Marisa Wright

In my 40 years' experience of dancing, I have moved from ballet through tap, contemporary, jazz, flamenco, Ceroc, ballroom and Latin to belly dance - with a sidetrack into aerobic dancing!

When I finally took up belly dancing (at 50+) I was forcibly struck by the supportive "sisterhood" that exists throughout the belly dance community - a far cry from the competitive, often bitchy atmosphere in other dance styles. Unlike other styles - where the pressure is on to look as young, slim and toned as possible - belly dance is accepting of all shapes, sizes and ages, even in performance.

As a result, I've seen some amazing transformations in women who have taken up belly dancing. It'x wonderful to watch a woman who starts a belly dance course in a shapeless T-shirt and track pants, emerge a few months later in midriff top and silky skirt. Her shape may not have changed much, but her attitude to her shape, and her self-belief, will have changed dramatically.