Why I Love Bellydance
– by Faridah Jizel Babaganoosh

Belly Dance is very special to me because it allows me to connect with my older sister, who was a professional belly dancer. She danced in restaurants, State Fairs, Renaissance Fairs, Belly-grams, you name it. Debi began dancing when she was 18, and married and moved away at 19, when I was just 11 years old. I never really got to know her before she passed away from cancer at the young age of 34. I began belly dancing because of her love for it. Now when I perform, I try to wear something of hers, be it a scarf, a piece of jewelry, or even her bra and belt set. I even added her dance name to mine. It makes me feel like she is with me, doing something together that we never got to do in life.

Not only has belly dancing been a way to honour and remember my sister, it has also allowed me to meet some of the neatest women I have ever known. The other members of the troupe I’m in have become true friends, and we have a gay old time whenever we get together. The belly dance world is just filled with witty, optimistic, funny and creative ladies. Small wonder my sister loved it so much!

I intend to include belly dancing in my life for the rest of my days. The excitement, joy and beauty that it adds cannot be equaled by anything else.