The winner of the belly dance contest Ählan Wa Sahlan, Cairo, Bozenka, will be coming soon to Panama and she will be teaching to danza árabe workshops.
Bozenka study under the direction of Tamlyn Dallal and she began learning belly dance in 1998. She had study under prestigious danza árabe teachers and she has evolved into a charismatic and inspiring dancer. Bozenk is part of the Bellydance Superstars and she has choreographed dances for artists like Shakira. Bozenka also danced for celebrities like Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Madonna, and Sean Connery. She had performed though the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe has a solo dancer. And now, for the first time she will be visiting Panama.

Bozenka will be teaching August 29 at Power Club, 12 de Octubre, two belly dance worskshops: Andaluz to Zafaa, classic Egyptian rhytms for basic to intermediate students, and Floor Work and Double Veil for intermidate and advance students. The show will be Sunday August 30 at 5pm at La Huaca Theater, Atlapa.
For tickets for this event and for the workshops of danza árabe are on sale now at Leyla Salam.

Belly Dance, or Dance Orientale, has very inexact origins.  As part of fertility rituals, this exotic dance was a common denominator of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and India.  During this period of time, matriarchy was practice and it was believe that women had magical powers because they could create life.  For this reason, it is believe that these dances where performed by women offering the sensual movements of their bellies and hips to gain the favor of the goddess of fertility and earth.  Today, some people in North Africa and the Middle East still practice Belly Dance during labor.

The search of new exotic cultures, customs, and landscape, in Middle Eastern and African’s countries, resulted in given Raks Sharki the name we use today: Belly Dance.  Raks Sharki or Dance Orientale is characterizing by the movement of hips, turns, and the isolation and control of head, thorax, arms, and hips.  Also, we have Raks Baladi (Folks Dance) which is a more elemental dance where there are hips movements but not much traveling steps.

Until then, Belly Dance had been performed in small places and as private affairs.  However, this change when in Cairo was open in 1926 the first party club, where performances by sensual dancers where in the repertoire.  Casino Badia or Madame Badia’s Cabaret was the center for what we know today as Belly Dance.  Badia Masabni was not only the owner of casino Badia, but she was also the creator of mixing elements from other dance forms like ballet with Dance Orientale, looking to attract an European audience. 

One tradition where this dance was known as a popular dance was elevated by Badia to a more professional level.  She also expanded the repertoire of the belly dancers and the use of the arms with more fluids movements like the snake arms; and the use of the space to dance.  The dancers became more sensual and cheerful.

As Badia Masabni gave Belly Dance today´s sensuality and eroticism, Hollywood was helping to give a bigger impact of Dance Orientale in the world with the introduction of the two pieces costume, which identify today’s belly dancers, and the use of veils in the dance.

The secret of Belly Dance is that never goes out of vogue and everyday has more fans.  Men and women equally work towards the practice of this dance and to maintain its place in the world of dance.  We never end the quest for the exotic, the sensual, and the forbidden.

Joining a gym where you go to work out several times a week to lose weight or stay in shape, can be ideal for some people.  However, some others need a little more stimuli and fun in order to keep motivate in their quest for a better body.  Are you looking for a workout that doesn’t feel like you are working out?  Do you want to keep your hard beat up while looking fabulous?  Why not you think outside the box and join in a dance class!

Dance exercise is suitable for people of all ages and sizes.  It is also a fun way to burn calories and unwind after long days of work or studies.  Dance will help improve your posture, which translate in a slimmer, tonner core area, gives you a cardio work out that will keep your heart beating in shape, increases stamina, and is a pleasurable way to meet new people.

  Some of the most popular dance workouts are:

Belly Dance:

Belly dance is a sexy low impact cardio workout.  I would help you tone and define your muscles, while using sensual, graceful, and rhythmic movements.  Belly dance will give you flexibility at the same time that it works out your thigh, legs, arms and stomach.  It is a full body workout where you learn to isolate and control your body.

Salsa Lessons:  Salsa lessons are another refreshing replacement for conventional workouts.  Learning the basic steps of Salsa can strength your body while steadily you burn calories.  With Salsa dancing you can burn up to 10 calories per minute!

Hip-Hop:

 Hip-hop is design with combinations that are fun and easy to master.  Learn sexy dance movements that not only gets you in shape, but you can use to impress your friends at the dance club.  No better way burn the belly fat!

Exotic Dance Workouts:  Women of all ages are embracing the crazy generated by Exotic dances like striptease, pole dancing, and even lap dances.  Get in touch with your inner diva while getting in the best shape of your life!  Not only you get confidence but it can also be an incentive to lose weight and spice up your love life.  Exotic Dance Workouts can be liberating for the erotic woman inside you!  While striptease and lap dances can be done by women of any fitness level, pole dancing requires a good upper and core body strength.

Samba:  Sensual and steamy, Samba is ideal way to sweat while you have fun.  It is especially good for toning and straightens your legs and hips.  Not only you would have strongest limbs but they will also look longer and slimmer. 

Don’t be afraid to join a beginner dance class.  You will be missing a great opportunity to improve your health. Think of dance as the most natural workout.   The rhythm of the music will help you get in to the groove and get inspired to achieve a better you.  You will make new friends and increase your fitness and confidence level, all in one exercise.