Shake It Up at the Bronxville Adult School

By Irena Choi Stern

Sep. 23, 2015:  Hips will be swaying, torsos undulating, and bodies quaking in the North Playroom of The Bronxville School beginning September 28, as more than a dozen women gather to learn belly dancing from Bina Bora, a professional dancer who teaches Middle Eastern dance at SUNY Purchase College. The Bronxville Adult School has offered a course in belly dancing, one of many new classes this fall. 

"It opens up a new way of moving," Bora said. "It helps you get fit in a fun way. With this type of dance, you can feel free to express yourself and celebrate how your body moves." 

A trip to Turkey 15 years ago ignited an interest in belly dancing, and Joan Cela, a psychoanalyst and clinical social worker, has been taking classes ever since. When she moved to Bronxville a few months ago, Cela suggested it to Priscilla Toomey, a member of the Bronxville Adult School board. 

"The music is gorgeous and belly dancing exercises the whole body from your pinky down to your toe," Cela said. "It's the most wonderful form of exercise and therapy." 

Although it is her first time teaching in Bronxville, Bora has taught at the Mamaroneck Adult School. She expects to start the seven-week class "just getting people comfortable moving." Beginning with basic posture and form, Bora will lead the class through different hip movements, including hip slides and travel steps. Each woman will wear a coin scarf around her hip. 

"Once you have those, it helps with some of the shimmies," Bora said.  

Bina, the mother of two, has studied all forms of dancing, including classical Indian and Western dance. She loves belly dancing because "there is so much freedom in it." She appreciates that it celebrates all body types, from petite to zaftig. 

Charlotte Dudek, a caterer and former storeowner of Over the Moon, is looking forward to taking the course.  

"I've done it before, and it's super fun," Dudek said. "It's a hard-core low-impact workout, and you just sweat and have a great time." 

To find out more about the Bronxville Adult School fall course offerings and to register, go to https://www.bronxvilleadultschool.org or contact the office at 914-793-4435 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Pictured here:  Belly dancing class taught by Bina Bora.

Photo courtesy Irena Choi Stern