'Belly dance momma' leads Island women back in time

Oakland Tribune, Jan 5, 2004 by Shadi Rahimi, CORRESPONDENT

ALAMEDA -- The women of the Goddess Incarnate belly dancing troupe gracefully shake their perfumed shoulders, flashing wide smiles as they roll their bellies in unison.

With a swish of their hips, glittery silk shimmers and gold sequins rustle. They turn, sending bright fabric in all colors of the rainbow flying through the air.

Standing before the women is dance instructor Yola Hunter, 33, whom the "girls" call "belly dance momma." The dancers, ages 17 to 50, have each attended Hunter's dance classes for several years.

Enveloped in transparent maroon fabric and gold sequins, Hunter calls out words of encouragement as the 13 women rehearse for a fund raiser for an Alameda elementary school.

"Belly dancing is really timeless," she says. "It goes through waves. Interest is starting to build up again."

Hunter, who is Mexican, Swedish and English, teaches belly dance weekly at the Alameda School of Dance, 1402 Park St. It is the only such class available on the Island, she said.

Advanced dancers from Hunter's class comprise Goddess Incarnate, a name Hunter said she chose to express each woman's "goddess within."

"At first, goddess seemed too new-agey," she said. "But it really is about being a goddess. We channel our creative energy and beauty."

A dancer for 24 years and a social work supervisor at La Clinica de La Raza in Oakland, Hunter saw her first belly dancer when

she was nine during a street fair on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley.

"I was totally smitten," she said. "I told my mom, 'I want to do that.' It really was a strong call."

A trendy activity in the 1970s, belly dancing is making a comeback, Hunter said. Not long after pop singer Shakira showed off belly dancing moves in her music videos, women 14 to 20 years old began enrolling in her classes, Hunter said.

"I got several calls from people wanting to be like her," Hunter said with a giggle.

Hunter teaches the classic Egyptian cabaret style, flashier than traditional tribal belly dance, she says. Goddess Incarnate dancer Roanny Estevez says such dance makes her feel very "feminine."

"It's not about what your body looks like, it's just about being you," says Estevez, 25, whose nails and toenails are painted emerald green to match her costume.

Women up to 70 years old have participated in classes, Hunter said. Although two men have called about lessons, none have attended classes yet, she said.

Goddess Incarnate dancer Heidi Larsen, 41, said she began belly dancing after a pinched nerve caused her to quit Jazzercise.

"It really adds an element of glamour to my life that I just don't have," said Larsen, who is a doctor. "I just get to cut loose and be young and sexy."

Larsen, who wears metallic purple and iridescent harem pants she made herself, says belly dancing has "transformed her personality" from shy to outgoing.

"Once you dress in a two-piece outfit and shake your fat around on purpose in front of a bunch of strangers, there's not much else to be afraid of," said Larsen with a laugh.

Sensual belly dance is something Alameda was "thirsty for," Hunter said. But even though classes are popular, enrollment has dropped significantly since Sept. 11, 2001, she said.

While there was once more than 30 people in each class, there are now 15. Hunter attributes the drop to hard economic times.

Goddess Incarnate dancer Anna Heimbichner, who is Filipina, said she uses belly dance to share with others Arab and Middle Eastern traditions.

Heimbichner, 47, wore gold glitter on her eyelids and a skirt she fashioned from white feather boas.

"It's a wonderful way to introduce a beautiful side of that culture," she said.