says Foufa. " They are more suitable for men, but nothing really equals belly dancing.
