In 2004... Chris and Jon led me to Kaeshi. My guy friends are HANDSOME. Sporty, pretty boys. Chris…read morehappens to look like a handsome version of Brad Pitt and Jon like a handsomer young Paul Newman. Up to that time, my years in NYC were oddly plagued w random men cornering my grad school friends asking to meet me. So, women did not feel comfortable hanging out w me. When Chris, Jon and I bc friends, that attention was dispersed w women swooning for them, and attempts to corner and throw themselves at my friends as we went about the city. The three of us communed; We had jaundiced eyes for that kind of attention. We had enough of mismatched people pursuing us w lots of games, lots of pretending. So any hint of those games were turn offs, and got our scorn and ridicule. We were at the same fork in the road of fed up.
So imagine my guy friends, who wouldn't trifle their attention w fevered women, excitedly rushing to tell me all about a woman named Kaeshi, and bellydancing w fire! (It was a presentation at Chris' school that I couldn't make.)
Chris was all about the bellydance moves. Jon was all about the fire dancing moves. Both were all about Kaeshi! --And I just came from a medical appointment for childhood trauma symptoms resurfacing in my adult body. The nurse's last words were that I need to do lots of things w my hips. She said lots of dancing would be very good for me.
At first Chris and Jon could only remember the name 'Kaeshi'. Lol! They did not know how to spell her name (so I could find her). Eventually, they found the postcard that said 'Bellyqueen'. I never told them I started bellydancing (thanks to them).
Bellyqueen has been paradigm shifting.
As a dancer, you learn about
body illusion,
body control,
directing attention,
commanding a room,
pacing yourself,
pacing others, and
female friendships and
mutual support amongst all women
(Classes are always open for men to enroll in too, but I only saw the occasional martial arts guy try to stay a scant few minutes in the room w us.)
Bellydancing is very therapeutic. It is full of virtues FOR THE DANCER.
Of the coolest things that happened w regularity is the male-dominated martial arts class next door will often result in the men crowding our window to watch us, Kaeshi would pause class, nicely address them, then offer that they can watch but they'll have to bellydance too, with us. A smooth lesson in respect and mutuality.
Why Bellyqueen in particular? The tone of class is about skills in a light but respectful way. (Outside of class is about the bellydance accessories.) In fact, when I got to intermediate, then advance, I sometimes impulsively dropped in for any class or for back-to-back classes. So I would be without my dance gear, not dressed right, but no matter. I was there for skills.
(However one should especially have right attire as a beginner. Helps you see your movements better, at least.)
Kaeshi and Irina are excellent bellydancers and teachers.
They explain the various movements well, build the skills over the duration of a single class, and the class term. You have traveling steps, isolated moves, and layered moves. You learn some history of the dance within different cultures. The other women in the room are friendly, and openly admire each other. It is not a competitive, back-biting environment. It is supportive and encouraging. My desire for positive friendships with other women started to happen here. Zagareet for each other is always fun. The dance circle at the end was always fun.
Bellyqueen's bellydance isn't about performing for others. You repeatedly learn that bellydance is for you.
I value what I learned here, so much. I still drop in for a class when I'm in town (I moved away in 2008). I eventually started to pursue Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian dancing when I moved to Hawai'i. (But Hawaiian feels too servile to me, and Tahitian feels too restrictive to me.)
When I moved to Houston and resumed formal classes, I was invited to join their troupe two months later. So know, you can acquire a solid foundation of dance skills that go with you for years from Bellyqueen.
Lastly, I also had Elisheva and Amar as instructors once in my years w Bellyqueen. I just remember class was still good. I'm always a bit star-struck w Kaeshi and Amar. Very unfortunately, Elisheva passed away.
