Thread: Dance and Men*O*Pause

So...happy birthday to me...I am 53!!! ..cr.: When I began dancing I was almost 48- headed rapidly into menopause and was scared spitless of becoming a fat old dowager in 2 years (*poof*). The answer presented itself in the form of 5 ladies that danced during the intermission of fundraiser that I was the MC for. 25 pounds and 6 years later, I now have no signs of menopause and am more regular that I have ever been in my life. All kinds of aches have gone away, my skin and hair look better than 6 years ago

What's belly dance done for you as you age?..g.:

Wow!!! Well happy birthday to you and again I say wow!!! I can't say as it has done all that for me, but I did notice I was regular! Wonder why that is? Just wanted to say keep on dancin'!!
Oh and love your little saying at the bottom!!
Take care.

Sincerely,

Farasha

Happy Birthday you ol biddy.

It's done nothing other than help me learn about Egyptian Culture, music and dance. I'm went from a size 7/8 to a /10/12 and I'm 25 lbs fatter. That really has nothing to do with belly dance since I haven't been active in performance for the last ohhhhh 5-6 years.

so...ah...what are you waitin' for, my dear??

Gosh Anala, I thought you knew I was waiting for a belly dance fairy sitting on top of her white, magical unicorn to wave her magic wand and make me 25 lbs. lighter and two dress sizes smaller. DUH!!!!!

Umm...whats size got to do with it? I was 200 pounds of burnin love when I started.

So you and I are about the same size weight wise! ..l;, Isn't it wonderful to be voluptuous!?! ..g.: (Saucy wiggly walk over and bump you with my hip.) ..l;,

A very happy birthday Anala

I started dancing about 4 yrs ago, aged 54, what has it done for me, given me confidence, great friends, and an addiction LOL! Weight wise yes I have lost a little, not much, I have toned up more than lost weight.

BD is the best thing since sliced bread in my opinion!

Woooohhoo Tedi...got costume ???

Thanks Sagira. Virtual cake is the only kind I'll eat...oh bull****!! I had 2 big hunks at work!!! Bring it...chocolate, cheesecake, beer.....just bring it on!!!

Ooooo! Cheesecake with chocolate and caramel drizzled over it and a nice brandy. Mmmmmm.....

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Gosh Anala, I thought you knew I was waiting for a belly dance fairy sitting on top of her white, magical unicorn to wave her magic wand and make me 25 lbs. lighter and two dress sizes smaller. DUH!!!!!

HEY LADY! The line forms to the rear! ..l;,

But seriously, Anala, happy B-Day to ya!

The dance helps keep me young!

What's Belly Dance ever done for me?

I gained pounds in weight but am now shifting it....11 lbs have melted away so far
I went blonde
I got a verrucha..or was that having to paddle through Manchester airport shoeless ?
I got to go to Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey (and got pnemonia there)
I sprained an ankle after a hafla carrying empties to the car (in full bedlah and chiffon skirt and inebriated)and limped...but danced,,fro 18 months
I get giggled at by stupid receptionists at the local paper when I put my ad. in the paper.Clad in combats and parka I snarl back.
I have been seen all over the world on MTV in tribal gear on a rock video
( and the number was the groups first chart failure!)
I've spent far too much on sequinned lovelies and bloomers and Kuchi.
What 61 year old wears sparkly Geisha Moths or a shocking pink Bella with toning body stocking...ME!
Grow old gracefully...I do hope so but clad in cabaret and choli.
Retire gracefully....... bo$$ocks!

Let's see, what has bellydance done for me now that I'm 39. It has kept me walking. I have osteoarthritis and have had it since I was a slim trim 16 year old. Wish I could say that my periods have gotten more regular or better in some way but alas. Same as they have always been.

Oh, and it has given my in-laws something to ask me, thus opening up dialog between me and my sisters-in-law that are all 10 years older than me. They always ask, "Are you still doing that dance thing?" And I always answer "Why yes I am, and you know, this funny thing happened in my last class/I learned this about.../insert some anecdote here" (Don't get me wrong, love my straight laced sisters-in-law, all 3 of them, just grates that after 11 years they still act like I'm just doing this on a whim)

Originally Posted by Michelle75

Gosh Anala, I thought you knew I was waiting for a belly dance fairy sitting on top of her white, magical unicorn to wave her magic wand and make me 25 lbs. lighter and two dress sizes smaller. DUH!!!!!

Hey, I want to be in line too, right behind Zorba! Where is that belly dance fairy, anyway??

Anala, you glorious thing you! The fifties are wonderful and guess what? Turning 60 is even better. Especially if you ae a 60 year old red-headed belly dancer. So you have seven years to catch up to me but by then I'll be Aunt Rocky's age and, of course, she won't have aged a bit!

Whoopee!!!!

Souzan

I'm 46 and have been having hot flashes for about ten years, now...so can't say anything about the physical effects of the dance on hormones, etc. I do have abs and buns of steel, underneath the generous (and delicious) marshmallow filling.

But emotionally: let's just say bellydance has kept me sane. It's been the rock and anchor through many difficult times in the past twelve years. My dance friendships have been the among the best I've ever had, and learning, sharing, performing and teaching this dance have provided me with so many opportunities...it's been truly a blessing.

BTW -- after I started dancing, my Mom was inspired...so ten years ago, at age 60, she began classes in her home town; now she lives six miles from me and is in my classes and will be performing for the first time this month (woo hoo!)! She credits dancing with keeping her young and beautiful (but I think genes might have a lot to do with it, and attitude...oh yeah, all those vitamins she takes ..l;, )