Bellydance-How do I calculate the calories?

alf1163

Hello, I did a bellydance DVD this morning for about 35 mins. It was my first time and I was sweating!! It was fun. I thought it would be in the database and it is not!!! How do I calculate how many calories I burned?? Thanks!!!

alf1163

Hello, I did a bellydance DVD this morning for about 35 mins. It was my first time and I was sweating!! It was fun. I thought it would be in the database and it is not!!! How do I calculate how many calories I burned?? Thanks!!!

doglvr_75

Check caloriesperhour.com....the site has a huge database of activities...hope this helps..vee

alf1163

Thanks!! Got it! It said I burned 160calories...

FatDancer

Greetings! So happy you enjoyed Bellydance!

I've been calculating my calories as, "Dancing General"...thanks for the post...I'll use the calculations you located at the other website.

Shimmy On,
Fat Dancer

FatDancer

Hi...I just checked out calories burned for bellydance at the website listed above and it is only 3 calories more per hour than "dancing general" at this website.

What bellydance DVDs do you use...just curious because I love bellydance and like to network with other dancers.

This is my favorite topic,
Fat Dancer

emtink

i logged my bellydance time under dancing-general too. i guess its close enough, considering the broad range of styles that can be considered bellydance (ie very energetic and very controlled).

as for videos, i only have technique ones, no workout ones, so it usually isn't enough work to be considered aerobic. but i sometimes focus on one movement, like a choo choo shimmy, and do it for as long as i can. that'll raise my heart rate and work up a good sweat!

do either of you have recommendations on some good bellydance workout dvd's?

thanks,
em

FatDancer

i logged my bellydance time under dancing-general too. i guess its close enough, considering the broad range of styles that can be considered bellydance (ie very energetic and very controlled).

as for videos, i only have technique ones, no workout ones, so it usually isn't enough work to be considered aerobic. but i sometimes focus on one movement, like a choo choo shimmy, and do it for as long as i can. that'll raise my heart rate and work up a good sweat!

do either of you have recommendations on some good bellydance workout dvd's?

thanks,
em

Wonderful, another Dancer, I love it!

Choo choo shimmy, hard work, makes you sweat and I'm sure it burns mega calories...my instructor practices shimmies for a half hour daily as her basic cardio.

For workout DVDs I love Neon's 4 Disc series, "Bellydance for Body Shaping"...she partners with Tanna Valentine...both dancers are professionals out of World Dance New York...the DVDs are very fast paced...I purchased mine at Amazon.com...they are also available at the dancer's websites:
www.neonissima.com and www.worlddancenewyork.com.

Any Drum solo DVD would be quite a workout, as you already know practicing your choo choo shimmies.

There are so many out there...Neon's Belly Dance Party is very quick paced as well...even her instructional tapes are broken down so that you can just play through the review sections and dance sections for a good cardio workout.

Who are your favorite professional dancers? I bet they have a workout tape out there.

Hope you keep in touch,
Fat Dancer

alf1163

Hi...I just checked out calories burned for bellydance at the website listed above and it is only 3 calories more per hour than "dancing general" at this website.

What bellydance DVDs do you use...just curious because I love bellydance and like to network with other dancers.

This is my favorite topic,
Fat Dancer

I did Temple of Jehan Ultimate bellydance fitness workout. I am telling you it had me moving my hips all day long...I really like to get really good at it, like Shakira :laugh: I've been trying to learn on my own, especially to isolate the hips...I got the DVD from my local library but they don't have a good selection. I really don't like to buy DVD's because there is no telling if they are good or not and then I feel I wasted my money. :flowerforyou:

FatDancer

Alf, that's wonderful...I hadn't thought about checking tapes from the Library...I haven't heard of Temple of Jehan...I have to search for it now...bellydance awakens the feminine soul and is so spiritually healing...I love Shakira as well...she has a bellydance, afro bellydance and hiphop fusion style going on there...I love her music videos.

Hip Drop Pop & Lock,
Fat Dancer

emtink

Woo hoo! Bellydancers of the world unite!

I've been seriously contemplating Netflix for that same reason Alf, there's sooo many DVD's out there but you never know until you see how good the quality is. or if its really what you're looking for. I really like the Bellydance Superstars. From my experience all of their DVD's are produced very well, especially 'the art of the drum solo', which teaches a little about middle eastern rhythms too.

Fat Dancer-I've heard of Neon, but haven't seen any of her stuff. I will definitely check her out. I'm on the west coast, so over here Suhaila Salimpour is the reigning workout queen.

How long have you both been dancing? Just 3 years for me, but its already a huge part of my life. Very good for the body and the brain!

Em

FatDancer

I love Suhaila as well, I read her monthly newsletter to keep abreast of her career and current shows, workshops, etc...I've only been dancing for 2 years, but like you, it has defined my life...wish I had discovered bellydance when I was young, have always been a fan of the artform but thought it was only a cultural dance, passed from Mother to Daughter...I stumbled upon lessons when I was searching for a restaurant with dancers...plus when I was young I was raising my Son and working...never thought about enriching my life with art....didn't figure it out till I was in my late 40s and had an empty nest...take care my friend...keep in touch...would enjoy hearing whats going on in your dance life!

Fat Dancer

FatDancer

I am familiar with Temple of Jehan after all...that DVD is on my wish list...my favorite dancer of all time is the blonde on the cover, "Neon", she's Russian...all of those dancers are based with "World Dance New York" and all of their DVDs, workout and instructional, are excellent.

In addition, I recently located Neon's instructor, Jenna...she has excellent DVDs as well...even though Neon is her student, Neon developed her own style...that will happen to all of us eventually...when we're new at Bellydance, we mirror our instructors...finally we become proficient and develop our own style...all the moves are basic Egyptian, it's a matter of how the music flows through you and how you combine your moves and your choreography that makes us all unique.

Fat Dancer

emtink

So true! My primary instructor has a very energetic style, very american cabaret. I find myself dancing more modern egyptian, like tamalyn dallal, more controlled and isolated. I wish I had started younger too, like at birth! Ah well, at least I'm dancing now, and I really think its the best form of aerobic exercise!

FatDancer

Hello Dancers!

I checked out Tamalyn Dallal's website...very impressive...I want to purchase her book or movie titled, "40 Days and 1001 Nights"...also watched her performances on YouTube and I do like her style...loved the red costume with the long red gloves...loved her layering of hip circles and chest infinity loops...was also impressed that Amar Gamal began studying with her at age 13.

I purchased, "Temple of Jehan", it has been on my wish list at Amazon.com and this post kindled my desire to own it and work it!

This is exactly why I like to network with other dancers...bellydance is a journey, always something new to experience!

Thank you for sharing,
Fat Dancer

kjllose

:sad: Still no belly dancing for me. Maybe in another month. I'll ask my PT person. Hi Fat Dancer, how's it going? Sorry I haven't emailed lately.

FatDancer

Karen, I'm so glad you chimed in! How is your back doing? Can't wait for you to heal so you can dance...hopefully, your PT will allow you to start some of the gentle movements...I know how you love to dance!

alf1163

I went to Ross today, it is sort of like a Marshalls or TJ Maxx and they had some DVD's for $4.99!!! But I am going to write down your suggestions and see if I can find them there. They also had a lot of the Tae Bo workouts for the same price. This is fun!!

kjllose

Alf you are sooo right. I was taking classes for about a year and can't wait to get back to it. I will just have to ask my PT person what moves I could try at this point. I don't think the hip isolations would bother my back but I will check when I go next week. I love the costumes as well as the dance as they are so shiny and they make noise. Lots of noise.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

FatDancer

Alf...excited to hear what tapes you find...Taebo is excellent exercise as well and there are some folks at this site who practice Taebo....hope you don't give up bellydance, you inspired me to purchase the Temple of Jehan...it shipped from Amazon today!

Kjllose...when you get the OK to dance let us know...we'll rattle our hipscarves for you!

Emtink, thanks for turning me on to Tamalyn...hope you keep sharing your dance life with us!

Doglvr, thanks for finding our calories burned for us...are you going to dance with us...I hope so!

Icandoit is dancing for her husband tonight in honor of their anniversary...I'm so excited for her...can't wait to hear about her dance for him!

Have a great day Dancers,
Fat Dancers