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Amidst a frenzy of silver coins and colorful veils is a group of belly dancers who will perform at the University of Maine’s fifth annual International Dance Festival on Saturday, Feb. 14. Leading the pack is Arletta Hayes, a fourth-year anthropology and dance student who has been belly dancing since high school.
“It’s the first kind of dance I could identify with; it’s built for a woman’s body,” Hayes said. She began her belly dancing hobby with instructional DVDs from Borders – she’s been captivated by the art ever since.
When Hayes gets onstage, she feels like a “different creature.” A powerful focus takes hold of Hayes as she performs, so much so that people have told her she appears “mean” while dancing. She prefers to call it “intense.”
Much detail goes into each of Hayes’ routines. The music comprising the background of her routines is an entrancing combination of Asian, “gypsy” and tribal fusion. Some of the tracks are chosen for their strange and creepy qualities. The selections must appeal to her personal taste and usually have heavy drum lines. Although upbeat, cabaret styles are more common for belly dancing, Hayes prefers deep, dark tracks for her performances.
Hayes fondly remembers The Basements, a group that performed at the International Dance Festival in previous years. The group was comprised of Indian and Nepalese students who practiced in basements and put together Bollywood-style dance routines. Hayes once had the chance to perform with them, playing the bride in an intricate performance.
For people who claim they can’t dance, Hayes has a few words of encouragement: “Anyone can dance. You can’t sit still and say you can’t dance. Everyone has potential.”
“Some people are less afraid to look silly. Put yourself out there,” said Janaya Millett, a graduate student who has been belly dancing for three years. As this dynamic group proves, dancing is all about breaking the rules.
This will be the second year Hayes has taken part in the International Dance Festival. She hopes audiences will enjoy the display of cultural diversity this Saturday. She believes that dance connects everyone and is as expressive emotionally as it is physically.
Dancing styles showcased this year will include hip-hop, Indian classical, African, Mongolian and Balkan, along with Hayes and her fellow belly dancers. There will be two shows – a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening show at 7. The International Dance Festival will be held at the newly refurbished Collins Center for the Arts.
