Inspired to write an article!

Apparently, Boomshanka, the name of my belly-dance troupe, means 'may the seed of your loins be fruitful in the belly of your woman'. It sort of sums it up, really - belly dance is reputed to have been devised as a method of toning up for childbirth. It's all about hips and curves and womanliness.

You don't need to be thin, athletic or fit to do belly dancing - in fact, it's better if you have something to wiggle about! You don't have to wear a skimpy see-through chiffon number with your tummy exposed for all the world to see, either - though, if you want to, you can. And don't worry - there will almost certainly be someone at your class with a bigger, wobblier tummy than yours!

Costumes for belly dance vary from cabaret-style, jewelled gauzy numbers to much more substantial, gypsy styles (my own preference). If you've always wanted an excuse to get a bit sparkly, this is it! And don't get me started on the jingling. There's nothing quite as satisfying as the day that your shimmy suddenly kicks in and you're jingling that coinage like a dervish! Don't despair if you don't get it at first - shimmying is a matter of practising till, suddenly, you can just do it. It's a bit like swimming! And when else can you get away with wearing bells and coins about your person in public?

I've been belly dancing on and off for about seven years and I've yet to meet anyone at a class who wasn't lovely - it seems to attract such friendly women. There's no comparing how fat other people's arses are - everyone just wants to share the sheer joy of what they do! It's a cracking work-out and good for bad backs, and you can set your own pace. And we all seem to be good at something: if you can't shimmy, maybe you can head slide, or do arm movements, or swoosh a veil with the best of 'em.

Go on - give it a go! You probably won't be the biggest, or the shyest, or the least co-ordinated there, and you'll very probably love it!"