Belly Dancing Just What Doctor Ordered

Shawnda Doll’s silly skirt swished bewitchingly each time her hips dipped and rose in a graceful camel walk.

Mesmerizing Middle Eastern music pushed her bare feet forward one dainty step at a time while her outstretched arms floated like limber branches on water.

“Before the show, I was nearly crying,” she says, as a video of a recent belly dance recital moves from her performance to the next dancer.

The five women watching the tape with her applaud and cheer even though they’ve seen it a dozen times.

“Her camel walk is awesome,” one says, and they all shower Shawnda with approving smiles.

The women are Shawnda’s co-workers in Dr. John Strimas’ allergy and immunology office in Coeur d’Alene.

All six began belly dancing together this year and reaped benefits far beyond their expectations.

“It opened me up, gave me selfconfidence,” says Cindy Orr, an artist who also cleans the medical office.

“It was very liberating,” says Bonnie Root, the office manager.

“It brought us closer,” office assistant Shawnda says, and everyone nods in agreement. They decided collectively last fall to get into better shape. Cindy had worked at the office a month. Some had worked together for years. They were friendly co-workers, but the friendships rarely extended past working hours.

Aerobics and other structured exercise didn’t fit their definition of fun. Then, nurse Dianna Noziska mentioned that she had belly danced when she was younger.

“Belly dancing has always been my fantasy,” says Linda Blackstone, the office’s shy medical transcriptionist.

Everyone but Shawnda clamored for Dianna to teach them to belly dance. At 29, Shawnda’s the youngest of the group and admittedly bashful.

“I was peer-pressured into it,” she says, laughing. “I did it because they all did it. When we’re working, we’re so busy that there’s not time to socialize.”

Dianna knows Arabic and Egyptian dancing that’s 20,000 years old. She’s a purist, sticking to the ancient folk dances that prepare the body, spirit and mind for childbirth.

“A lot of people think belly dancing is trashy. They raise their eyebrows when they hear that’s what you do,” she says. “But it’s sensual, very feminine.”

The women began dancing every Tuesday after work. Dianna taught them to warm up and stretch and work isolated body parts. Muscle soreness didn’t deter anyone.

“It really works the muscles, hips, stomach, arms, shoulders,” Cindy says.

Each dancer specialized in a different move. Bonnie shimmies. Shawnda camel walks. Supple Cindy bends her back until her blonde hair brushes the floor. Nurse Sammie Mussatto flaps her veils like a butterfly in flight. Linda shakes with abandon.

Dianna stressed controlled movement. It was harder than it looked.

“I had to wear a book on my head because I was too bouncy,” Sammie says. “I’ve had ballet and jazz. I wanted to jazz it up.”

“I still can’t do belly rolls,” Cindy says.

The lessons quickly became the highlight of everyone’s week.

“Tuesday mornings we all come to work excited,” Bonnie says, then sings, “We’re dancing tonight.”

By spring, the women had decided to give a private recital. They needed a goal - and a reason to dress up in belly dancing’s flowing fabrics.

They sewed harem pants, skirts and veils, strung gold chains through their hair and taped jewels on their navels. Each loosely choreographed her own dance and chose a stage name - Fatima, Juno, Athena, Aphrodite, Serene.

The guest list included approved family and friends only. The show was so satisfying that the women scheduled a second for next month.

“We need to keep improving,” Bonnie says.

Even more, they don’t want to give it up. Belly dancing improved their fitness, attitudes and friendships.

“I hear from a lot of patients that this is the only office that laughs so much,” Dianna says. “We’re more like a sisterhood.”

Dr. Strimas admits he had reservations about his staff’s belly dancing at first. Now, he’s a fan.

“They really take it seriously and look forward to it,” he says. “It’s made a difference in the office. There’s more camaraderie, teamwork, efficiency. How many offices do something like this together?”