It's also OK if you have a few extra curves or if your sands have shifted. You don't have to have an hour-glass figure. All that shaking and whirling is a workout, especially for the abs, legs, hips and arms. Strength is just one element of the dance. While Egyptian dancers focus more on the music, Americans often use finger cymbals and other props.
Some brave souls balance heavy swords on their heads.
Swords or not, shimmying and twirling in front of strangers requires confidence. One of Aziz's most rewarding experiences is seeing students blossom into performers. It's so much fun to watch women transform, from walking into the studio with their shoulders slumped and their eyes down looking at the floor, to walking out with their shoulders back and their eyes up, smiling and looking proud of themselves. Katie Oyan covers Pleasant Hill.