Arabian nights with the belly dancers

In colourful costumes, the women perform their exotic dances redolent of the ancient harems of the Middle East.

In present day Warrington, however, the dancing is more about keeping fit and having fun than amusing themselves while waiting to be chosen by their master.

Twenty women go to classes at the Quays Community Centre, Thelwall New Road and Woolston Leisure Centre. Other classes include one at St Mary's Church Hall, Lymm.

Pauline, who is married with two children, has always been interested in various types of dancing. She got into belly dancing at evening classes three years ago. She has since done dance training, is studying for an NVQ in Arabic dancing teacher training and has given up her teaching job, with which she had become disillusioned through pressure.

Now, her classes are light years away from the school room. "Belly dancing lifts your mood. It's good socially because you are part of a group. It tones you up and keeps you supple and it's good for people with back problems. It's fun, particularly the dressing up part. It's good for stress and it can be sexy and exotic. It's lighthearted and it doesn't matter what shape you are," said Pauline.

Dancers need to concentrate on new movements and it can take up to 18 months to do the dancing well.

Not all the dancing goes on at classes. Pauline regularly organises a Haflah - an Arabic party with members of other classes - who get together to dance and enjoy a buffet.

Belly dancing is mainly a pastime where women dance for other women, as they did in harems. But it isn't always like that. It is popular in cabaret, in Turkey and Tunisia, and at parties in various parts of the Middle East. In areas where Fundamentalism has a strong hold the women have to be completely clothed.

In Warrington, it's there for everybody to enjoy.

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