Dan's Papers - August 24, 2007 - Sexy North Fork Belly Dancing Students Have Some Hip Action Going On

"Gotta dance. Gotta dance." That was Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain." And boy, did he! Dance, that is. You see him once and you're hooked.

Now when I think of dancing, I think feet first. Then maybe arms and hips. Indeed, the whole body. But I don't often think belly and I can't imagine Kelly thought belly.

Though there are people, real people, here on the North Fork who do. Pick up a copy of an events calendar from Riverhead or Southold towns and you're likely to see an announcement of a belly dancing class - at a library, in a school, at a recreation center.

True, I'm rarely concerned with my belly except when last year's jeans don't button. Probably because of ice cream, and I'm willing to accept the consequences. But I thought it might be fun to attend one of those belly-dancing classes. Purely as an observer, you understand.

So on a steamy summer evening I headed east. The Town of Southold had scheduled a seven-session belly dancing class. Location: Southold Library community room. About a dozen women had signed up, paid the modest fee, and were ready to go at 6:30. Supper dishes were probably still in the sink. No matter. The night was made for dancing.

As it was made to teach me a lesson. Again. Fifteen minutes into the first two-hour session and I knew what I didn't know. That belly dancing is physically demanding (a good cardio-vascular workout), it has a long history (it's probably the oldest dance form) and it can be absolutely beautiful. Also that it has little to do with belly and lots to do with Oriental and Middle Eastern cultures. Then, when a bunch of enthusiastic North Fork women give it a go, it can be great fun.

First though, the teacher. Lenora Dome is her name and she gave us 120 minutes of her self. Dressed in a black outfit, her long blonde hair providing contrast, Lenora looked marvelous. When she welcomed the class and began a ten-minute outline of the course, I just knew she'd have full attention. Then, when she put on a CD and began a demo dance...well, that's when I regretted not signing up for the course.

Lenora maintains belly dancing reduces stress, that it is great exercise, and that everyone enjoys the individual and group dance routines. Members of the class, most dressed in shorts and T-shirts, nodded in agreement.

Nodding was about all the North Fork belly dancers could do since most of them were breathless, or almost so, as they followed Lenora's directions and suggestions. "Stretch," she'd call and the dancers did. "Use a sliding motion, like a snake. And your hands are snake heads." The workout went on. "Bend your legs." And then groans and laughter from the group as Lenora called out "Know what you're going to do? Triple-time it."

When a dancer left the group for a couple of minutes to search out some juice or water, I had my chance to say hello. That's how I met Patty Millman from Greenport. Patty had been dancing up front near teacher Lenora, following every move. In her rose tank top, black pants and white-glitter hip scarf, Patty looked terrific. It's a compliment to say her arms evoked those snakes.

Also in need of a drink was Southold's Linda Cooper. This was not Linda's first belly dancing experience. Indeed, last December she'd taken a one-session class at the library. Appropriately named "Jingle Bellies," the class was so much fun Linda was quick to sign up for this lengthier course.

Listen to Lenora again. She teaches the dancers new moves in relation to housework (we can't get away from it). "Reach as if you're vacuuming" or "bend as if opening a drawer." I like this one. "Your arms are filled with grocery bags so bump the car door closed with a hip." Ouch!

The night's highlight? Well, Lenora distributed filmy veils - each a three-yard rectangle - to the dancers. Gold veils, turquoise, purple, green, all colors, all beautiful. A dozen or so moves later and the women used their veils as partners in a dance. Much as Fred Astaire twirled a cane or Gene Kelly held high that umbrella. Just a beautiful, multi-colored dream effect in the basement of a North Fork library. But I guess that's what an art can do.

I don't have the slightest doubt dancers like Suzee Verity of Southold will be back for another session. With a purple chiffon veil swirling about her neck, shoulders and hips, Suzee looked every inch the pro. Well, almost. And she was having one heck of a good time. Not unusual on the North Fork.