Birthday Weekend Celebration~Part 2

On Friday night we had a belly dance birthday party at my house. As my regular readers know I have been belly dancing for many years, but haven't done a lot since having Sophie. My friends have been asking me to show them some dancing and they all wanted to dance too, so we put together a Middle Eastern themed belly dance party!

What a lot of fun. We had costumes and veils for everyone to try and lots of jingly things. One friend applied Egyptian style eye makeup to everyone.


My lovely daughter Laura, brought some great Arabic music and had everyone's name written in Arabic as a party favor.

We had many photo ops and every one really got into the spirit of performing.

I really have such lovely friends.

Even my poppet, Sophie got into the belly dance act, she has been dancing since she could walk.

Friends are the best, they are what make life worth it all.

We had lovely henna, a gift from Laura, and applied by Mare. This is my foot design...love it.

Laura also brought a hookah, this is a Middle Eastern flavored tobacco, that is sweet and quite tasty even if you are a non smoker like me.

Yummy Middle Eastern food, fattoush and fried pita.

Baked pita chips

Tabbouleh and Hummus

Beautiful Belly Dancers

One of our favorite things about the Secret City Festival is that there are always belly dancers. Middle Eastern Dancers to be precise. Sophie and I love belly dancing....both watching and doing.


These ladies were organized by a friend of mine and she did an outstanding job. We are so happy to go out and support the dancers each year.


Check them out.....Bella Belly of Knoxville...

Sandsation Dancers also of Knoxville....

Bella Belly again...after costume change...

A beautiful solo cane dance by Hulya.

Thoughts on Belly Dancing

Belly dancing has been a passion of mine since 1999 when I took lessons with a Nigerian student at UT. She was a very good teacher an taught me the traditional artistic folk dance along with the modern American version. I really enjoyed dancing and practiced it studiously for some time. When I divorced in 2002, I let some of my dance time go, as a new love interest and new job took up a lot of my time. When I became pregnant with Sophie I began dancing again, though not regularly, it helped with the aches and pains of being pregnant at 35! After she was born, I continued dancing and included my little poppet by dancing with her in my arms. She took to belly dancing as soon as she could walk and still loves to dance to this day.

However, I have not danced an actual dance in ages. The last time I did was a ritual dance in honor of the Goddess. Belly dancing is a wonderful way to honor and celebrate the joy of living the Goddess path. I always think of the way that a woman's body is used belly dance and how that is so akin to the way it is used during sex, and during childbirth. "All acts of love and pleasure are My rituals", that is from the Charge of the Goddess, and I believe it is the truth. There is no better way to honor and serve the Goddess than by using your Goddess given body in rituals and fun. So with that in mind, I have decided to dust off my coin belt and give the Goddess the honor She deserves. Join me!

Here is a beautiful and informative link to get you started; Visionary Dance. Enjoy!

Belly Dancing!

Inspired by a book I picked up at the used book store, and by the pleading of my husband (LOL), I decided to take up belly dancing again. I have not danced much since Sophie was born. Although the movements certainly helped during my pregnancy and labor with her. (But that's another post.)

Anyway, belly dancing is perhaps the oldest form of dance. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Oriental. Indian, and Middle Eastern cultures. Although many people today think of it as a seductive dance intended to entertain men, in fact men have only been permitted to observe this unique art form in its more recent history. traditionally bellydance was performed by women for women as part of ancient fertility rituals and Goddess worship ceremonies. Women have danced together to honor Mother Earth in spiritual ceremonies and were taught to dance as a way to celebrate and worship their Goddess, for sexual fertility, and in preparation for childbirth. Bellydancing's undulating movements and its focus on the hips, abdominals, and chest suggest a connection to female fertility, in both conception and labor.

I began dancing in 1998. (the photo above was in 2002) I took private lessons from a Nigerian student at the local university. She taught the traditional 'Raks Sharki'. A beautiful dance full of meaning and tradition. I also studied books and videos on my own, to further the skills I got from my instructor. There are also many, many websites devoted to bellydance in all forms. And now bellt dancing has gone mainstream, its everywhere. And its a total workout for body, mind and spirit. It sculpts and tones your body with a low impact, fat burning workout, and it actually promotes a positive mental attitude about your body. Women who bellydance feel more confident and at ease with their bodies. After all Goddesses come in all shapes and sizes. Watching a belly dancer (and being a belly dancer) I can see that each shimmy and graceful undulation is and expression of strength and femininity.

I have danced for family, friends, my husband and a birthday party. But mostly I dance for myself as a way to honor my womanhood and my Goddess. It is a tribute to Her who gave me the woman's body that I have. Here is a video clip that I love, showing the power of belly dance as prayer, aptly named 'Prayer' And at the top of the page is a youtube video of two of my favorite things, belly dancing and hula hooping together. Enjoy!

Beautiful Bellydancing!

We were so lucky to get to see so many beautiful belly dancers at the Annual Secret City Festival that our city held this year. There were dancers from several areas come together to make a fasinating and beautiful performance. I was inspired to take up belly dancing again, I have not danced since shortly after Sophie was born 31/2 years ago. Here are a few pics of the highlights.