Women wriggle toward confidence
MICHELE WAYMAN
Their clothes shrink while their confidence grows. Sweat pants and baggy T-shirts slowly give way to fitted yoga pants and tanks.
Pretty soon, a peek of tummy appears. The ones hiding in the shadows begin to shimmy closer to the mirror.
"I'm watching grown women grow," says teacher Nayna Jones. "The bottom line -- it's empowering to women."
Iona Wilson was one of those women back in 2002. She started classes to surprise her fiance (now husband), Maurice. It clicked. She moved from big shirts to belly scarves. Maurice urged her to continue and she did -- throughout their wedding, marriage and pregnancy. Now, she's the owner of a new studio in University City, and Nayna is her lead instructor.
The two met while studying under Yasmine at Mid-East Dance in southwest Charlotte. They danced in her professional troupe, Magic Hips, as well. Earlier this year, Iona decided to follow her dream of opening her own studio.
Northern Charlotte didn't have a studio, so she looked for a place here. When she found the vacant karate studio at Town Center Plaza off Harris Boulevard, she knew it was meant to be. About a dozen students helped her paint the space, and Lotus opened in July.
Since Iona has a full-time corporate job at Microsoft and lives in south Charlotte, Nayna, certified at Level 1 through Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance, teaches most of the classes.
Lotus has more than 70 students enrolled, ranging from ages 10 to 60, students to grandmas, at all skill levels.
Size doesn't matter. Neither does skill.
"We have every age, every color, every size, every height," Iona says. "Curiosity is enough. We'll take care of the rest."
And while some scoff at the thought of studying a dance form that is sometimes erroneously compared to stripping, Iona said those who give it a try come to learn that it's a tradition created by women, for women.
"It's the feeling of falling in love with your body, and all its imperfections," she said.
Student Rebecca Abernethy, 48, started classes two years ago to make friends after her divorce. She's up to two or three classes a week, including some at Lotus. On Saturdays, she and fellow dancers take turns hosting get-togethers at their homes.
She says she's in better shape and walking taller.
"With the dance, it's all about feeling good," she said.
"You move your body in ways you didn't think you could.
From the Hip
Find a guide to belly dance classes, instructors and performances statewide at http://www.ncbellydance.org/, including these Charlotte-area offerings:
• Lotus Studios in University City (Nayna and Iona): http://lotus-studios.com/
• Mid-East Dance in southwest Charlotte (Yasmine, Jenny): www.magic-hips.com/
• Jewish Community Center in south Charlotte (Zarifa): www.zarifaraks.com/
• Open Door Studios, on The Plaza in east Charlotte. (Naima): www.rakssultana.com/register.html
• Shibar Mozuno (Matthews/Union County area): www.mozuna.com/