Diverse dance styles taught at festival

Belly dance and America contra dance are two of the diverse styles of dance, which will be taught at the Umina Beach Folk Festival on the weekend of October 18 and 19.

Organisers said last week that dance instructors had been confirmed for the eight dance workshops at the festival, and will also include Irish, Scottish and "international" styles.

Instructors for the belly dance will be Shameela and Francesca of the Desert Flame School of Belly Dance, while contra dancing will be taught by leading Sydney instructor Julie Bishop.

Shameela and Francesca will present the belly dancing workshop on the Sunday.

Shameela said: "Belly dancing is believed to have its roots in the temples of Egypt over 4000 years ago where it was danced in ritual form by the temple goddesses.

"From there it spread to the Pharoahs' courts and out to the people where the gypsies spread it throughout the Middle East and Europe."

Shameela said that belly dancing was primarily a muscle dance which isolated and toned individual muscles and massaged the internal organs.

Although it was particularly beneficial for toning muscles after childbirth, it helped with health and well being in general.

"The upper torso movement helps to develop muscles to support the spine.

"I used to have middle back problems. I have been free of this back pain since taking up belly dancing.

"The shimmy movement helps with circulation, which therefore helps with problems associated with poor circulation such as headaches.

"Most of the dance is performed with the pelvis tilted forward and tightened which improves pelvic floor control.

"And of course there are also the aerobic benefits."

Shameela and Francesca said they hoped that many people would try this unique dance style at the festival, whether for fitness, self expression or pure enjoyment.

Leading American contra dance instructor Julie Bishopwill present a workshop on the Saturday from 1.30-3pm.

She said that she was looking forward to teaching at the Umina festival, and that the best thing about teaching dance was sharing in the pleasure it gave people.

Julie has a background in International dance, bush dancing and English country dance.

She said she was introduced to contra dance in California, and began teaching it when she returned to Sydney in 1990.

Julie said that the contra dance workshop is based on longways English dances.

"These are the sort that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy did in the TV series Pride and Prejudice.

"As the dances developed in the USA's New England area, they became very lively, often with everyone continuously moving.

"They are done with a reasonably brisk walking step, with occasional swings.

"It is a satisfying, co-operative dance form. You move as a couple down the set, dancing with new people each time through the dance."

Julie also said that although it helped to have done some bush dancing, beginners were welcome and did not need to bring a partner.

"The workshop will be graded, gradually introducing new movements.

"Experienced dancers will also be there, and can help newcomers through the movements."

The dance program for the folk festival has been finalised, with instructors booked for eight workshops over the weekend, and a family dance and bushdance scheduled for the Saturday evening.

Instructors of three of the dance workshops are based on the Central Coast, four are from Sydney and one is from Dungog.

Shirley Hotchkiss, August 6