Belly dance workshop teaches about ‘reacting to the music’
Students proved their hips don’t lie Thursday night in a belly dancing workshop in Anspach Hall.
The event was put on by Open Grove Society, a registered student organization that aims to provide students and members of the community a safe social outlet for members of non-mainstream religions, and other diverse beliefs and their supporters.
Muskegon senior Randi Whipple, public relations chairwoman for the RSO, said it was a featured event and a great way to learn of different cultural backgrounds, such as exotic belly dancing.
“It is something fun to do and people are getting their exercise in from the dancing.” Whipple said.
Midland junior Jackie Hoyle, an instructor and member of OGS, taught participants several upper body movements with her mother Jill. Both took belly dance classes for four years and are involved in the Pig and Belly Dance Troupe.
Some of the participants demonstrated moves including the “cherry picker,” in which the main action was a movement of the wrist and a hula-hoop-like “hip circle.”
“A lot of belly dancing is just reacting to the music,” Hoyle said.
Saginaw freshman Natalie Young came to the event with her roommate Gabriella Micheloni, a junior from Sterling Heights. Both said they enjoyed it.
Young said she has always been interested in learning the art of belly dancing and was glad to attend the workshop.
“I’d like to continue on from what I have learned today and take another class,” Young said.
Micheloni said she has friends who have tried teaching her some moves in the past, but not like the techniques she was taught in the workshop.
“I really enjoyed learning the different moves, though I don’t remember all of the names of them right now, it was still lots of fun,” Micheloni said.
During the workshop, Hoyle danced while balancing a heavy sword on top of her head.
Jill Hoyle said traditionally the sword and cane are props that are used to represent female power, but others include traditional bells, veils and scarves.
She said it takes a lot of practice and there have been a few times where she has dropped the sword on her foot.
“It’s best to start off small and then learn to build other moves into the dance,” Jill Hoyle said.
