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Hey Whyville! This will be the second edition of the
Encyclopedia of Useless Information. You see, I didn't plan to write this
article today. But, as I logged onto AOL, the annoying welcome screen popped up.
I scanned it for interesting articles, and something caught my eye. "Belly
dancing: the newest fitness remedy." Belly dancing? Isn't it those dance people
in the Middle East do? And how does that have to do with fitness? And so, my
research began.
Now, Mr. Editor, you're probably thinking this will be too risque to publish.
But, please, read on. Belly dancing began as a sacred dance for religous
services and cultural ceremonies, not the way America has learned to perceive it
as sensual and racy. On a special bellydancer website, one nameless woman
claimed, "I hate the sterotypes people give bellydancers. It is a cultural
dance, we're not trying to impress anyone. It was the Americans who portrayed it
badly."
No one is quite sure how belly dancing originated. Some say the gypsies started
it, others say it was a Egyptian princess who started it. There is also an
elaborate story about how a woman fell, and while falling made a belly dance
movement. When people saw that, it became famous. Of course, none of these
stories have any proof, since belly dancing has been around for hundreds of
years.
Now, why does belly dancing benefit your fitness? It's simple. Belly dancing is
moving, and moving helps you lose weight. On a website I was at, one woman said
she lost fifty pounds. Yes, fifty pounds and her only exercise was belly
dancing. Belly dancing burns about 300 calories per hour! That's a whole lot for
a fun way to move! Also, your stomach muscles are bound to get stronger and
tighter after all of that rolling of your belly. It also raises your metabolism,
like all exercising does.
It is a common misconception that belly dancers have to be skinny. No, not at
all. In classes and performances, you don't even have to show your stomach.
There are even websites for big woman who want to belly dance! But, boys, don't
think this is just for girls. Many Middle Eastern men belly dance too!
I hope you enjoyed reading about this great way to have fun and exercise. After
researching this, I think I will sign up for a class myself!
Hope I Helped,
Jill20
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