The Belly Dance Chronicles July/August/September 2016 Volume 14, Issue 3 | Page 26

That’s Just How I Roll ... Abdominal Work for Belly Dance By Princess Farhana Photo by Maharet Hughes/ Graphic Vibe LA Strong abdominal work is something that all belly dancers - and audiences - love and admire. Among dancers, abdominal technique is always coveted, but rarely mastered. Spectators go crazy for rolls and flutters. Dancers and “civilians” alike regularly ask if I have an alien in my belly…or if I do crunches to get such strong abs. However, though I occasionally enjoy pretending that I’m a Reptilian Hybrid from a distant planet, the answer to both questions is a resounding no. The only way I train my torso is with belly dance abdominal work. I love Pilates, and Yoga, but I knew zilch about either discipline when I first started working on my abdominal technique. I’m here to tell you that all it takes for amazing belly work is a little knowledge of proper technique… and a lot of practice time. If you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll have a wild “alien belly” just like me, I promise!