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Madrina Empowered By Belly Dancing

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

Updated: 11/21/2007 10:33 pm

TAMPA - Hollie Wolf considers the Middle Eastern art of belly dancing fun and empowering. Using the stage name Madrina, she has demonstrated her moves for audiences across the United States and in Egypt.

Wolf, 35, lives in Central Tampa and teaches belly dancing at Jackie's Jammin Dance Studio, 3040 W. Cypress St., and at the International Bazaar, 1600 E. Eighth Ave.

When did you start dancing?

I've always been interested in dance. Growing up in Illinois, I was really interested in ballet. I took ballet classes, jazz class and acrobatics. I started belly dancing when my husband Jonathan and I moved to Key West. I was 20 years old.

Describe your first belly dancing class.

When I went into the class, I just fell in love with it. It was something very different. I liked how I could relate to the music through my dancing. It was a whole new way of moving.

So I kept going. I studied with my teacher in Key West for three years. We would go to Miami for weekend seminars. I studied with teachers there also.

I enjoyed learning about the culture of the dance. In the Middle East, people celebrate everything with dance.

When did you decide to make dancing a career?

When we moved to Tampa six or seven years ago I started teaching, and I enjoyed it so much I left my other job. I decided to pursue my dancing full time. I started performing at restaurants and teaching more classes. I started teaching classes at gyms like Shapes. I started teaching in South Tampa last year.

When did you start competing?

I started in competitions in 2003. My first competition was Medina in St. Louis. I was the first runner-up. I've been in competitions in Texas and California. I won the Sultanate Al Raks Sharki in Orlando in 2005. I also won the Queen Raks Sharki in Dallas. I won a trip to perform at a festival in Egypt.

What was that experience like?

It meant a lot to me being there, to be in the culture and have that experience.

What do you teach your students?

I teach beginning, intermediate and advanced classes. I start teaching the basics, the fundamentals. I teach more Egyptian-style dance. I teach students how to feel and understand the music. The music is emotive and expressive.

Has dancing changed you?

Dancing has made me a better person. It makes me more in tune with my body and myself. I feel confident in my body.

Were you self-conscious the first time you wore a belly-dancing costume?

No. A dancer knows when she's ready to dance, and the confidence is just there. The costume is part of what's great about the dance. You get to wear beautiful costumes.

Does belly dancing empower women?

Yes. I believe all women have that confidence in them. So many women feel they have to have a certain body to dance, and that's not true. In fact, the more curvy, the better for the movement.

My classes are for all ages and sizes.

What is the age range of the women in your classes?

I have women ages 16 to 75.

When you aren't teaching, what do you do?

I love the outdoors. My husband and I do things outdoors, like canoeing on the rivers. Really, 90 percent of my life is dance-related. I'm always traveling and performing.

What does your future hold?

I want to continue spreading awareness about Middle Eastern dance and culture.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Belly dancing classes

WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at Jackie's Jammin Dance Studio; noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the International Bazaar
COST: $15 a class; $82.50 for a six-week course

CONTACT: Call Hollie Wolf at (813) 340-5101

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at srothwell@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-4845.

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