Thread: Torn Tendons and Bellydance

Hello all! First let me just say what a wonderful forum this is! As a total bellydance n00b, just reading this board has been as educational as it is entertaining.

I have a question that I hope someone can give me some advice about. Has anyone had any experience with learning to dance or teaching students with torn tendons in their elbows? I was injured at work several months ago, and this appears to be a permanent condition. ..cr.: Besides the constant pain, I have a somewhat limited range of motion and my hands are very weak. Plus repetative motion aggrivates my injury (for instance, typing hurts like a mofo, which is why I just lurk here when I can get on the computer at all).

When I watch bellydance, there are some styles that I think I could do because the arm work doesn't seem that stressful or elaborate. But I know looks can be deceiving! So, what say you? Is it possible? Which style would you recommend the most?


On a somewhat related note, I'm going back to university this fall (cuz I wasted 6 years getting an MA in something useless, but that's another rant for another board), and if I land in Eugene, OR, I think I'll be fine. But I'm afraid poverty may force me to go to the University of Idaho and that concerns me. Assuming it is possible to dance with jacked up arms, does anyone know any good teachers in or around Moscow, ID? Or any teachers at all?


Thanks!

Hi Raksha! Nice to "meet" you here on bhuz! I don't have much experience in teaching students with injuries like yours. The best I can do is encourage you to listen to your body and don't push yourself too hard. The good news is that belly dance is driven by the core muscles - the abdominal muscles, lower back, upper back, obliques, etc. It is possible to belly dance beautifully while doing minimal stuff with your arms.

My brother lives in Moscow, Idaho, but I'm afraid he doesn't know anything about belly dancing. I'll email him, though, and ask whether he happens to know anyone who teaches it. You never can tell!

Aside from that, I know there are some teachers in Coeur d'Alene. Perhaps you could contact them and ask whether they know anyone in Moscow. Often teachers know at least a couple of their counterparts in neighboring cities from going to the same belly dance events and such.

You can find some teachers in Coeur d'Alene here on my web site: Belly Dancers: Teacher & Performer Directory (States G Through L)

Since Spokane isn't too horribly far away from Moscow, you might also consider studying with a teacher there. And of course, you can also ask them whether they know anyone in Moscow. This page of my web site has some listings for Spokane: Belly Dancers: Teacher & Performer Directory (States Starting with W)

What Shira said. (Hi Shira!) Listen to your elbows, shoulders, wrists, and hands. In Egyptian style hands and arms are used gently. Having a limited range of motion or inability to do sharp movements of the arms would not be a problem in Egyptian style dance.

Oouch! I had a torn ligament in my shoulder. Ice was my best friend. Building my muscles in that area helped, along with massage sessions. Seek out a sports medicine doctor, if you haven't already. Hope your injury heals fast and soon.

...

Originally Posted by jasani

Seek out a sports medicine doctor, if you haven't already. Hope your injury heals fast and soon.

I agree with Jasani that a sports medicine doctor is your best bet. Their whole focus is restoring your active lifestyle. Therefore, their approach to stuff like braces and physical therapy centers on how to get you moving safely again.

(Other orthopedists or family doctors may recommend treatments that actually inhibit your ability to get moving again, such as being in a cast for a long time and losing muscle tone.)

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

I'm glad to hear you think Egyptian style is my best bet, Leylalanty. It's my favorite!

Shira, your website is amazing! I'm definitely going to have to explore it at length when I can.

The advice to see a sports medicine specialist is a great suggestion, and one I hadn't thought of myself. I'm definitely going to do that as soon as I get back to Uni and have insurance! (Sadly, that's out of the question until then. I can't work, so I have no money and no insurance! I had to move back in with my parents just so I didn't end up on the streets. FAIL. Seriously, what do amputees do for a living? Language translation is about all I could come up with, hence the return to Uni, but that can't be all).

I'm getting kind of excited! I want to start classes right now!

You're welcome. But ***DO*** listen to your body! If your movements are hurting - stop doing them! When you see the sports medicine doctor, s/he will give you the best advice. Be sure you tell her/him about what kinds of movements you are or want to be doing. Good luck and i hope you are soon on your way to healing.

Oww. I agree Egyptian would be the way to go. In Egyptian you don't dance with your arms - so none of that elaborate movement - just gentle following, framing and gesture. Even the "snake arms" are more of a shoulder roll than the arm movement seen in Western styles. And, best of all, no veil to speak of. For a step more relaxed still - try Egyptian beledi. Very relaxed and the arms also tend to be held lower.

Listen to your body.