​​​​​​​​​​​​why do you need to explore Belly Dancing?

Belly dancing is a fun and effective workout!

Belly dance movements follow with the natural movement of the body and also provides strength to our posture, muscles and skeleton. 

Belly dancing was designed for the physical and mental health of women.

Belly dancing is a natural dance and movement for a woman and her needs, in terms of skeletal and muscular structure, as movements activate and empower the uniqueness of the female body.

A common myth told that Belly dancing is for women to entertain men, not true. Throughout history, belly dancing was part of a ritual where women danced for other women. Women of the tribe also danced at significant and important events in a woman's life and held a transition dance ceremony for the new life chapter.

Belly dancing is an empowering way for women to connect with their inner goddess. Each sensual hip circle and graceful arm movement awakens a sense of joy and feminine power within. 

More than just a workout, our belly dance workshops are a celebration of womanhood!

For those reasons and to fulfill my mission to empower women, my classes are for women only. I strive to create a sacred safe space to move freely and without judgement.

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Belly dancing is known for its physical and fitness benefits, but that's only half the story. Besides the fitness benefits Belly dancing fills our soul with joy!

The movements and music also boost your mental health by releasing feel-good hormones like oxytocin and dopamine.

When you shimmy and sway to the beat, it's like giving your brain a big hug!
The rhythmic motions and uplifting melodies promote positive feelings and greater wellbeing. It's the perfect activity to lift your mood and spread joy throughout your body.​​​​

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​​​​​​​​​​How can you explore Belly Dancing?

​Join us!

Together we'll shimmy and sway to exotic Middle Eastern melodies as we fuse fitness with feminine energy.

Join to our classes and learn Belly Dance step by step!

We will learn Belly dance movements that will also lead to choreographies!

 

​ Each class delivers a low- medium impact workout.
 

We will start each class with a deep warm up.
We will learn a few Belly Dance isolations, footwork and arm work and I'll lead you through fun and simple combinations. Sometimes we will also explore intuitive motion and self-expression.

We will finish with cool down.​

 

 Let's Belly Dancing!
   Click here for more details on how to

 join my next class and workshops! ​

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​​For any questions
halobellydance1@gmail.com

 

Hope to dance with you soon!

 

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Check out my SHOP   for some sandals, scarves and other unique items to add to your Belly Dancing ensemble!

 

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​​About Hila's Belly Dance Journey​​​​

I started my Belly Dance journey when I was 20. During the years I learned with inspiring and professional Middle East Belly Dance teachers. I also enjoyed participating in Belly Dance festivals in Europe and Israel, which provide me with different Belly dance teachers, experiences and styles from around the globe.

Although I only started practicing belly dancing in my 20s, I was a very active and mobile child, who expressed myself and my feelings through movement.  With a smile, my mother tells about the time I was 4 years old and how during the students' performance in the high school she then managed, I went on my own to the stage and started dancing to the music.  And it is just one example of many... 
As a young girl I trained in Ballet for 3 years and then I switched to jazz dance.  Neither, I did not find my voice. In my teenage years I found it challenging to manage my mobility and personal expression through my body.  During those years my mother recommended multiple times to join Belly Dancing.  I refused because I was censoring in my mind what people would say and how it would “look”.  Then I didn't know what I know today about belly dancing's purpose and power in women's life!
 

One day, my mother calls and informs me that she “signed me up for a belly dancing class that starts tonight”,
and in the same breath she says 
“The teacher is here next to me, so I will let you talk with her…” 
And just like that I got to know my first Belly Dance teacher -  Suzanah Shafrir. Suzanah's welcoming voice and her excitement for Belly dancing jumped across the phone line directly into to my soul! I was convinced to arrive at class. 
I arrived to class that night, covered in as many layers of clothes as I could find. I even wore a Poncho!!! It was a wintery evening and made for the “perfect” excuse for my many layers... I wanted to cover my self-criticism and also cover the experiences and feelings young women can have.
At first, none of the women nor the teacher said a word about my clothing choice. They just welcomed me warmly and danced with me.
At the end of the second class some of the women asked me gently if “Aren't you a little warm and maybe I should take a layer or two off” ...
From lesson to lesson, from pelvic movements, hip rotations to isolation and Shimmy, to music and dancing with other women, the layers of clothes came off. With them the negative thoughts of myself and I started a new self-discovery life. 

I found my voice - both physical and mentally. I found a place where my body and soul are free to move and express itself!
I fell in love with belly dancing!  In Shimmies, the circular movements or swings of my hips side to side, in the ability to control part of the body and still move other parts freely, in the sisterhood of women dancing together, the music, in the colorfulness of the belly dance costumes and the joy I felt… I fell in love with all of it!
I am beyond grateful that my mother insisted I experience belly dancing!
 

 I also felt challenges during my Belly Dance journey, like how to create with my body and mind some of the movements or to follow along the steps… but it was easy and fun to continue trying.
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  I started teaching Belly Dancing to empower other women to use this authentic dance for their own physical and mental benefits; as improving flexibility, posture and body movement. To strengthen muscles including Pelvic Floor, Core and Back muscles.

  Beside the significant physical fitness benefits, the soul and mind also rewarded by being free and full of joy!
 

 I decided to take my skills up to the next level and become a certified instructor. My search led me to Belly Dance Fitness, as taught by Portia Lange B.A. Portia is an internationally recognized Belly Dancer and she is a certified group fitness instructor of the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). It is the only Belly Dance Fitness program in the United States approved by AFAA.

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The name Halo Belly Dance was chosen for two reasons -
First, the light and joy both body and soul get from Belly Dancing. 
Secondly, my name Hila means Halo.

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Join us to the dance of life - Let's Belly Dance!

Best’s and Love,
Hila