The ‘Hip’ way to be fit

Times Reporter   

  

Belly dancing is a great way to get, and stay, in shape, but can sometimes get a bad rap as being a little overly sexual. Zaida Bahir, owner of Hathor Dance Studio, wants people to come and check it out for themselves. 

“People have a really funny idea when they come to class, it’s not what they thought usually, it’s all natural movements, we don’t distort ourselves, we’re not double jointed,” said Bahir, who has been teaching in Strathmore since 2004.

“It works every muscle, not just your belly. It’s funny how many girls are like ‘oh my arms,’ or the butt. It works every muscle, it really works legs, butt, everything. You gain good posture, and balance of course.”

She recently restructured the classes; they are all held once a week with each session happening in a month, four classes. 

“The first program for beginners is called a Quick Start program. They learn basic moves and technique and it just prepares them for the upcoming choreographies,” said Bahir. 

“The choreographies, they do move fast because there’s four weeks so we have four one-hour classes and we push it, people sweat, but I don’t expect students to be absolutely perfect, and as they go along the choreographies get more challenging of course as they go up in levels.”

There is no end to how far you can go with Bahir and her training. She is a certified middle eastern dance teacher, training under Hadia, and can teach finger cymbals, Egyptian cane dancing, and veil dancing to name a few options. 

Bahir likes to keep her class sizes a little smaller, opting for between four and seven people in each class, 15-years-old and up. There is a discount price for students who pay before the 15th of the month, it’s $60, up to the 25th is $75, and she will take late registrations if she has room left in the classes. On Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. there will be an open house at the dance studio, located at 134 2nd Street, below CIBC. The first four women will get to take part in the Quick Start four week program for free, and there will be two draws for Egyptian coin hip scarves, cake, drinks and dancing. Call 403-605-6508 for more information or e-mail hathordance@shaw.ca.