Useful Answers

Please reach me at mistaneek2001@yahoo.co.uk if there is anything you need to know.

What should I wear to a dance class?

Please wear either soft soled shoes, slipper socks or naked toes. Clothing should be loose to allow freedom of movement i.e. t-shirt, joggers or full loose skirt. I have dance belts, veils and canes to lend during classes.

How long are your dance lessons?

Lessons are 60 minutes duration.

Do you offer group dance lessons?

My classes are generally for groups but I can be flexible.

Dance for your Life

Dance is Good

Make new Friends

Many women who shun the gym do belly dance as their main exercise and enjoy the fitness benefits along with the fun. Unlike some forms of dance, such as ballet, belly dance is more physically accessible to most women in the general population. It also remains an activity they can safely pursue as they mature. In fact, belly dance is very well suited as exercise for maturing women.

Studies tell us that by age 75, 66% of women report no physical activity whatsoever. A certain level of fitness and range of motion is needed to perform daily activities and live independently. This doesn’t happen suddenly at age 75, but creeps up on these women starting in their 40′s and 50′s when they could be dancing against the tide of aging to prevent this. Let’s look at some ways that belly dance can benefit mature women.

Belly dance is a low or no-impact activity so it protects joints that have seen some wear and tear over the years.
Belly dance improves balance. 30% of women at 65 and 50% of women at 75 suffer one fall per year. Dancing strengthens the muscles we use for walking and standing up straight to improve stability while moving or standing still

Make new Friends

Belly dance is a weight-bearing activity so it helps to preserve bone density in the hips and legs. Fragile bones combined with impaired balance often lead to hip fractures, which are devastating and sometimes fatal in older women.
Belly dance helps to strengthen core muscles, protecting the spine, improving posture and reinforcing balance.
Bellymixtures is a light to moderate activity. This fills the bill for recommendations of accumulating 30 minutes most or all days of the week. This kind of conditioning helps minimize daily fatigue and shortness of breath while climbing stairs or carrying groceries.
Bellymixtures is a group activity. Staying socially engaged improves mental outlook and feelings of well-being, especially important for seniors.

Your Wellbeing

Make new Friends

Your Wellbeing

Bellymixtures is a group activity. Staying socially engaged improves mental outlook and feelings of well-being, especially important for seniors.

If you already dance, as many do, then you already know that above all it is FUN! It can also be challenging, keeping you learning new things which is good for your brain too. The beauty of belly dance as a lifetime pursuit is that it can positively change the way we age – and face it, nobody gets to stay 25 forever! It is also a dance that can change along with our bodies. Most of us will give up splits, laybacks and Turkish drops at some point, but the dance remains full of the beauty, subtlety and grace that drew us to it in the first place.
So whether you are in your 20th year of dancing or just starting out at age 50, know that you are doing something good for yourself today, and for the health of the future, more mature you.

Annual Hafla - "Trick or Treat"

Annual Halloweeen Hafla

Every year myself and the Monday ladies organise and run a Halloween Hafla (a hafla means a gathering of like minded individuals who meet to dance for each other. This also involves food and drink! This is held at Hanham Community Centre and this year the date is 11th October 2025 and the theme is Trick or Treat.

All are welcome to join in and contribute if you wish and there is absolutely no pressure to get up on stage and perform so dont let that worry you. Audience is very important!

Previous themes have included Under the Sea, Pirates, Movies to name but a few.