UTPB professor offers bellydancing class Ruth CampbellMidland Reporter-Telegram 
ODESSA -- In addition to petroleum technology, Sue Schrader is offering something a little more exotic this fall -- a bellydancing class.
Schrader, an assistant professor at University of Texas of the Permian Basin, has been bellydancing for 25 years. Over the course of her college teaching career, she's imparted the hip-swiveling art everywhere she's been. She conducts the free class on Fridays to help people unwind after a long week.
On a recent Friday, there were two pupils -- one professor and one student. | Advertisement
<a href='http://www.myopenforum.com/adserver/adclick.php?n=a2fc5edf' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.myopenforum.com/adserver/adview.php?clientid=254&n=a2fc5edf' border='0' alt=''></a> <A href="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/redirect.cfm?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2288" ><img border=0 alt="Click Here!" src="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2288&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=410&VERT=13202&NAREA=410&barnd=4845"></a> |
A native of Egypt who grew up in Greece, associate professor of sociology Joanna Hadjicostandi has bellydanced before and has enjoyed the class so far. She noted that even a 20-minute workout "goes a long way." "It's very good exercise. There are times I just put music on and dance by myself. I love the music. It comes from my culture," she said. UTPB student Sobeida Montoya has always liked bellydancing, but found there's more to it than meets the eye. "Being in the class, I learned it's harder than it looks. There are a lot of muscles in there you have to use that I didn't know about," Montoya said. Schrader, 40, was first inspired to learn the Middle Eastern dance technique after seeing two dancers perform at an arts festival in New Mexico. "I like the style of the movement, the grace, the costumes and the music, so those were all things that got me started," Schrader said. A native of Elizabeth, N.J., Schrader has spent the last 25 years in New Mexico. She earned her bachelor's degree in math from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, her master's in the same subject from University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and her doctorate in petroleum engineering from New Mexico Tech. When not in class, Schrader tries to practice bellydancing at home -- even if it's just for 10 minutes. "One of the things I try to show people is how they can fit a little practice in here and there and they don't need to block out part of their day," she said. "It's probably the most accessible form of dance for people of any size, shape, age or fitness level. You don't have to have dance experience. It's a safe, fun and very effective form of exercise." ------ The class is held Fridays at 4 p.m. at the UTPB gym. |
