A stomach for dance

Jheri St. James’ start in belly dancing 26 years ago was inauspicious.

“I got mad at my boyfriend, and I thought I would do something wild,” she said, smiling.

She began taking a class at OCC in 1981; by 1987, she was teaching.

“My first and last real love has been Middle Eastern dance,” she said.

St. James will hold her locally famous belly dance party Sunday afternoon at Legion Hall; she will offer a free introductory belly dance class before the party.

The event will feature performances from all levels of belly dancers; a variety of vendors, including costumers and a henna artist; a potluck; raffles and live music.

Dancers are asked to sign up to perform at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

She offers four levels of classes in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo, ranging from fundamentals to advanced choreography and improvisation; each set of classes includes a recital and field trip.

In addition to movement, St. James teaches about the uses of finger cymbals and veils, folkloric stylings, prop balancing and costume options.

“I have lots of students in Laguna who have been with me seven or eight years, and they all tell me how much belly dancing has improved their confidence.”

St. James described a volleyball player who took her class. When St. James suggested she wear a pink costume, the athlete blanched.

But she quickly changed her tune.

“Since then, I call her Pinky Girl, because she wears nothing but pink costumes,” she said.

“I watch them all develop their feminine selves, and it’s just so beautiful.”

St. James began wearing one toe ring for every year she has performed at the Sawdust Art Festival, but stopped at 22, her favorite number.

The tiny rings cluster on two of her toes, kept hidden in nude-colored shoes while she dances.

St. James said there are two skills that make belly dancing unique: while performing, dancers play finger cymbals and balance props like swords, baskets or candelabra on their heads.

Movements made from the hips up indicate the sky; movements from the hips down symbolize the earth.

Basic movements include circles, slides, undulations and spatial patterns.

Other names for “La Danse Orientale” include raqs el sharqi, an Arabic term for Eastern dance, and danse du ventre.

St. John teaches the cultural aspects of the thousands-year-old dance as well.

“It does open peoples’ minds a little bit to other cultures,” St. James said.

At St. James’ Wednesday night class, her students rehearsed in capri pants and coined veils, swaying their hips and clapping.

The classmates represent a range of sizes, ethnicities and occupations. Students range in age from early teens to retirees.

“I think the people who want to do this just show up,” St. James said.

“After the first class, your nerves go away.”

She and her group, JJ and the Habibis (sweethearts or beloveds), perform annually at the Sawdust Art Festival and other events.

The troupe will be at this year’s Sawdust at 6 and 7 p.m. June 29, July 13 and 27, and Aug. 10 and 24.

In her other life, St. James is an on-demand secretary and notary, and volunteers for the Commonground 191 project, which collects soils from around the world.

She was awarded the people’s choice award in the Belly Dancer of the Universe competition’s divine category, and auditioned with her troupe for Simon Cowell’s “America’s Got Talent” reality show, where they became one of the final 120 contestants out of thousands who applied before declining to participate due to the strict contract.

For more information, call St. James at (949) 494-5031 or e-mail [email protected].

IF YOU GO

WHO: JJ and the Habibis

WHAT: Belly dance party

WHEN: 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday (free class from noon to 1 p.m.)

WHERE: Legion Hall, 384 Legion St.

HOW MUCH: $5; bring a potluck dish to share

INFORMATION: (949) 494-5031

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].