Michelle Charles is a respected professional belly dancer and certified instructor based in Rochester, NY. Owner of the Goddess Hour Dance & Fitness Studio, Michelle skillfully teaches the art of belly dance to hundreds of adventurous women.
Throughout her career, Michelle has diligently challenged herself by traveling abroad to study with legendary masters of the art. She is the creator of the Belly Dancing for Every Woman instructional DVD series.
As the Co-Director of the Sahara Shimmer Belly Dance Ensemble, Michelle and her dancers have been invited to perform for Middle Eastern and International parties with some of the finest Arabic ensembles.
Why did you create Belly Dancing for Every Woman?
I have received so many calls from women saying things like "I'm not sure if I can do this, I'm a larger size, I'm uncoordinated, I've never danced before, etc." Knowing that all woman of different sizes and coordination levels can do this dance, I wanted to show everyone how beautiful belly dance looks on every body, no matter what size or age. The movements of belly dance are natural and flattering to our bodies. Some students enjoy practicing with the DVDs at home and many women prefer to try out an instructional DVD before they come to class.
Why did you decide to feature real belly dance students on the DVDs?
It seemed like a natural choice. These women are so beautiful and have all blossomed through dance. I wanted to use dancers from a variety of skill levels, so that they might serve as an inspiration to others curious about belly dance.
You mentioned that you've seen your students blossom, what type of changes can a woman expect when she starts belly dancing?
So many of my students have told me that not only do they see a positive change in their fitness levels, but often times they find that it extends over into their personal lives. Many women feel an increased sense of self-confidence, feeling more beautiful and sexier than they have in years. Belly dance empowers you to express your femininity and creativity, and this can extend into your home life and professional life, allowing you to excel in both.
I'm speaking from experience when I say that belly dance energizes your life. I absolutely love hearing the laughter during class and seeing the comraderie amongst the students... wonderful things happen when women support each other! Belly dance can create new friendships and help to strengthen old ones. I've seen so many new "sisterhoods" come out of class, and it is so uplifting!
Can you really lose weight from belly dancing?
Absolutely. In fact, many of my students tell me that it's much easier to get motivated to exercise from belly dancing than it is from going to a gym, because they have so much more fun dancing than they do say, walking on a treadmill. With belly dancing, you're up, you're active, you're strengthening your abdominals, your legs, your arms, virtually every major muscle group! It's a fantastic workout, improving your posture, grace, and overall elegance.
Is Belly Dance difficult to learn?
Like any new activity, belly dance takes time and practice. But the good news is that you can progress at your own pace. Remember, it's not a competition! Give yourself the permission to not "get it" right away. We have to be honest with ourselves and realize that most of us don't normally move our bodies in this way.
With this in mind, I have purposely arranged the DVDs in segments so that you can practice arm and hand movements, for example, or say, hip shimmies, whenever you'd like. Once you've mastered one movement, go on to the next. Or come back to a challenging segment whenever you have the time and inclination. It's all up to you.
