The University Echo (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)
Belly dancing class entices students (excerpt)
8/30/07
By Beth Warren
staff reporter
What's hotter on campus than the 100-plus degree weather? Belly dancing is the ultimate ab-sculpting, body-shaking, heart-pumping, inner-goddess-revealing workout, at least according to some participants.
A belly dancing class here at UTC adds some colorful variety to the dance department.
Jilanna Babb-Cheshul, faculty member, was hired to teach the class after she taught a faculty and staff class as part of a grant during the summer.
Babb-Cheshul said she has been involved in belly dancing for eight years.
"I've always loved to dance," she said.
Babb-Cheshul said she took up belly dancing, or oriental dancing as she said it is known as in the Middle East, during graduate school.
"I saw a flyer and jumped at the chance," she said.
And Babb-Cheshul said she has not stopped since.
Babb-Cheshul, also a writer, painter and sculptor, said her artistic expression was changing, and she found more satisfaction in dance.
"I've found more to love about it as my study of this art form has gone on," she said. "I find that it is a rich source of physical and mental stimulation."
According to Babb-Chesul, belly dancing is not only a great form of exercise that tones every muscle in the body, especially the muscles of the core, or the midsection, but she said the dance form is also very empowering for women.
"I love to see people come out of their cocoons and turn into beautiful butterflies...to let out a part of themselves that they had repressed," she said.
staff reporter
What's hotter on campus than the 100-plus degree weather? Belly dancing is the ultimate ab-sculpting, body-shaking, heart-pumping, inner-goddess-revealing workout, at least according to some participants.
A belly dancing class here at UTC adds some colorful variety to the dance department.
Jilanna Babb-Cheshul, faculty member, was hired to teach the class after she taught a faculty and staff class as part of a grant during the summer.
Babb-Cheshul said she has been involved in belly dancing for eight years.
"I've always loved to dance," she said.
Babb-Cheshul said she took up belly dancing, or oriental dancing as she said it is known as in the Middle East, during graduate school.
"I saw a flyer and jumped at the chance," she said.
And Babb-Cheshul said she has not stopped since.
Babb-Cheshul, also a writer, painter and sculptor, said her artistic expression was changing, and she found more satisfaction in dance.
"I've found more to love about it as my study of this art form has gone on," she said. "I find that it is a rich source of physical and mental stimulation."
According to Babb-Chesul, belly dancing is not only a great form of exercise that tones every muscle in the body, especially the muscles of the core, or the midsection, but she said the dance form is also very empowering for women.
"I love to see people come out of their cocoons and turn into beautiful butterflies...to let out a part of themselves that they had repressed," she said.
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