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Show DAILY THE CHRONICLE UTAH T f 5 If HI ?; f 12 ill" Jb Ji the Belly Dancing Comes 0 If you're short, you can look good," she r. , ;i . pointed out Belly welL dancers reap other benefits as "It helps people accept their body image as it is, instead of trying to she change it It helps with said. All it takes is the right moves, she added. Western styles of dance such as tap or jazz are very different from the eastern tradition of dance. "Ballet is all about angles," she said, but belly dancing allows its performers to put their own personal style into the dance. While looking at a line of belly dancers on a stage, a viewer can see each dancer's personality. "You can see when one person is trying to be sexy or sultry, and another is just having a good time." That is not to say belly dancing lacks a cohesive form. "Modern belly dancing is a barrage of styles," Rust said. It takes steps from the Middle East, Egypt, India, Turkey and also includes some Spanish and Mexican influences. The dance goes back to tribal times in the Middle East. Certain festivals with dancing were held, but because of religious restrictions, only men could attend. The women of the tribe would send their children to watch, and the children would then return and teach their mothers the dance which they performed for their own amusement In this way, belly dancing (which is also known as Middle Eastern or Oriental dancing) evolved into the modern form, which continues to include both genders. Though sometimes far and few between, male belly dancers contain a certain irresistible charm, Rust said. "Men can really use the force of their personalties to take on an art form generally thought of as a female thing and make it masculine. There's a self-image- Kerri Shaffer practices technique during her belly dancing class. quite different "Ifs liberating and fun..an art form she that's BOBBI PARRY Chronicle Feature Writer under-recognized- On the stereo, a recording of a single drummer pounds out a steady beat Soon, others join in, and the rhythm grows more complex. Then dancers come into view, spreading their arms wide. Their hips sway as they stealthily move forward. While not exactly what one expects to see in a visit to the Einar Nielsen Field House, this is the scene each and every Tuesday night when the belly dancing class put on through the University of Utah's Campus Recreation Program is in session. Most people don't understand what belly dancing really is, said Cassandra Rust, the class instructor. Rust, who graduated from the U in 2000, has been dancing for almost two years now. "People think it's some scantily clad woman who jumps out of a birthday d at cake, or runs around restaurants," she said. However, Rust believes the reality is explained For Jocelyn Sisko, a student in the class, the rarity was part of the attraction. "Ifs not something you come across that often. It's a nice little eclectic thing," she said. Sisko, a fourth-yea- r exchange student from New York City, said many people don't understand why she is taking the class. "They say, 'OK, why do you want to take that,"" she explained. Rust said she has often received the same reaction. "They look at me funny. Most people can't believe I am taking the class. They have a preconceived notion of what a belly dancer should look like," she said. And according to Rust, their notion is wrong. "Belly dancing fits every person's shape or size. If you're a tall and thin girl, you can look good belly dancing. half-nake- - 4 75 " 6 ," 7 ' "5 8 I 14 ," 7U 15 a technical base," he said. said. U graduate student Steven Cook has encountered this sentiment before. "Women like to watch men dance," said Cook, who has been belly dancing off and on for about seven years. He' has also performed in various dance festivals. Male dancers have the option of learning a style of dance designed specifically for men, or of modifying female moves, he said. Cook began dancing after developing an interest in the Middle East and the costuming and music of its culture. People's reactions to male belly dancers are, for the most part, positive, he said. However, he is now moving more toward the musical side of things as he pursues his interest in learning the But the music of belly dance consists of more than simply drums. "A lot of people use a variety of songs," said Rust, who has seen dances performed to modern songs such as Sting's "Desert Rose." Traditional music may also include flute accompaniment, a bass drum or zills. Zills are finger cymbals which are cither included in recorded music or played by the dancers as they perform. But in almost all dances, "there is usually a very strong drum beat," Rust said. The costumes of the dancers also vary greatly, depending on the region. In the Middle East today, one can find dancers with very traditional, tribal costuming, Rust said. Such costumes are dark, cover much of the dancer's body and include heavy jewelry. On the other side of the spectrum drumming techniques which often lies the Egyptian cabaret costumes accompany belly dancing. The drumming style is based on a variety of rhythms from different countries, he said. And once the basic technique is learned, endless possibilities open up. I I f light, sparkling jewelry. Depending upon their own personal see BELLY DANCING, page 6 "k . i consisting of very little clothing and t?' t y ... I i ; ' i TV, f'-- n, - i, - - f iv Ml. 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It just looks really great when a guy can belly dance well," she . U 1 R In o P(a sk EItIb' E ll M L 'oTf"" Jc ot0u 0r Of jj ElNO-i- skww-- I C0U R mar' t 581-704- tm OB tTm r A. L I ""Ie 1 1 Wl E r EjAtlp a rIa a LL C O u"rTt S4$ l' JJD aj. c 40 Not here CHRONICLE FEATURE EDITOR CASSANDRA HARTLEY CHARtl.EYCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU I i C JL J"L U R t P RfTu 8jE Ai L L EiO nitTT at Iin T o |