B6 The Acton Free Press Wednesday March 16 Belly dancing an art form thats fun Jennifer Barr Belly arc girls who twiddle their turns according to the Headers Digest There a group of Acton women who are dis covering that not only Is twiddling their turns excellent exercise and good fun but its also a grateful absorbing art form EXPERT and instructor in the art of middle eastern folk dancing is Helen currently teaching several courses at the Acton The Acton is upon soring belly dance diss for the time this season ami Is find I tin such enthusiasm thai two more classes will commence on March Folk Helen McLarty of Acton Is the I en for nil three classes and hot strong ions about the dance at type of folk dancing rnlher an bump and grind The 11 women en ring the end of the first course agree Although the origins of middleeastern belly dancing are somewhat vogue Helen says most histories of the dincc tout il is a woman da net done by women for other women in the harems The elaborate pelvic move ments and muscle rolls Mere taught to young girls by their mothers to prepare them for child The rhythmic movements were gracefully put to music as Ihc women with little else to do but await he Sultan s pleasure amused dancing for each other Naturally the sultan was quick to catch on to the enjoyment of watching his wives exercise and the sen exotic dance was born The name belly dancing is an appropriate abbreviation of Balledy dancing some- limes spelled The French in North Africa nick named the dance ventre dance of the belly Full dress was used origin ally in North Africa and Turkey caftan type garment with a sash around the hips forms of the dance arc still done in long flowing garments How ever the most popular costume for cabaret work is the hip level chiffon skirt or harem pants and a Jewelled bra top A Veil is used as cover dance prop Egyptian belly dancers still allowed to show any midriff skin Since Nassers rein torso must be covered or theshow Is closed popular The popularity of belly dancing has increased tremendously in Ihe lasl few years Most women start out explaining the dance is an excellent form of exercise for them but few will admit the Idea of the sensuous of belly dancing that ap peals to them husband into a Sultan The Joy or Belly Dancing the covers of Ihc many records available from Kitchener to Georgetown from Burling ton to from all parts of Toronto to Cam bridge are offering belly dance courses of eight to ten lessons for a nominal fee Besides flexibility A young from Acton Jam Kins Hob Debbie Brown and Oscar visited IheCN TowinnTor onto on March I hey had a lovely dinner while enjoying tin mat view flit occasion wis in celebration of Janes birthday and basic dance steps students are taught one or two simple dance routines at the end of each beginners course Serious students find they can progress to more demanding levels and eventually may join one of the several Middle- Eastern dunce schools in Tor onto Teacher Itanu That s what happened to Helen She found she enjoyed her first course at Georgetown so much that when a teacher training course was offered to staff the many classes springing up all over she enrolled In the two years since then Helen has taught in Kitchener Burlington Georgetown and now Acton She studies herself on a higher Dance Oriental a Toronto school where she is learning classical Egyptian She says she first took up belly dancing because I lazy She felt that because dancing was a novel way to exercise Some restaurants cater to belly dance students encourage them to dance for one another The Stone Cott age Inn in Toronto puts on a Mr Mrs Bruce Grtgirv son I from i in living in Oil of Mr ind Mrs James Met it It I while on ti ichtr ixclianLc for InvL BELLY DANCE graduates of the Y course pose in costume They are front to Ruth Stein Christel Shumacker Betty Cole Back to Irena Smith Carolynne Bullough Audrey Pendleton Carla Wood Hardie and Jenny Barr also graduated student once a month cousin belly dance it Christ inf is taking the comment by fcitunng Arabic food and a mas just hid to try Whether good exercise storm much to the delight of chance to get up and show it too She thinks its really or an ancient art belly dant m iny suburb in sultan their stuff II i I Mi Chronological age means nothing Old timers kicked up iheir for hours lo the music of sjslcrs Miss Mall and Mrs Nellie ihc Itesl Home The residents could sing and out d the participants of ihe The was double parly of week for two loveh t both well known residents of Ihe evening was in if fair by ill Mrs is leaving Sit lobe united with a life long friend and live with her it Si I C imbndge lo be closer to her familv friends will miss her ihe wish her much happiness and hope she will return for her next Mr and Mrs Hoy of spent Saturday with his parents Mr Mrs Shultis after returning from i cruise to South American and nine other islands Seven families were welcomed into the in by Hi Neighbour Service hostess Mirlent in February sons mil Mich lei ind Mr and Mrs M don ind and lerr Mi and Mrs Allen Hind ill and familv llrnn and Iricv liavt pulled up itrimplon to si ilk in At tun ind Mr ind Mrs I daughter Michelle hive done likewise from Mill Mr mil Mrs from liimnlo mil Mr and Mrs ind diiigliters ind I is i from ire ilso new residents town Savehefp sae soon flu Socict is it the end of April in ihurch re isking losive books toys for limisede mine time Bike gone Acton man is lakine his to Mil ton this wick on his truck when truck down Hi went for help ind mi his riturn found Ins li id been stole Hit incident occurred on A BOOK WAS presented to Acton Library Thursday in memory of Mrs Josephine Whitnam by members of the Duke of Devonshire chapter of the I D E Mrs Ann left and Mrs Force right present a copy of The Royal Family at Home and Abroad to librarian Esther Taylor ThelateMrs was a former regent of the chapter CWL election The executive the Catholic Women for 1977 was elected the March Meeting President is Mrs Pauline Gordon vice president Mrs Pcekhouse treasurer Mrs secretary Mrs Pat barton luncheon convener Mrs Murray membership convener Mrs Arbic program con Mrs Louise Mrs and Mrs Howe sick convener Mrs Shirley Sunday Miy has been decided upon as the day for Open House at St Joseph s church in celebration or 120 years as a parish Una arrangements arc being made for a social time after Masses March 19 and March in celebration of the Feast of St Joseph SPECIAL LENTEN MENU otel 260 MAIN ST MILTON RAINBOW TROUT SEA FOOD PLATTER CAPTAINS PLATTER SALMON SHRIMP SCALLOPS LOBSTER TAIL WITH GARLIC BUTTER VEG POT BREAD El BUTTER FULLY LICENSED CLOSED SUNDAYS 8783272 8783208 MILTON tal It TBu FI Sit SAT MATINEE PM JAWS SORRY SILVER STREAK POSTPONED TO APRIL Sun 1 22 ANITA SWEDISH NYMPH ANGIE BABY Wad 24 25 Sat Sun Mon Tuei LAUGHTER UNLEASHED SHAGGY on Sun and Sat course graduating class ittendssuchamght The women graduating from the class Thursday be attending a student night in April for It niton The Acton students seem to have thoroughly enjoyed their ten week course most ire going on for Ihe intermediate offered in April They ill igree Helen has been a most encouraging and tciclier dishing out in struct for making costumes record buying advice and quaint cacln stories in her soft Scottish Cole initiated the Acton course after demonstration and finds belly d terrific for ton sion No mittcr how tired I foci at the end of the I feel marvellous after ithis Wood took the course she knew how to play volleyball ind thought it would be something differ hard it it lys Melinie who is very I took it After watching her talented If you are between the age of 1 and 20 yaars fun loving eager to learn and like involvement YOU TO JOIN OUR CLUBS LEARN TO DO BY DOING ORGANIZATION MEETINGS WE WANT Ma Glut Ma I M lion Food Mn ir III i MA ENTER OUR Mi MFC AND PICK UP YOUR ENTRY CARD NOW Available At All Our Stores All Entries Will Be Displayed Here J SHOPPERS WORLD HIGHWAY 10 AND STEELES AVE Open Dally 930 am till 930 Saturday till p