Louise

I think having no belly makes belly dance much harder. I think shimmys look less attractive on me than gals with tummy; and I find things like camels horrid to do. as It's like using everything (which is hardly anything!) to do the move; and it does hurt! For belly dancing I personally think it looks more attractive with belly.
But then all the glamour belly dance nowadays shows off a tonned tummy. But I noticed a tummy piecing or tatoo is usually on the tummy to try and promote it, otherwise it looks like it's hardly moving!

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

I jenc, Actually there are only 4 true abdominal muscles. Transvers, rectus abdominus, external and internal obliques. The rectus abdominus muscle is the outer layer and it's ONE muscle that can create isolated upper, middle and lower moves. This takes control to accomplish..a standard workout may give one a flatter belly but not the sinuous control seen in the dance. There are more muscle groups that support and interconnect into the previously mentioned groups.
In terms of a toned vs. flat vs soft belly.....really depends on the woman and her overall body shape. The true secret is creating flexibility with what you have. I have children as well, and women tend to soften the middle as they get older, but my abs are flexible and strong no matter what they look like to the naked eye!
Yasmine

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Helena Bellydancer

I don't think size matters much in belly dance so long as you are healthy - I have seen larger dancers and smaller dancers and I love that the different shapes bring different dimensions to the same moves. It is part of what makes the dance so interesting to watch for me.

Those who dance a lot tend to be on the slimmer side simply because they are spending so much time practicing and performing - all that exercise is going to burn up those calories!

I am lucky and have naturally always been very slim - but I do get people saying "you can't be a belly dancer, you don't have a belly". I delight in proving them wrong! My strongest moves include undulations and shimmies, despite being thin - in my experience it makes little difference what size or shape you are so long as you have the correct technique.

Big or small, we are all beautiful when we dance!

Farasha Hanem

Rep to you!

Moon

Another rep to Helena.

Bellydance looks slightly different on each different body and that's fine.

By the way how on earth can you NOT have a belly?

sedoniaraqs

Lordy, I wish I had a quarter for every time I've said this.

ahem.

Body fat and muscle are two separate entities and have nothing directly to do with each other.

In other words, how strong or big or toned one's abs are has nothing at all, in any way, whatsoever, to do with the amount of fat in that area.

I mean really, doesn't everyone know this? Do you think sumo wrestlers and power lifters are weak??? So why does everyone's rational thinking fly out the window as soon as we start talking about the female body?

Helena Bellydancer

I know, it is such a dumb comment! Of course I have a belly! Otherwise I would look VERY odd!

Thanks for the rep ladies - I only signed up just the other day and that is my very first rep!

Ankebuzz

I've started dancing with a round belly... it's starting to become elongated and twisty, I love it! As long as I can dance with my belly, I don't care how big or small it is... jiggle jiggle!!!

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Ankebuzzzzzzzzzz

downspiral

Hi! I'm new here and I just wanted to say how excited I am to find a place where the women uplift and enourage each other. We are all beautiful in our own ways and I think it's UNHEALTHY to try to live up to our modern society's standards of beauty!

Shanazel

Atta girl, Sedonia. Rep to you. I generally am too lazy to get really upset about anything, but I took serious offense one time on behalf of a teacher when one of her clueless newbie students said in a carrying voice, "Gee, I thought she'd be more toned." What she meant was, "Gee, I thought she'd be thinner."