By Jill Justice | Special to NHN

In the land where hula dancing reigns supreme, there’s a new rhythm on the horizon: belly dancing. In fact, North Hawaii has not just one but two schools teaching the art of this dance.

Waimea’s belly dance school is rooted in exercise and entertainment, while the venue in North Kohala focuses on spiritual growth and personal development.

Coined from the Arabic language as Raqs Sharqi (dance from the East), belly dancing has been practiced for centuries throughout the Middle East. While there is some debate about its purpose, it’s clear it was a dance devised by women for women.

Originally, this folk dance was taught to girls from an early age to strengthen their abdominal muscles for childbirth. In addition, this form of muscle isolation, pelvic rocking and belly rolling were used during actual childbirth to mitigate pain.

Still practiced in most Middle Eastern countries and beyond, the Egyptian cabaret style has become what most know as modern belly dance. Although this style and movement have been made well-known by such superstars as Shakira, Beyonce and Britney Spears, belly dancing remains for many an expression of inner awareness particular to women.

Inner awareness, particularly overcoming shyness was what moved Deanna Zivalic to begin belly dancing at age 16. After many years of professional dancing, acting and modeling, she is now sharing her craft with women of all ages in her classes at the “Green Church” on Church Row in Waimea. One-hour classes are offered Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 4:45 p.m., concurrent with the school year and are $10 per class.

Prior to last Thursday’s class, Zivalic was reminiscing that at age 18, she admired a 55 year-old women performing a belly dance at a prominent club in Los Angeles and thought “I’ve never seen a person move in that way. That’s what I want to do.”

During her class, Zivalic emphasized technique mastery while quietly demonstrating various undulating moves inspired by the Middle Eastern music filling the studio. Providing coin belts to the students, Zivalic showed the women simple moves and guided them with instructions like “just gently bend your knees until you feel it and then thrust your hip up and out.”

Surprisingly, all the students, both new and seasoned, seemed to easily master many of the moves. Said Zivalic, “Belly dancing is not structured or rigid and its movements are natural.”

As the sun was streaming through the studio’s open windows, Zivalic’s students moved the entire hour, beginning with a 10-minute yoga warm-up. There were giggles and many supportive comments shared between the women as they moved improvisationally in circles in front of the mirrors. While coin belts were clinking and veils flowing, Zivalic wove some performance ideas into her technique instruction. Since Zivalic continues to perform at various venues on the island, she enjoys guiding her students with moves that might be used in front of an audience. However, she said there are no plans for belly dance performances at this time.

That might change considering the comments of some of Deanna’s younger students.

Devon Richmond, 14, of Waimea said, “I think it’s great for party dancing — you know, bringing in some new moves.”

Her friend and fellow classmate, Zoe Zivalic, 14, of Waimea said, “It’s fun and really good exercise.”

Regardless of what was gleaned from the class, all five students ranging in age from 14 to 50 plus years, appeared to enjoy the class. They agreed an intense hour was plenty of time during which they could work out their arms, legs and mid-sections.

Some students in Zivalic’s class have also been students of Rose “Padma” Laycock in North Kohala. She will be resuming weekly belly dancing classes, Dance of the Sacred Body, at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Feb. 9) at her house. Classes will generally last 2 1/2 to 3 hours and focus on expression of the inner self and “feminine transformation.”

A dual student, Angela Longo, Waimea acupuncturist and Chinese medicine specialist, said both instructors have helped her. Belly dancing has kept her physically fit and strengthened her self awareness.

“I put dancing on my mind all day long. I weigh herbs and imagine I am dancing. I do dishes and I dance with them,” Longo said.

In the center of her ethereal “house in the round,” Laycock will light candles and encourage students to dance as a means to experience themselves as “something really beautiful.” She said during class, women of all ages and shapes can celebrate their curves with music, scarves and coin belts. Class will conclude with a seven-minute writing exercise during which Laycock’s students reflect on feelings engendered by their dance. The 10-week class series costs $100, or $15 per session. Laycock can be reached at 889-5790 for more information.

In North Hawaii, belly dancing exemplifies how two different schools of thought can unify for one cause — good health.