Hipsinc bellydance

Just wear comfortable clothes you can move easily in and soft dance shoes or bare feet (lots of people come straight from work and just kick off their shoes and join in!)

This is a great question and that’s why I dedicated a whole blog post to it, including video tutorials to tone your arms, shape your butt and feed your spirit!
Click here to read Bellydance for weight loss: Myth or Reality.

We recommend you to book in advance, but you can just drop in as well and pay by card or cash on the spot. When paying in advance for your lesson, there is no need to select a date or anything similar.

None! We have all ages in our classes – from youngsters in their 20s through to women in their 70s and above!

Zahida is happy to welcome women and girls of all ages in her classes, but if you are under 12 then she would prefer you come with an adult. Indeed, bellydance is a wonderful mother/daughter bonding activity.

Absolutely not! One of the most wonderful things about bellydance is that you don’t have to be young and skinny – it’s perfect for all figures and some of the best dancers are the largest. But if you are slender then bellydance is beautiful on you too – bellydance is for all women, whatever your shape, size or age.

Yes, Zahida’s regular classes are strictly women-only.

Workshops can be tailored and adapted to different audiences.

Not at all – our classes are drop in, pay as you go. You can join any time and it doesn’t matter if you can’t come every week (but hey! If you come to class every week you’ll definitely notice the difference faster, and there is a special price for regulars thanks to our “whole term packs”).

And you don’t have to worry about being new, new people are starting the beginners classes all the time and the atmosphere is very supportive and welcoming.

If you are generally fit, then it’s perfectly safe for you to come to bellydance classes. Indeed, bellydance has a reputation for being really helpful in pregnancy and childbirth.

However, if you are more than six months pregnant then it’s not advisable to start a completely new form of exercise. In addition, as you get closer to term, your ligaments will start to become softer and more stretchy in preparation for childbirth, so you have to be more careful as you get closer to your due date.

Most importantly, always check with your doctor of midwife beforehand and let your teacher know that you are pregnant so she can advise you and give you modifications if necessary.

Check our this interview Zahida did to Aixa Laxmi, maternity expert and bellydancer.

Bellydancing is a very safe form of exercise which has the reputation for helping back problems. However, the movements of the spine can occasionally aggravate certain conditions. So talk to your back specialist if you have one and always check with your doctor if you have any medical problems to be sure that it is safe for you to exercise.

And do let your teacher know if there is any medical condition she should be aware of and if you suffer from any joint problems

Bellydancing could be great for your figure and it’s a really enjoyable way to get fit. But the women who come to our classes get so much more than that. They find it improves their self-esteem, lifts their spirits, they make new friends and they learn so much more than just how to dance. It’s a continuous learning process too. Unlike some forms of exercise, you never get bored with a bellydancing class!

But don’t just take our word for it! See what our students have to say about bellydancing in the next section!

Bellydance is for all ages, shapes and sizes

“The thing that stands out most in the classes is that bellydancing is for everyone — teenagers, young women, mature women. You don’t need to be slim with a perfect figure to be a good bellydancer. In fact, I know that I’m not overweight but like most women I have bits of my body I don’t like, particularly my tummy which up until a few years ago was flat as a pancake but now permanently sticks out. But going to the classes made me appreciate my wobbly belly a little bit more as I realised you need a bum, hips and thighs to wiggle!”

Make new friends

“Through the dance classes, I have made a wonderful new friend, taken part in shows and other social events, and have mixed with many other lovely people along the way. I love my classes, they always cheer me up if I am down, they are great exercise and I get to hear music and rhythms I would never have known about before. And best of all, I can wear as many sequins as I like!”

Improve self esteem and body image

​​“After surgery for a double mastectomy I felt very angry with my body for letting me down and viewed it as ugly and disfigured. It’s easy to disassociate yourself from your body in those circumstances but bellydance helped me to reconnect with my body through the movements, which felt so good to do. This helped to restore my confidence and self esteem.”

Lose weight, gain confidence

“Belly dancing is great, it has helped me lose weight and gain confidence and has also helped me make friends. Belly dancing shows that anyone fat or thin tall or small can still dance and show others how great they are.”

I can’t imagine my life without bellydance

“I can’t imagine my life without bellydance! For me, bellydance taps into a part of me that is feminine, fluid and sensual. When I dance, I love my body and the way it moves and from that, I’ve gained in confidence about my body generally. I started dancing when my daughter was 6 months old and it’s definitely helped me tone up and increase my flexibility. It’s also my “me” time every week and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I urge any woman to try it as it comes naturally to most and at the very least, is great fun and a great workout. Plus you get to wear some amazing outfits and what woman doesn’t love to dress up!”