Stories of Students

BodyWorks By Chandani
Middle Eastern Belly Dance
2250 Red Tide Rd Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
(757) 313-8000

Photo by Glamour Shots

Over the past 5 years I have taught over 500 students from all over the Hampton Roads area.  I even have students from as far as Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Richmond and North Carolina.  Everyone of these women have touched my life and helped me grow as a person.  What I didn't expect was how much belly dancing and BodyWorks By Chandani has touched these women.  Each one of these women has a story to share.  Some of them have asked to share their experiences of belly dancing on this website.

When a friend asked me to come to the "open house" Bodyworks By Chandani was having, I wasn't really sure I wanted to go, but for my friend I went to lend her support at something I knew she loved.  By the end of the evening, I was up dancing with the rest of the women.  I realized that I was actually having a good time, laughing, smiling, dancing--things that I had not done for what seemed like ages.  I quickly wrote out the check for the beginner's class, because I know me and money, if I paid for it you better believe I was going to finish it. 

I began dancing in September last year and found myself falling in love.  I had been very depressed, overweight & tired all the time.  Tying my shoes was almost an impossible feat.  As the weeks flew by I learned new dances and new moves.  I found that I craved my class time.  I felt happier when I danced, more energetic and I started to lose weight.  It has helped me regain my life!  I have been dieting and eating right since then and because I have been dancing on top of that, I have lost 44lbs so far. 

I can't imagine where I would be today if Belly dancing had not become part of my life.  I realized that I needed something to motivate me and make me exercise without really feeling like it.  I have so much fun when I dance I don't even realize how hard I'm working! If you think you can't possibly do it, I invite you to give it one night and see what can happen!
                                                                                                                                                  ~Lauren Fry~
 

Dance is the way I relieve stress and boost my self-esteem. I have been dancing since age seven, and have participated in most of the standard disciplines: Tap, ballet, jazz, acrobatics, ballroom dancing, etc. Since childhood, I have been intrigued by belly dancing and have wanted to learn to belly dance, but have not had the opportunity (partially due to the undeserved negative connotation associated with the phrase “belly dancing” which made my parents a bit reluctant to let me try).

Fortunately, while surfing the net, I came across the belly-dancing studio where I am currently taking lessons.  Since joining, my experience has been phenomenal.  After a hard day of work in which I might have made some mistakes or experienced some stress, belly dancing has given me a fun activity that takes my mind off of the events of the day.  When I am focusing on the movements, which are so dissimilar to the movements of many of the styles of dance I have previously taken, my stress is relieved.  When I master a new step, the feelings of frustration and self-doubt that were caused by mistakes made during the day are forgotten and I am confident again. After an hour and a half of learning this mystifying discipline, I leave the studio with a rejuvenated soul and a sense of accomplishment.   

~Julia~

My introduction to belly dance began when I took a few classes with Donna in Blacksburg, VA while attending Virginia Tech.  Upon graduating and returning to the tidewater area, I knew I wanted to continue dancing.  I got online and looked through tons of websites.  When I came across Chandani’s website, the first thing I noticed was the dance she taught to Shakira’s song- Eyes Like Yours!   Man did I get excited, what a great song to dance to!!  So the first thing I do is call up my friend Kendall (who is currently a Sister Of Chandani) and tell her that I have found our teacher!!  It has been belly dancing history ever since!

Belly dancing is a wonderful way to express yourself in a creative, fun, and feminine manner.  I love buying fabric and making costumes (whether I end up wearing them or not!).  It is such a blast getting dressed up in exotic dancewear, feeling good, and performing with friends.  Debbie’s studio is definitely an oasis in the middle of hectic everyday life. 

~Liz Fortier ~

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