How hard is it to learn bellydancing, i am 48, is it too late? is it good for firming and toning?

Answer 1

Cassandra is correct that it depends upon the person whether it is easy or difficult for them to learn belly dance. I am also 48, and have been taking belly dance classes for almost 7 years now. I love it and have no plans to stop any time soon. I have met many women who are around my age who are new to the dance. Fortunately this is a dance style where age isn't so important. As far as firming and toning. It can help, but other factors can affect that. It depends on how much you put into your practices outside of class and what else you do when you work out.

Answer 2

It depends on the person whether or not it will be hard to learn or easy. Bellydance is great for women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Many women well into their 60's have been starting to take an interest in learning bellydance. It is often difficult to learn the more complex advanced level moves but most beginner moves are fairly easy to learn everyone has a few moves that really frustrate them and others that are like second nature. The moves that are difficult for some dancers are extremely easy for others and the other way around as well. If you have been fairly active throughout your lifetime it will probably be easier for you because you will be more flexible and be at a higher fitness level than slomeone who was acouch potato who just recently took an interest in their health. Previous dance and music experience can often prove helpful even if it's from another genre simply because you are already somewhat familiar with learning dance or music. Especially with bellydance, starting at a later age is not necessarily a drawback. Amongst people in the Middle East a bellydancer who is 40 or older is thought to truely express the dance because only when they are middle aged or older do they have enough life experience to truely capture the essence of an emotion and concept through dance. As far as firming and toning go ... yes and no. The name "bellydance" is a misnomer that frequently lends to false sterotypes and ridiculous information. Bellydance was coined bellydance by Sol Bloom who sought to entice the conservative minds of the Victorian era. Hip was considered a taboo word and so the lowest part of the body he could get away with was belly. Even this word was a highly risque choice. Bellydance originates mostly in the hips and knees while utilizing all parts of the body in order to accent, accentuate, and smooth certain movements. Yet because of this misnomer people often think that bellydance involves mostly the stomach. This often leads to two thoughts 1. You need a big belly to "belly" dance. or 2. You will get a hard flat stomach by bellydancing because it works the belly. Although some dancers have large belly's and some have rock hard abs neither is the norm. Usually those with rock hard abs have them because they do other exercises which flatten and tone the abs. Those with larger stomachs are just often larger because of lifestyle choices or genetics. Most of us however, fall somewhere in between. Bellydance will help you to lose weight if done as a normal exercise routine but will not produce a "beach body" under normal instances with weekly lessons. It may trim down a few inches off the waist after several months but usually the toning that happens from bellydance is very soft. Those who do it a lot often do lose weight but we usually retain a soft little pouch and slight love handles. However among bellydancers this is probably prefered since a little jiggle with you wiggle helps the fringe fly even better. Even if it doesn't produce a high level of firming and toning it does incease cardiovascular health greatly (like I said it's a cardio workout).

Answer 3

Belly dancing is one of the best exercises you can do. I guarantee that this is a good aerobic exercise and you are never to old to do it. I use the Goddess series and just google belly dancing and they have a bunch of neat stuff. Just from using the DVDs I learn how to do snake arms and roll my belly like water. It is fun workout.

Answer 4

it never to late to learn somthing new.... it not that hard. just go and take dance calsses and in a month or two you be an new and approvel bellydancer

Answer 5

Consider getting into good physical shape. Start by losing or shaping the hips. There are books and video that can help you get started.

Answer 6

Never too late darling. And I hear it is great for toning

Answer 7

It's never to late, but all the belly dancers I have seen are thick in the middle, maybe try hula hooping.

Answer 8

its very hard and no i dont think u could do it unless you were in very good shape yes its to late 30s is probably is the right age its good for the body

Answer 9

i find it fuN!