I reported in
my April 19th blog about the joyous performance of the belly dance students
of the Dance Life & Fitness Studio owned by dancer/instructor Arielle
Juliette.
my April 19th blog about the joyous performance of the belly dance students
of the Dance Life & Fitness Studio owned by dancer/instructor Arielle
Juliette.
 |
| Belly Dancer Arielle Juliette |
Arielle takes
great pride in her students and used the recital to showcase their
accomplishments. But what I found most engaging was her obvious enthusiasm for
her art. She only took to the stage
twice during the two hour program that night — once in a dance with her students
and once in a solo performance — but when she soloed she used stomach muscles I
didn’t know humans possessed. Her level of skill was eye-boggling. And she
shook and shimmied and thrust her hips all the while engaging her audience with
a smile and eye contact that openly invited us to join in the celebration.
What I didn’t
know at the time, and what I was most curious about, was what brought Arielle
to this particular dance form. As it turns out, she was made for dance from a
very young age. But she found traditional dance – ballet, jazz, etc. – to be
confining. Hip hop was fun for her, for a while. But it was belly dance that
saved her life.
know at the time, and what I was most curious about, was what brought Arielle
to this particular dance form. As it turns out, she was made for dance from a
very young age. But she found traditional dance – ballet, jazz, etc. – to be
confining. Hip hop was fun for her, for a while. But it was belly dance that
saved her life.
Arielle’s
passion for dance – and her dream of being a professional dancer – helped her
survive a dark period in her life. Like many young girls, she went through a
period of severe depression and self-loathing. She experienced sexual abuse at a young age;
and in a story she wrote for her Facebook page in 2009 she described being
“disconnected from” her body. According to Arielle, “Discovering bellydance was about more than learning how to
move to music in a new way; it was about reclaiming what I had lost.” She went on to say that for the first time since she was 5 years old, her body was her
own again. “I found myself through this dance, and pulled myself from the
darkest depths to become the person I am today. I do not like to think what
would have become of me had I not started dancing.”
passion for dance – and her dream of being a professional dancer – helped her
survive a dark period in her life. Like many young girls, she went through a
period of severe depression and self-loathing. She experienced sexual abuse at a young age;
and in a story she wrote for her Facebook page in 2009 she described being
“disconnected from” her body. According to Arielle, “Discovering bellydance was about more than learning how to
move to music in a new way; it was about reclaiming what I had lost.” She went on to say that for the first time since she was 5 years old, her body was her
own again. “I found myself through this dance, and pulled myself from the
darkest depths to become the person I am today. I do not like to think what
would have become of me had I not started dancing.”
Arielle
generously agreed to answer questions I posed to her in a recent email
interview. Her personal energy and exuberance come through in her answers.
I think you will enjoy this interview!
generously agreed to answer questions I posed to her in a recent email
interview. Her personal energy and exuberance come through in her answers.
I think you will enjoy this interview!
MCW: Is
teaching belly dancing your full time occupation? Where did you study and
for how long?
teaching belly dancing your full time occupation? Where did you study and
for how long?
AJ: Yes,
currently I am blessed enough to have my art be my full time profession. I run
the studio business during the day, teach in the evenings, and perform on the
weekends. Mona N’wal was my main instructor for belly dance, and she now
teaches at my studio! I began with her in 2004, and knew that I wanted to be a
professional by the time I graduated in 2006. Before Mona, I studied hip hop on
my own watching music videos. I’ve loved to dance for as long as I can
remember, but I could never stand Western dance classes as a kid!
currently I am blessed enough to have my art be my full time profession. I run
the studio business during the day, teach in the evenings, and perform on the
weekends. Mona N’wal was my main instructor for belly dance, and she now
teaches at my studio! I began with her in 2004, and knew that I wanted to be a
professional by the time I graduated in 2006. Before Mona, I studied hip hop on
my own watching music videos. I’ve loved to dance for as long as I can
remember, but I could never stand Western dance classes as a kid!
MCW: What brought
you to belly dancing? What is it about this art form that got you interested?
you to belly dancing? What is it about this art form that got you interested?
AJ: It was actually my mom that got me started in
belly dance. She saw a show that included belly dancers, and thought that we
would really like it. I found Mona online, and we began together! She is now
helping me teach my classes, and foraying into teaching classes of her own. I
never would have stuck with it if it wasn’t for my mom! And it’s awesome to
have something that we can do together. We have always been close, but we are
closer now than we ever have been! I don’t know where I would be without both
of my parents.
belly dance. She saw a show that included belly dancers, and thought that we
would really like it. I found Mona online, and we began together! She is now
helping me teach my classes, and foraying into teaching classes of her own. I
never would have stuck with it if it wasn’t for my mom! And it’s awesome to
have something that we can do together. We have always been close, but we are
closer now than we ever have been! I don’t know where I would be without both
of my parents.
Besides my
mom, what helped me stick to dancing was how much healing I needed to do inside
myself, and how belly dance allowed me to do that. By the time I was 17, I had
been through much sexual abuse in my life. It left me disconnected from my
body, and with very low self-esteem. Belly dance helped me to reclaim my body,
and to have the confidence to become the independent business woman I am today!
mom, what helped me stick to dancing was how much healing I needed to do inside
myself, and how belly dance allowed me to do that. By the time I was 17, I had
been through much sexual abuse in my life. It left me disconnected from my
body, and with very low self-esteem. Belly dance helped me to reclaim my body,
and to have the confidence to become the independent business woman I am today!
MCW: I
noticed that the women in the class were of all ages and sizes. That surprised
me. Does that surprise you? And why do you think they are willing to embrace
this form of dance and be public about it?
noticed that the women in the class were of all ages and sizes. That surprised
me. Does that surprise you? And why do you think they are willing to embrace
this form of dance and be public about it?
AJ: When I
first started belly dance, I was very surprised at how different all the women
were- all shapes, sizes, ages, and walks of life, all united by a common
passion. Now that I’m seasoned to the belly dance scene, it doesn’t surprise me
at all. All women at some point have felt uncomfortable in their skin, unable
to feel attractive or graceful, and unfortunately most have suffered abuse of
one kind or another. Belly dance gives women a way to relate to their bodies in
a positive way, and to feel confident about themselves as they are right now. I
have testimonials from women who credit belly dance with giving them the
confidence to pursue things they wouldn’t normally pursue- like a promotion at
work- and get it! Not to mention that many women love sparklies, jinglies and
pretty colors, and belly dance gives them a safe place to express that.
first started belly dance, I was very surprised at how different all the women
were- all shapes, sizes, ages, and walks of life, all united by a common
passion. Now that I’m seasoned to the belly dance scene, it doesn’t surprise me
at all. All women at some point have felt uncomfortable in their skin, unable
to feel attractive or graceful, and unfortunately most have suffered abuse of
one kind or another. Belly dance gives women a way to relate to their bodies in
a positive way, and to feel confident about themselves as they are right now. I
have testimonials from women who credit belly dance with giving them the
confidence to pursue things they wouldn’t normally pursue- like a promotion at
work- and get it! Not to mention that many women love sparklies, jinglies and
pretty colors, and belly dance gives them a safe place to express that.
As for
why they choose to be public about it, now there’s a great question. Belly
dance is an art form that almost everyone performs at some point or another.
I’m not sure why that is! It’s that way in every belly dance circle I can think
of. My theory is that everyone likes to be the center of attention time to
time, and there’s nothing to boost the confidence like a room full of people
clapping for you!
why they choose to be public about it, now there’s a great question. Belly
dance is an art form that almost everyone performs at some point or another.
I’m not sure why that is! It’s that way in every belly dance circle I can think
of. My theory is that everyone likes to be the center of attention time to
time, and there’s nothing to boost the confidence like a room full of people
clapping for you!
MCW: What do
you think is the biggest misconception about belly dancing?
you think is the biggest misconception about belly dancing?
AJ:
Absolutely, hands down, no questions about it the biggest misconception about
belly dance is that belly dance = stripping. To many people, there’s no
difference at all. My extended family didn’t approve of my choice in career for
just that reason. Most people do not view belly dance as an art equal to
ballet, modern, or jazz. Unfortunately, there are many dancers who are indeed
strippers or close and call themselves belly dancers, so in some ways, I can’t
blame people for believing it. I present my art as just that, and I teach all
of my students to elevate the art as well. We’re changing the world and the
common conception of belly dance one performance and class at a time!
Absolutely, hands down, no questions about it the biggest misconception about
belly dance is that belly dance = stripping. To many people, there’s no
difference at all. My extended family didn’t approve of my choice in career for
just that reason. Most people do not view belly dance as an art equal to
ballet, modern, or jazz. Unfortunately, there are many dancers who are indeed
strippers or close and call themselves belly dancers, so in some ways, I can’t
blame people for believing it. I present my art as just that, and I teach all
of my students to elevate the art as well. We’re changing the world and the
common conception of belly dance one performance and class at a time!
Arielle said
in her personal essay, “It is in
my soul to dance; it is written in my destiny.”
in her personal essay, “It is in
my soul to dance; it is written in my destiny.”
Perhaps that explains why she is able to imbue such a sense of joy and
self-confidence in women we might stereotypically not associate with bellydance. It is her destiny. It is their good fortune!
self-confidence in women we might stereotypically not associate with bellydance. It is her destiny. It is their good fortune!
