BonnerSprings.com

The jingling of coins, the shaking of hips and the flowing of brightly colored fabric veils filled the Bonner Springs Community Center on Thursday for the first day of belly dancing classes.

Participants swayed their hips from side to side to the beats of Middle Eastern music and used "zills," or finger cymbals, to follow the drum rhythm while learning the beginning basics of the dance.

Instructor Maya Zahira, owner and director of the Maya Zahira School of Belly Dance, has been traveling to communities in Kansas and Missouri teaching belly dancing classes for the last six years and first came to Bonner Springs in January 2008.

"All different body types feel good doing the dance," Zahira said of belly dancing. "You just feel beautiful."

For Zahira, belly dancing has been a life-changing experience that has left many positive marks on her life.

Immediately hooked

Belly dancing first came into her life 10 years ago. She was going through a divorce and said she was searching for an activity that she could do just for herself. After one class she was hooked, which led to a weight lost of 100 pounds, a career change and a happier outlook.

"It was just so intriguing," she said.

The more she got involved with belly dance, the more her life improved. Zahira said that the dance helped her with improving her body image and self esteem.

Zahira studied belly dancing in New York City. She gave up her elementary school teaching job and began teaching belly dancing classes. She said the classes went so well in the beginning she decided to make it her new career and start her own school.

Despite her own significant weight loss, Zahira said she doesn't like to place too much emphasis on weight loss in her classes. She said what was more important was a healthier and more "balanced" body.

"I want to help women to shift that thinking and to feel better about themselves," Zahira said. "It's not about being perfect."

Most of the people who attend Zahira's classes just want to have fun and are looking for a more interesting way to get exercise. The movements involved in belly dance can improve balance, flexibility and cardio vascular health, Zahira said.

The class she teaches at the Bonner Springs Community is choreographed to benefit people with different limitations. She said students could expect to work up a sweat although the exercise is gentle on the body.

"I hope that these ladies have fun and in some way become healthier and feel better about themselves physically and emotionally," Zahira said.

In her blood

One of this current session's four participants is Stefanie Livonia of Lansing. Livonia was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and a family in the United States adopted her. She said she signed up for the belly dancing class because she wanted to get in touch with a part of her heritage.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "I figure, why not learn something that's in my blood."

Livonia said she always was looking for a way to get healthier as well. She used to take an aerobics class, which she liked, but thought a dancing class would be even more fun.

"I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm having fun and exercising at the same time," she said.

Where else?

The same goes for beginner Jennifer Mata of Edwardsville. Mata said she had a friend who took a belly dancing class in Lenexa earlier this year and raved about how much fun she had. Mata figured she'd give it a try and was happy with the how the first session went even though it was her first-ever attempt.

"I love this," she said. "This is so fun. Where else do you get to have jingly stuff on and cymbals?"

Mata said she liked how laid back the class has been and that she didn't have any goal for the class besides having fun while trying something new and "neat."

"I really want to be able to do (belly dancing) well just because it would be neat to be able to tell people that I belly dance."

For Carla Walter-Cliffton, of Bonner Springs, it's the "freedom" that makes belly dancing so alluring. Walter-Cliffton took Zahira's class at the Community Center in January and hasn't been able to get enough since.

"It's something you can do for yourself," she said. "You forget about the others in the class because you're so concentrated on being comfortable with your body."

The next belly dancing class at the Community Center will be from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday from July 10 to August 7. There is a $50 fee and the registration deadline is July 9.

Zahira will also be hosting a "Sizzlin' Hips: Latin Belly Dance Fusion Workshop" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 at the Bonner Springs Community Center, 200 E. 3rd St. Participants will learn belly dance and Latin dance movements appropriate for all fitness levels. The cost of the workshop is $25 and interested participants can either register before the class by call (913) 422-3404. Drop-ins are also welcome.

For information on future classes, go online to mayazahira.com, or call (785) 979-4681.

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