"When I first started Bellydancing, I knew this was going to be for me more or less straight away! I just had that feeling. One of my fellow students said that she had the idea that this was going to ‘go places’ for her. She’s been a student for more than two years now, and performs regularly, with her classmates, in her gorgeous costume.

I started in April 2005. I was stones overweight, having never lost the weight I gained when pregnant, and sorely needing new experiences and a bit of a lift. I had been a full-time mum for a long time with children who are now beginning to get a bit more independent.

I remember my first class very well – it wasn’t that long ago! We were all ages and shapes and sizes, but, of course, I had never even tried belly dancing before, and felt a bit of an idiot compared to these other women who made it look so easy! But I made myself go back the following week. It was just so different!

There is a strong social side to belly dancing: I was welcomed into such a friendly group of very differing women; and was made to feel part of the group. Belly dancing classes bring all sorts of people together.

There is the costume element, which I fully enjoy and the music, which I love, and for the first time in my life, there was an opportunity for me to express my feminine self – a self which I had almost completely forgotten about, or didn’t realise I ever had! This came as quite a revelation. In the world of work, you have to keep yourself buttoned either up or down, generally speaking. So, to put on my first coin belt and give it a good noisy shake was quite an experience! Bellydancing can be very liberating!

It was also fascinating to look round the class and see other women, who came in wearing jeans and t-shirts, transform themselves into these glorious Goddesses as soon as they donned their coin belts and started practising their figure-of-eights!

After a few weeks, I was completely hooked, and was looking for ways to expand my knowledge of this wonderful dance form and get more out of my belly dancing. I went onto the Internet to see if I could join an association, but there just wasn’t the right one for me, in my area.

By this time, September 2005, my youngest child had started at Nursery School, and after years of looking after children, I wanted to get out there and get a job! That’s when I hit on the idea of forming an association or club.

I’m not setting up in competition with other associations; I feel I’m providing a different service to reflect the diverse nature of the people who populate our bellydance classes.

Take a look at my brand new blog.

So here it is: The Bellydance Club; it’s OUR club. Remember to let me know how I could improve it, and remember to join in with articles about your own experiences! I’d love to hear them.

Join up and join in - be part of the family!"

Annette McCann