Social Workout

Core Strength

Belly Dance Round Up

sera_08_bw.jpg

Belly dancing holds a powerful sway over many women. It's somewhat like tango, or even yoga: I've seen friends with eclectic fitness tastes stop at belly dancing, and stay there for years. Much like tango or yoga, the dance brings its own culture, music, and, um, fashion sensibility. It's got depth, and it's clearly got surface.... Need an effective way to warm up for bikini season? Here are some tips from J., a NYC belly dance die-hard:

• Serena Studios is perhaps the best known belly dancing school in New York. Classes are $12, and held Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, as well as Saturday during the day.
• Teacher Azza Amon gets high praise, but her class schedule has been hurt by the shut down of Djoniba Dance Center. (More on that later.)
• Lotus Music and Dance on W. 27th is a hub for world dance, with classes in bhangra, hula, and flamenco among others. The beginning belly dancing classes go down at 6 P.M. Monday evenings.
• Solstice Studio runs daily classes in "East Coast Tribal," a fluid hybrid of belly dancing and tribal dance. Solstice also has Olympic Belly Dancing classes on Saturdays. (Who knew?) Founder Sera Solstice teaches and performs regularly, often including students in her performances.