‘Belly Dance’ …

…Is a broad term, encompassing dance styles from Greece, Turkey and the Balkans through Central Asia and the Middle East, to Egypt and North Africa, and then fusions of these styles with Indian, Flamenco and various forms of contemporary dance.

Some prefer to use the terms ‘Middle Eastern’, ‘Arabic’ or ‘Oriental’ Dance, or Raqs Sharqi, to distinguish and distance these dance styles from the persistent but incorrect general perception of ‘belly dance’ as exotic and erotic dance. 

It means different things to different people.  For me, it is a means of self-expression, a source of exercise and fun, beauty and inspiration.

Welcome …

Melanie teaches Egyptian style and contemporary fusion belly dance, offers dance workshops and performs locally.

Melanie also makes belly dance practice wear, especially for ‘larger ladies’, together with jewellery and other small objects of desire.

Melanie studied ballet and contemporary dance, at one time choreographing and co-directing for an adult community contemporary dance company. She has also had classes in tap, jazz, ballroom, modern jive, English country dance, classical Indian dance, Russian national dance, and flamenco. After a long break from dancing, she took up belly dance, and was hooked!

Melanie is also a member of the Baubo Moon Room, a community arts group formed in October 2007 by Guinevere Clark of Baubo Belly Dancing (see Links).  Baubo Moon Room aims to promote and extend belly dance activities in West Wales.  Projects to date have included: