Belly dance has had extreme false advertising. It really doesn’t focus on your abs but more on your thighs. It also depends on what style you use. This dance is more of a way to tone your body rather than shape it. (Witch is better I think because no matter what shape you have you will look good in no time.)

There are many styles (Egyptian + subcategories, Turkish, Tribal + subcategories, Lebanese, Greek, and Indian to name a few).

Curves do tend to be natural but because of certain muscles used in belly dance, one might gain enough muscle in the right spot or lose weight in all the right places. Hint: the move often called "Barrel Roll", WILL shape your stomach into an hour glass figure. Be shure not to become lop-sided,so spin BOTH ways.( I learned that the hard way.)

If you are definitely looking to work out your abs there are cardio weight loss DVDs that you could use. These videos will not deeply go into belly dance, meaning that you will only use the moves that will heavily influence your body.

I do encourage you deeply to take belly dance as a whole and not just something for weight loss. It will definitely change your life forever if you do.

A cardio belly dance series created by Rania is something I definitely recommend to your abs.
Titles include:
Belly dance Fitness for Weight Loss: Cardio Shimmy, Hip Hop Hip Drop, Pure Sweat, and others. (Hip Hop Hip Drop was the easiest)

Belly dance is also known as Raks Sharqi, and other titles as well.

I’m pressed for time but will leave you with a few sites with information.
http://www.shira.net.
http://www.orientaldancer.net (create an account and login for free and ask all the questions you desire and I guarantee they will be answered by professionals and amateurs alike, mostly professionals though, but that’s good.)

A few tips. Never trust information from just one source. Verify it with others. Classes are the only way to learn belly dance seriously.

Good luck!!!
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Lol <(^o^)>
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