Founded in 2011, the UMass Belly Dance Club (UBDC) gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a multicultural art form, learn traditional and fusion belly dance techniques, and showcase their choreography to supportive audiences. For University of Massachusetts Amherst students who love expressive dance or simply want to pick up a new hobby, joining UBDC is a unique way to get involved on campus! 

My UBDC Experience

When I came to college, I decided that the theme for my first year would be to step out of my comfort zone. In September 2019, I ended up having my roommate dye my hair in our dorm and trying out to become a runway model for the Sisters on the Runway Charity Fashion Show. Picking up belly dance was another way for me to live out that theme.

The first practice at the Recreation Center rolled around, and I remember feeling a mix of intimidation and awe as I watched the leaders loosely warm up, waiting for new and returning members to attend. My only prior dance experiences were a hip hop class I took the summer before fifth grade, and my cousin’s cotillion dance for her big 18^th birthday. I was and still am the type to dance alone in my room, or while brushing my teeth at the sink. But my ability to count beats? Virtually nonexistent. 

The nerves quickly faded away when we started dancing that night and throughout the semester. The leaders explained the moves one step at a time and repeated as many times as the group felt was necessary. They also offered extra practices on Sundays for anyone who needed more help as we prepared for our big showcase in December. 

What I loved most about the club was the uplifting, body-positive atmosphere. My favorite memories from that fall were participating in the homecoming parade around downtown Amherst, and the laid-back “Hafla” event we did right before winter break, in which all the members gathered for a dinner at Berk Dining Hall, and then a celebratory dance circle back at the Rec Center. 

I also got to see how resilient the club was. We faced quite a few snow-related interruptions to our practice schedule that semester, but we definitely didn’t let that stop us from having a great showcase. Days before our big performance, we decided to gather at the lounge in Field Hall to drill the routine at the last minute — a decision initiated entirely by general body members who wanted extra practice rather than the leaders themselves. 

Belly Dancing Virtually

This resilience would prove to be very important with the transition to remote learning. When we started the club back up this year on Zoom, we lost a lot of members and a lot of interest, but a few dedicated dancers remained. The community became more tight-knit than ever, and we started bonding over creative brainstorming and problem solving about how to keep the club going in this new direction. 

One of the most helpful and innovative things the club did during this remote season was to hire Elizabeth Estrella, a UMass Amherst alum, a past UBDC president, and now a professional belly dancer with a certified background in Arabic culture studies. Liz has been a great addition to our meetings by providing occasional support on technique, and implementing cultural resources into her lessons. As participants in this art form, it’s important for us to acknowledge and recognize its roots in the Middle East and its reach throughout other parts of the world. 

We are actively inviting students to join our virtual meetings every Monday at 7 p.m. Anyone can join—all genders, all sexual orientations, all races and ethnicities, and all bodies! Email UBDC or follow @umassbellydanceclub on Instagram for more information.