“Egyptian Figure Eights” and “Mayan Hips” will become a part of the UREC’s vocabulary as the facility delves into belly dancing culture.
“Shake Your Belly Off,” the new UREC specialty course, offers its first paid class Feb. 2. 
“I decided to try to give belly dancing some more exposure,” said class instructor Alison Benda.
Benda, a 2007 University alumna, works at St. James Place retirement community as a move-in coordinator. She said she picked up her hobby as a creative outlet to balance out the tedium of nine-to-five life. 
She took her first class at Fleur de Leaf Dance Studio in Baton Rouge and has worked to promote belly dancing in the community since.
“It’s a form of dance that a lot of women have a desire to try but don’t always know that classes are available,” Benda said.
Benda reached out to one of her former coworkers who was interested in belly dancing. The contact, Jennifer Mills, worked at the UREC. 
When Benda expressed interest in teaching a belly dancing class, the UREC staff jumped on board with the idea. This is the first time the facility will offer the specialty course.
“It’s such a different type of exercise class,” Benda said. “It pushes [students] a little further, takes them out of their comfort zones.”
Belly dancing focuses on isolating various muscles, Benda said, and it also serves as a cardio workout. 
“When you’re in the moment, you forget that you’re exercising,” she said.
Benda has performed in a wide array of venues, ranging from restaurants to weddings. 
She said her most interesting performance was at a Palestinian bridal
party.
“It was a venue full of only women who had to keep belly dance private in their own homes,” Benda said. “I felt so enmeshed in their culture.”
Benda also has performed at several Baton Rouge belly dancing festivals, which she said motivated her to continue with the art.
“It teaches you to move your body in ways that you never realized you could,” she said.
Pre-nursing sophomore Lauren Perret expressed interest in the program.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to learn about other cultures,” Perret said.
Pre-nursing sophomore Abigail Ponthi has participated in past UREC dance classes and plans to sign up for belly dancing, as well.
“I’ve done the Street Beats class and the other dancing classes,” Ponthi said. “I think that this class would definitely attract a lot of people.”
Benda said she hopes to increase her students’ confidence by encouraging them to try something different. 
She will teach classes Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Registration closes Friday.
“I think this class will help them learn something about themselves,” she said.