International center sponsors belly dancing

Some students relax by watching an episode of “Modern Family” after finishing class for the day. Others might hit the gym for a game of basketball. IU grad student Krithika Rajaram goes to belly dancing class.

“It is fun to be able to come to belly dancing class at the end of the day and take my mind off things,” Rajaram said. “And it gives me something to do besides research and studying.”

Rajaram attends Middle Eastern dance classes, more commonly referred to as belly dance classes, every Tuesday evening at the Leo R. Dowling International Center. The International Center offers both beginner- and intermediate-level classes.

“Part of the Center’s mission is to provide opportunities for students and community members to become more familiar with the cultures of other countries,” the center’s director Sandy Britton said.

“Dance classes are a way to draw people in and help them learn.” 

The center began the belly dancing classes 10 years ago. Instructor Donna Carlton also teaches belly dancing classes through the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Harmony School in Bloomington.

Carlton started belly dancing as a form of exercise when she moved to Indianapolis after graduating from IU.

She fell in love with the music, uniform and camaraderie of the 25 women in her class. She later moved back to Bloomington and realized there were no belly dancing opportunities here. In 1999, Carlton taught her first class.

“I’m happy to say that there is now a very thriving belly dance scene in Bloomington,” Carlton said. 

While Carlton’s beginner-level course focuses on basic movements and style, her more advanced classes learn and perfect a choreographed dance, which they perform at a recital at the end of each semester. 

Carlton’s intermediate class at the International Center is now learning a dance that originated from Turkish folklore music. However, Egypt is the inspiration for most belly dancing.

“No one knows exactly where belly dancing started,” Carlton said. “But I consider Cairo to be the world capital of our dance form. We look to them for new music, upcoming trends and costumes.”

Carlton and her students also hold dance parties at MAC Mediterranean and other restaurants in Bloomington.

During these parties, Carlton and her more advanced students perform small group numbers and solos. They also offer a time for audience members to join them and belly dance informally.

“Some people are motivated to perform in public,” Carlton said. “Other people just do it for themselves for the joy of movement. They don’t need to perform to be satisfied.”

Sign-ups for the International Center’s Middle Eastern dance classes are at the beginning of each semester. Classes are $65 for IU students and staff and $75 for Bloomington community members.