Belly dancing involves much more than just shaking your stomach. "I think that many people who know nothing of this dance type think that it is really easy," said Nikki Traylor-Knowles, a dance leader for Hopkins' belly dance troupe, Egyptian Sun. "But it isn't; it takes tons of work and practice."
Traylor-Knowles, a graduate student in the biology department, founded Egyptian Sun two years ago, along with Dori Witt, a former Hopkins student, so that the two could perform belly dance and teach others. The group's first members demonstrated their interest at a Student Activities Commission fair and additional members joined upon viewing the performance. Currently the group has approximately 20 active members, including one male.
While Egyptian Sun specializes in belly dance, a traditional Middle Eastern folk dance performed at special occasions, the group also practices and performs other types of dance, including sword dances and candle/tray dances. Witt and Traylor-Knowles teach the group a fusion of Turkish and Egyptian styles, including both tribal and cabaret styles.
Some of the dance moves students learn can also be put to good use outside of future belly dance performances. "A lot of the moves work wonders when you go clubbing downtown," said freshman dancer Brooke Nevils.
As Egyptian Sun members are learning various dance forms, they are also getting quite a workout. In preparation for upcoming performances, the beginners regularly practice two hours a week and the intermediate dancers four hours a week. The group also held special practices to work on their routines.
Despite the hard work, student participants enjoy the benefits of belly dance. "I started belly dancing because it's a really challenging ab workout," said Nevils. "But since I've been doing it, I've learned that a huge part of the culture behind it is about feeling good about your body and having inner confidence."
Graduate student Anne de Leon also praises the confidence building component of belly dance. "What attracted me to belly dancing were the positive aspects with regards to encouraging women of all ages, sizes, and skills to participate," she said. "Dori and Nikki taught a group of girls who couldn't move their hips or bellies at all -- let alone show their belly -- to eventually let it all loose. Being in the group has given me more self-confidence, body and mentally."
Egyptian Sun's next performance will be Thursday night at the Middle Eastern Students' Association banquet, but the group is also currently preparing for their big dance show, "Egyptian Fun," which will take place on Saturday, April 3, at Shriver Hall at 7 p.m.
Student tickets for the event are $5 each and in addition to the show, the ticket includes a full, all-you-can-eat Middle Eastern buffet catered by the Five Seasons, along with drinks and dessert. The show will include sword dances, cane dances, and veil dances, along with live music and as promised by the group, "tons of surprises."
The Baltimore tribal/electronic fusion band Telesma will also be making a guest appearance at the Shriver show. Egyptian Sun and Telesma regularly perform together every third Sunday at the Royal in Federal Hill. The band has even written a song for Egyptian Sun and named after it them.
More group information and performance dates can be found on the Egyptian Sun website at http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~adeleon1/. For information on joining the group, email egyptiansun@planet-save.com or call 410-905-5107. No dance background is necessary to join the group, but it does help. The group's regular dance practices will begin again after April 3.
