Instructor teaching Saturday courses through
Instructor teaching Saturday courses through
Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department
Some Moses Lake residents have been spending their recent Saturdays in a unique way: Belly dancing.
Peria Duncan, whose dance name is Nizana, has been teaching the classes since last fall in Moses Lake. Her first and second quarter classes offered through the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department were filled to capacity with 20 students each and this spring quarter, the Saturday class includes 14 students.
"It's for everyone, it's for everybody," said Duncan of belly dancing, adding that even men can participate.
Duncan began belly dancing in 1989, though her interest was originally in Hawaiian or Tahitian dance. When a class wasn't available, she opted for a Middle Eastern course instead. "I was hooked," she said, naming the culture, the costumes and the cameraderie among dancers as reasons behind her intrigue.
"It's just an all-encompassing, wonderful art," she said.
Belly dancing is the Western name for a many centuries-old dance style developed in the Middle East and Arabic-influenced areas. Some Egyptian tomb paintings depict dancers in belly dancing poses. The dance was popularized during the Romantic movement in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in the United States during the 1893 World's Fair.
"It's a fun exercise, not only do you work out, but it's fun," described Duncan.
Duncan spends her time between both Moses Lake and Spokane. She moved to the Basin with her husband in 2004, but is currently working in Spokane during the week as the head of criminal justice department at ITT Tech in Spokane. She would like to eventually live in Moses Lake full time with her husband. "We love it there," she said.
In addition to teaching belly dancing classes in Moses Lake on the weekends, Duncan performs with a four-member troupe based in Spokane, Desert Silk Dance Company, which performs throughout the region. She also writes for Belly Dancer magazine.
"I'm totally emerged in it from all aspects," Duncan said.
Duncan is skilled in several types of belly dancing, including folkloric, tribal, Morroccan, fusion, American, Egyptian cabaret and more.
She continues to participate in workshops to stay current, keep learning and bring new moves and dances back to teach her students.
Duncan is adamant that anyone can belly dance, and says that age can work in a performer's favor.
"The best women dancers are in their 40s and 50s," Duncan said. "They have the experience and time to put in.
"It is women of all sizes, shapes and color and ages."
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