| The following is Dharma's personal philosophy on the Art of Bellydance... We are all born to dance, but throughout life we become self-conscious and are even taught to be afraid of our own bodies. This is especially true for women. Every culture has a different idea of aesthetic beauty, and women will use any means necessary to try to gain that fleeting image. The media has done everything possible to brainwash us into believing that we are not good enough and that we can only be beautiful if we buy a certain product to look like a certain model. No matter what we are always left wanting more. |
| "We will be Known by the Tracks we Leave Behind." -Dakota Proverb |
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| One of the greatest aspects about belly dance is that it doesn't matter what you look like. There is no standard body type, weight, height, etc.. In fact, this is one of the few forms of dance where it is actually better to be curvier than the typical ballerina. In the years that I have been studying I have seen amazing dancers who range anywhere from 100 lbs. to 300 lbs. It doesn't matter. This dance is about discovering your true beauty. It is about sisterhood and bringing out the strength that women hold inside. |
| Photo is courtesy of Brad Seelman |
| Dharma, who is based out of Columbus, Ohio, has studied Middle Eastern and American Tribal Fusion bellydance since the age of 17. Though initially self-taught, she has trained with many instructors from around the world. She has trained intensively with Laylia of Columbus, Ohio, and Ansuya of Naples, Florida. She became an Elite Graduate of the Ansuya Bellydance Comprehensive program in the late Summer of 2008. Other influences include Jillina, Rachel Brice and Aziza. |
Ansuya and Dharma; San Francisco, 2007