in preparation of turning 30, there were a few things i wanted for myself. one major thing was to find a way to exercise that would keep me stimulated and engaged.
i thought about belly dancing because i've always had a "healthy" body type, with ample hippage. but like many things that require coordination, i was quite nervous about trying it out. finally, in late 2010, i decided to take the plunge and try a class out.
and it was fun! don't get me wrong, i was quite overwhelmed by all of it, but i loved the movement of the dance, even if i couldn't do 90% of it. ariellah was super friendly (more than her students, actually), and in spite of being so talented and renowned, she offered guidance and personal attention in the comfort of her home studio.
i promise myself to return!
note: i will say, that in comparison to frederique, i find ariellah's teaching style a bit more challenging, in spite of being open to all levels. as a complete newbie, i find myself leaning towards frederique's classes, because she breaks things down so well and so much. i think ariellah's classes will be most beneficial to me once i master more of the basics. at that point, i hope to attend a bit of both of their classes! read more