Berry professor keeps belly dancing

Whelan performs, teaches belly dance

Her hips don't lie.

Lara Whelan, a professor of English at Berry College, both performs and teaches belly dance. "I was always interested in dance—I was a dance minor in college," Whelan said.

At first, the costumes attracted her attention and it seemed like a less strenuous dance than jazz and ballet. "It turns out, it is very demanding technically and physically. The costumes are the least part of it," she said laughing. "But I still love it. There is something soothing about it."

Whelan took classes in New York in the early 1990s. When she came to Berry, she took classes until about 2004.

Forming Sundari dance group
Students from class put together a performance group because they wanted to keep dancing. They named their group "Sundari," which is Sanskrit for "beautiful woman," and still perform.

In 2006, Whelan began to teach her own classes at Club Fitness and the Dance Centre in downtown Rome, because she wanted to engage the community. This year, she teaches at the Georgia Highlands Department of Continuing Education.

Whelan said that she would like to offer a class at Berry but a human resources policy would require her to carry private liability insurance.

Students' experiences
Sophomore Leigh-Ann McKenzie was a student in one of Whelan's belly dancing classes last year at Club Fitness. "Coming from a dance background, I had always wanted to try it. It is a unique type of dance that I've never experienced before."

Whelan said that she enjoys being a part of a bigger picture. "I'm tapped into tradition that goes back thousands of years," she said.

This tradition began in the Middle East where the term "belly dancing" is not used. Whelan said that the term "belly dancing" is most likely a mistranslation of "beladi" which means "dance of the people."

Traditionally, belly dancing was a folk dance performed by women for women. When its popularity spread from Egypt to America, it began being performed for all types of audiences.

Two major styles of belly dance:

• American Tribal, which has more of a folk dance feel to it. Dancers wear heavier cloth and turbans. They also typically dance in a group. This is the type that Sundari dances.
• Cabaret, which is distinguished by beads and more exposed skin.

Performances a school affair
Sundari often performs with Devidasa, a band made up of mainly Berry professors who play Middle Eastern music. Jim Watkins, also a professor at Berry College, is the guitarist in the band.

Watkins says that he admires the grace and attractiveness of the dance and enjoys it when they perform together, and the audience does, too. "Sometimes the audience gets up and tries to belly dance with them," he said.

Jeffery Lidke, a professor of religion, is the drummer for Devidasa. He told Watkins that watching the dancers can help the band remember the changes in the song. "But I just get distracted so I just keep my eyes shut and play," Watkins said, smiling.

Watkins enjoys having the privilege of working with Whelan in the two different settings.

"She is a wonderful colleague. I am proud to work in the same department. But it's really fun to see the other side of her and to get to know her in that way," he said.

{L. H.}