Belly Dancing over the Age of 40, 50 and Beyond
Last Updated on January 25, 2024
Recently, I have come across articles about belly dancers who have turned 100 and are still dancing, as well as forum posts where people ask if it is possible to dance into old age or even start learning this dance genre at 40 or 50 years of age.
This has made me want to investigate more and write a post about this topic, especially since I am no spring chicken myself and as someone who loves to dance!
My Research on Ageism and Dance
In my research, I have come across several examples of belly dancers who are still performing later in life, including some who started learning in their 40s or 50s.
It is definitely possible to become a professional belly dancer beyond the age of 40. In particular, it is certainly possible to teach, organize events, give lectures and talk at seminars.
There are perhaps some movements that are better left to young people unless you have done them all your life and still have the necessary level of fitness (I list these movements further down in the Health Benefits section).
Also, some dancers prefer to wear less revealing costumes as they age. However, none of these things should put you off, as belly dancing, in particular, is a low-impact dance genre with movements that are natural in that they follow the natural alignment of the body, rather than going against it.
I have also noticed, by attending several performances over the years, that even though dancers may lose the ability to perform the most physically demanding moves as they age, they definitely improve their feeling and expressivity in the dance.
In many types of Middle Eastern dance, feelings often matter more than physical virtuosity and it seems to me that Raqs sharqi, in particular, gets better as the dancer matures, being more of a woman’s rather than a girl’s dance.
Health Benefits of Dancing at any Age
There are several academic articles (listed in the references section below) that highlight the benefits that physical activity and dancing, in particular, has an older age.
The benefits include psychological benefits linked to the fact that dancing is a social activity (Cooper & Thomas, 2002; Nadasen, 2008), as well as social benefits in that dance and leisure, can help people subvert mainstream negative perceptions about aging (Wearing, 1995).
In particular, Angela Moe (2014), a belly dancer herself, investigates how this is particularly true for older women who practice this dance genre.
The benefits of dancing in older age, are not just social and psychological, but also physical.
In particular, dance is good for physical fitness (Eyigor et al, 2009; Bijun, 2000) and for a sense of balance (Alpert et al, 2009; Eyigor et al, 2009; Federici et al, 2005), which is a good thing since with age falls become more common and also more dangerous as bones are frailer and at higher risk of fracturing.
Hence, unless your doctor has advised you against physical activity for any specific reason, dancing, and belly dancing, in particular, is good for you at any age (but check with your doctor first if you have any specific ailments).
There are, however, certain movements that are better to avoid if you have weak knees and/or problems with your back and neck. These are:
- Hair tosses with head swings, as they can exacerbate neck problems. These movements are common in dances from the Gulf, Moroccan dances, Egyptian zaar and in general in trance dances.
- Backbends. Avoid them if you have problems with your back and knees and also it is better to have a strong core in order to perform them safely.
- Turkish drops are to be avoided also, for people with weak back and knees.
- Floorwork, in general, is hard on the knees and it can hurt your back if you have suffered injuries in the past.
What to Wear When Belly Dancing
Some dancers over a certain age prefer to wear dresses rather than Bedlah (skirt and bra costume).
If you prefer to wear a Bedlah but you want to hide imperfections of the torso such as stretch marks, you can wear a body stocking that covers the torso, as Egyptian belly dancers in the movies from the golden age of Egyptian cinema do.
So, for example, Samia Gamal, Naima Akef, Taheya Karioka, Nagwa Fouad always wore body stockings. However, they did not do so for aesthetic reasons but rather because Egyptian laws forbid dancers from showing the bare skin of the torso.
In any case, check out videos of those dancers (there are plenty on Youtube and Vimeo) for some ideas and inspirations.
Bodystockings can be flesh-colored or in the same color as the costume. Also, you could have a fishnet material on top of a flesh-colored body stocking.
For the legs, some dancers wear leggings under their skirts and for the arms, if you are worried about soft underarms (called ‘bingo wings’ in the UK), you can wear long bell-shaped or ruffled sleeves.
In any case, I would advise against becoming too paranoid with issues of looks and to just enjoy dancing!
Mature Dancers
There are many examples of famous dancers who keep dancing until their 70s. One famous example is the American dancer Morocco (Auntie Rocky), who is over 70 and still dancing, traveling, and teaching.
Another American dancer, who is an icon of American belly dance, is Greek-born Helena Vlahos who is still dancing and in great shape.
I am not sure how old she is, but she was already dancing in the 1960s.
As for Egyptians, Mona Said, Nagwa Fouad, Nelly Fouad, and Fifi Abdou may not be starring in movies or dancing in nightclubs any longer, but they are still teaching and performing at festivals around the world.
You may be thinking that it is easier for dancers who have started dancing when they were very young to continue dancing all their lives. But what about those who learn belly dancing late in life, in their 40s, 50s or later?
Can they become good dancers and what can they realistically achieve? I personally know some dancers who have started at such an age and they are now accomplished dancers and dance and teach professionally.
For example, Ann Hall (a UK-based dancer now in her 70s) learned belly dancing late in life but is now a very good dancer and teacher and she travels extensively in Northern Africa and the Middle East to keep training. You can find more about her on her site www.medinabellydance.com
Melanie Norman, also based in the UK, started late but she is also a professional dancer now who organizes shows and events with live music in London. She is also a great teacher. She started training at the age of 38 with no previous experience in dance and now dance is her life.
Mona Said in Greece in 2014
And finally, there are at least two belly dancers in the world dancing and enjoying themselves beyond the venerable age of 100!
Belle Green, from South Setauket in the USA, turned 103 on 1st January 2015 and she teaches belly dance in Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Retirement Community.
Catherine Furst turned 100 on the weekend of 15/16 November 2014 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA.
She started belly dancing when she was 30 and has continued all her life. A baby, by comparison, Angie Rounis danced at a talent competition in Maryland (USA) in 2011 at the age of 85.
Resources
Browsing the net I have found some resources you may find useful about learning and dancing at an older age:
- (Make sure also to follow ME on Facebook!)
- Book Zaida: Belly Dancing for Older Women by Zaïda – the author started belly dancing at the age of 60 and, in this book, she gives tips and plenty of inspiration to anybody who would like to start at any age.
- Ageism and dance journal article.
- Interesting article with tips on how to learn anything at an older age – the author, Daniel Coyle, has also written useful books about the learning process, including The Little Book of Talent and The Talent Code: Greatness isn’t born. It’s grown.
- My Ph.D. On Belly Dance as a Form of Cultural Heritage in case you wish to read it 🙂
Academic References
Alpert, P. T., Miller, S. K., Wallmann, H., Havey, R., Cross, C., Chevalia, T., Gillis, C. B. and Kodandapari, K. (2009) ‘The effect of modified jazz dance on balance, cognition, and mood in older adults’, Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 21(2), pp. 108-115.
Bijun, X. (2000) ‘The Physical Fitness Effect of Sports Dance on the Middle or Old Age People [J]’, SPORTS & SCIENCE, 2, pp. 009.
Cooper, L. and Thomas, H. (2002) ‘Growing old gracefully: social dance in the third age’, Ageing and Society, 22(06), pp. 689-708.
Eyigor, S., Karapolat, H., Durmaz, B., Ibisoglu, U. and Cakir, S. (2009) ‘A randomized controlled trial of Turkish folklore dance on the physical performance, balance, depression and quality of life in older women‘, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 48(1), pp. 84-88.
Federici, A., Bellagamba, S. and Rocchi, M. B. (2005) ‘Does dance-based training improve balance in adult and young old subjects? A pilot randomized controlled trial‘, Aging clinical and experimental research, 17(5), pp. 385-389.
Moe, A. M. (2014) ‘Sequins, Sass, and Sisterhood: An Exploration of Older Women’s Belly Dancing’, Journal of women & aging, 26(1), pp. 39-65.
Nadasen, K. (2008) ‘“Life without line dancing and the other activities would be too dreadful to imagine”: An increase in social activity for older women‘, Journal of women & aging, 20(3-4), pp. 329-342.
Verghese, J., Lipton, R. B., Katz, M. J., Hall, C. B., Derby, C. A., Kuslansky, G., Ambrose, A. F., Sliwinski, M. and Buschke, H. (2003) ‘Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly’, New England Journal of Medicine, 348(25), pp. 2508-2516.
Wearing, B. (1995) ‘Leisure and resistance in an ageing society‘, Leisure Studies, 14(4), pp. 263-279.
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Dr Valeria Lo Iacono is a belly dancer and a dance researcher with a PhD in dance and heritage. Valeria also teaches and performs as a belly dance but also enjoys learning ballet, jazz dance and other dance genres.
Latest posts by Dr Valeria Lo Iacono (see all)
- Belly Dancing over the Age of 40, 50 and Beyond - January 21, 2024
- Health Benefits of Belly Dance - January 20, 2024
- 10 Countries for Learning Belly Dance - January 18, 2024
I would like to learn how to belly dance. Where are classes available in the Metro Detroit area?
There are lots in the Detroit area, Janet. http://www.worldbellydance.com/michigan-usa-teachers/ is a good starting point.
(I started bellydance at age 40; I’m 50 now and have no intentions of giving it up)
Here on WCCCD (Wayne County Community College District) North-West Campus under Continued Education we have a class called Egyptian Belly Dance. Many of the classmates are retired or over 50 yrs old. We even have someone age 72 young moving like a champ!
Excellent !! I too am a belly dancer who started later at 45 years old ; I’m now 50 years old and attend at least two classes a week and any workshop within an hours drive from my home. I’m also part of a small dance troupe ( Sarab), with two other mature & beautiful dancers. 😀
So true, Valeria! Oriental dance is an all inclusive, lifetime endeavor. I moderate the 1970’s Bellydance Group on facebook. At least half of our 7000 members are over 50-years of age, and still dancing. Helena Vlahos and Aunt Rocky are just two of our members who were pioneers of the once great American cabaret dance scene. There are many of us still around!! I became a professional oriental dancer in 1975, and I’m happily still going strong, dancing, teaching, and touring. We often discuss this topic on my group, and the fact that those of us in the 50~80 age bracket are now charged with the task of being role models for what it looks like to “dance as we age.” Brava, great topic!
Wonderful, I love it! 🙂 You ladies inspire me
Thank you all for commenting and I am glad you enjoyed the post! This is a topic I too feel strongly about as my intention is to keep dancing indefinitely 🙂
I started to belly dance in my late 40s and at the age of 64 still dance and I love it.
Fantastic??
Wonderful article! So complete! I feel I am a much better dancer in my 40’s than I was in my 20’s!
I started belly dancing at age 39 and am still dancing, teaching and performing at age 50 🙂
dancing makes me happy!
I started dancing in my late 30 and turn 50 this year. I love to dance and am working on a solo for a community festival in March. I will never be a great dancer but it is one of the best things that I can do for myself. I have always been a clutz but I feel free and beautiful when I dance.
Interesting article! Appreciate the subject of mature dancers. We’ve had our group (The Dancing Divas) performing for ten years. Our ladies range inin age from 52 to 77! (I am 64) Besides being part of the local belly dancing community participating in Haflas. We perform shows for the Northwest Florida Nursing/Retirement Homes, Senior Health Festivals and many more. We are a volunteer group, and cannot keep up with the bookings of our shows. It is keeping each of us young, our bodies moving, and we give back to the community, and give others that cannot get about, something to smile about, have a laugh, and see all our beautiful costumes.
We will continue to dance as long as our God given bodies will allow. Thank you for this article.
My belly dance (Beledi) Journey started at 34 after the arrival of my one and only child. After more than 20 years of being in love with this dance I hope to continue on dancing, performing (troupe Director ) “Beledicious” and teaching for as long as possible. Recently l started learning the Tabla and this just heightens my love of the music. I highly recommend this dance to all ages.
It proves that you re never too old to learn something new. I only started dancing when I was in my 50s and I feel almost reborn again now. I feel younger than I have ever felt and have been meeting many great people along the way in the dance community.
My mother started dancing at the age of 4, and belly dancing in 1968 at the age of 37. She danced professionally (party gigs) into her 60s, and taught until infirmity prevented it at age 78. She and I co-produced dance festivals (which i continue on my own) literally until her death at age 81.
This truly *is* a lifelong dance form…*everyone* can enjoy it, at any level, for a lifetime.
I started dancing in my 30’s. I went pro in my 40’s and perform with a professional troupe. This dance changed my life, gave me confidence and provides me with endless joy. I love my supportive dance community. I have made so many amazing friends along the way! I’m so happy our community keeps growing and look forward to at least 50 more years!
Years ago, Bert Balladine told me a dancer hits her stride after forty. Then, she’s lived enough of life to put real emotion into her performance. Loved that!
I started belly dancing at age 50, I am 54 and I am performing and won’t stop … Belly dancing has no age limit, no gender, no body type, no race or nationality, belly dancing is truly not prejudice. It’s wonderful for your body and soul.
How awesum im 53 turning 54 in feb and have always wanted to learn to dance. Your inspiration viving me confidence to go for it.
Hi Marci, it is great to know that this post has inspired you. It is never too late to start dancing!
I started in my 50th I am now 67 and just love
it is so good for your confidence and the belly dancing community is amazing xx
Hi! I’m 54 and have always been fascinated with bellydance, but scared to try. Anyone know of any good groups/classes in the Nashville TN area, or Scottsville KY? I’m NE of Nashville.
Hi Lisa yes – you are never too old for belly dance and that is a part of why I love belly dance. I see ladies in their 70s and 80s dancing and staying fit and enjoying the social side of this dance form. I am not sure, to be honest specifically about classes in the Nashville area but I invite anyone who does to reply also to this comment.
Do try belly dance Lisa and please let us know how it goes!
All the best!
Valeria
I am very interested in bellydance class for women over 40 in Manhattan and or a dance class that’s not too routine oriented and teaches basic skills. I have danced with Elena and my favorite Norhan Sharif!
Thanks!
Linda Cohen 212-957-7722
Hi Linda – How are the lessons going in Manhattan. Is there a big demand and interest in NYC for belly dance?
Great article! It’s so inspiring!
I hope more and more people (dance or not, around the world) read this wonderful article and think of what matters in our lives and belly dance as well *^.^*
Thank you for sharing your insight!
Hi Kim,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, belly dance can really enrich our lives no matter what age we are!
Tonight I saw a woman belly dancing at a gay pride event I attended. It took me back to the days in my 40s and 50s when I took classes with Tarik Sultan and Rocky here in New York. Since I was a man I was petrified when I went to my first class. The women gave me the fish eye, but I stuck to it. I was told I was good at it, but I did not care because I felt so good. It was fun and helped me with my fractured self-esteem at that time.
After I had been dancing for six years, life some hard curve balls. The dancing slowed down and with the demands of life fell slowly away.
Tonight, when I saw that woman dancing, I wondered, “Why in the world did I give it up?” My spouse, glanced at me and said, “Don’t you want to get your belts out.” I’ve been watching videos and looking up sites all night. I found myself dancing again. It’s like the music was waiting for me. Tomorrow I’m pulling the box from under the bed and getting out all my gear. I may be in my 60s, but I’m ready to dance til I’m 100!
Just do it!
Hi Oliver, what an inspirational comment! We should all keep dancing until we can, if it gives us joy. No reason to stop at all!
I am 70 started at 50 love it love the costumes the people the belly dancing community xx
Hi Isla. Same. I love the community and all the great people I meet and have met belly dancing! 🙂
Hi Valeria I just love the belly dancing community they are so incredibly encouraging no matter what your age or size I love to make my own costumes and this year at 70 my lovely teacher Lindsey Marie Silver myself and three of my friends were projected belly dancing on Edinburgh Castle for Christmas my family were son proud of me xx
I’m 64 will be 65 in April 2020. I started attending belly dance classes when I was 21 when teachers were few and far apart from mostly in the London area and I live out of London. Over the years I had gaps in dancing for various life events but always found a way back. Went to many different and wonderful teachers. In my late 30s I was inspired by the teacher whose classes I was attending and joined performance groups at local events.
Eventually in my 40s I decided to start my own classes as there was no one teaching in the area where I lived. I built up a lovely following of students over 4 different locations over time and eventually broached the subject of performing with them. Some were interested, so I got them performing at local events which increased their confidence. Some eventually became dancers in their own right. During that time I also became a professional dancer myself, dancing at celebratory events, weddings, birthdays and some restaurant work. I also did talk and demonstration sessions for various groups including over 20 local Women’s Institute groups across Bedfordshire. Always very welcoming audiences with some who liked to ‘have a go.
I decided to ‘retire’ from dancing in my late 50s for several different reasons, but I still have a fond love of the music which I have playing in my car and I kept one costume which I might one day venture to perform in.
I live in the UK and still have many dance friends I keep in touch with in various areas of the UK.
Hi Georgina, it is very inspiring to see how this dance has been with you all your life!
As a dancer who began bellydance at the age of 50 (I am currently 53), absolutely you can begin later in life. After 2 1/2 years I not only take classes three days per week, but I also auditioned into the studio’s student performance troupe and hold my own with dancers ranging in age from 24 to 45. This dance form is ageless.
Absolutely true, Laura. It is ageless 🙂
This is really encouraging. I began belly dance in my late 30’s and taught and performed a little then fell of the wagon for about 3 years and havent really dance at all. I recently felt inspired to start again at 49 and am really fascinated by tribal fusion. I began to learn it before I stopped a few years ago. I felt a little intimidated because it seems to be a thing with younger women, plus I have become really out of shape in the core after having a late life baby at 46, but this article and some of the posts here have really inspired me. Plus I have to remember, Rachel Brice is only a year or 2 younger than me ( search Rachel Brice Tribal Fusion if you dont know who she is.)
I so wish there were belly dance classes where I live in the Joplin, MO area. I’ve been doing them myself thru YouTube videos and I know for sure my form could use work! I’m 64 years young!
I have wanted to learn belly dancing for years. I am 65 & really want to learn. However, I have bad posture, kyphosis & wondered if that would prevent me from learning to dance. I am motivated to learn & even hoping that belly dancing might help my posture.
Hi Diana, you can definitely learn, especially if you have the motivation.
Belly dancing is good for posture because you use the muscles in your torso, the core and the back, thus making them stronger and more flexible. Dancing also makes you more aware of your posture in general. I have had scoliosis since I was 10 years old and belly dancing helped me. I know other people who also have back problems and found belly dancing beneficial.
Of course, though, you need to be patient with yourself. Take everything at your own pace and if something hurts or feels uncomfortable don’t do it. If you are patient and persistent you will learn and a good teacher should be able to guide you in your journey!
I can well believe you’re never to old to dance. But can you be too depressed to bother? I learned bellydance years ago but have not kept up with it. Looking for a group of older women in Jacksonville, Florida who would like to start a group/class for women who are also dealing with depression.