Dancers with Medicine Hat's Tone bellydance group practice for their performance at the Esplanade on Dec. 3.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
A Bellydance Odyssey will be at the Esplanade in just over a week, and the troupe is busy getting the dances perfected. All the women in the performance are local and are dedicated to making the show the best one ever.
The warm, supportive group of dancers feels like a family to those in it. Shaylene Johnson says, “If I’m having a bad day I can always count on coming here, and at the end my whole mood has changed.”
Sheila Payne has always loved dancing.
“It’s a way of expression. A way to release any stress and problems. The show is going to be spectacular, the biggest we’ve ever done and I’m super excited.”
Dancing has taught Jade Scherger to be less judgemental of herself and explore greater self-expression. Scherger was dragged to her first bellydance class by a friend and has never looked back.
The group has been responsible for Pamela Hauser’s emotional, mental and spiritual evolution. She always wanted to bellydance but not being a fan of groups or team sports prevented her. When Hauser finally went to a class, she decided to stay in the back and keep her head down. Things didn’t work out to plan and bellydance has been the fire under many positive changes in her life.
Since Clarissa Sarpalius first stepped into a beginner class in 2018, and dancing has brought nothing but fulfillment. She’d wanted to join a dance class and this one was the most accessible.
“I will do nothing else, I will always bellydance. As long as I get to wear something glittery, I’m good.”
Charley Paul has been teaching the beginner class since 2006.
“We’ve been waiting for this show since May of 2020, and it’s been a joy to come back and be together with everyone. It is something you can count on and people you can dance with. It’s all about the glitter.”
Hauser jumped in to say, “Glitter has an edge as well. With the sparkle, there’s lots of flash in this. It’s not just glitter, it’s strength and tempered steel, it’s so amazing. It never goes away.”
Paul loves teaching and seeing the change in students, particularly those who come with a friend and stand in the back not talking to anybody.
“You get the delight of seeing them engage and have a blast looking in the mirror,” Paul said. “Everybody hears music differently and dances differently. By the end of the 10 weeks, they have a hip scarf on and are showing their husbands, friends and family. It is strength building to be able to look in the mirror and see the differences and the advancement.”
She concluded by stating it’s important for women to stand in their own place and show their joy.
For more information on the bellydance group, go to http://www.toneit.ca or their Facebook page at Tone Bellydance. A Bellydance Odyssey will be at the Esplanade on Dec. 3 and tickets are $35 each. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and will run for about two hours.
