Belly dancing 'better than therapy,'participant says

By James R. Campbell

Herald-Tribune

Belly dancing may be like most other arts in that spectators don't need a complete understanding to enjoy it.

Judging from the applause, a large downtown crowd appreciated seeing Nevada belly dancers Shawn and Marlene Hiestand and Christen Diehl dance to the lively song "Supernova" during the Bushwhacker Days Local Legends Show June 9.

Practicing twice weekly with Fort Scott instructor Diane Thompson, the women worked for over a year to gain enough confidence to perform in public. "We work 100 percent as a team," said Shawn Hiestand, who owns Hairy Frog Grafix in Nevada.

"We learn groups of moves and take turns being the cue dancer, who designates what the next move is with head or arm head movements. The cue dancer is the one out front that the others can see. It's better than therapy because we can't think of anything but the dance.

"It's an intense thought process. I don't think most people have a clue what we're doing. They just see the flying skirts and twirling, but we get a good response."

Marlene Hiestand, Shawn's mom, works at Nevada Insurance Agency and Diehl is a Nevada High School French teacher who left for France after the show.

They do American Tribal Style Belly Dance, created by Carolena Nericcio of the Fat Chance Belly Dance Studio in San Francisco -- a blend of Spanish, Egyptian and Indian dancing done to exciting music.

Along with two novices, the Nevadans work 1 1/2 to two hours each Sunday and Wednesday in Thompson's home studio. Shawn Hiestand said it's good exercise, but they don't do enough to derive a lot of conditioning. The benefits are more psychological and emotional.

"Mom and I sew, so it was the perfect combination for us to make our costumes," she said. "Christen bought some pieces in stores and bought the rest from Diane, who makes costumes. We dance barefoot except on concrete, where we use ballet slippers or sandals.

"We're in the advanced class, but we're still a student troupe. Diane says it takes three years to be part of a professional troupe. We love it. We're super-excited every time we go."