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J
apan has been a closed society until recently. Now, Japanese are very interested in other cultures. Food, music and dance from other countries are gaining popularity fast, but nothing so fast as belly dancing.
Belly dancing, as it's known today, is one of the oldest dances still practiced. Originally started in the Middle East, it spread throughout Spain, India and the rest of Europe with each culture adding something different and adding their own unique style.
For example, in Spain, the Gypsies added some moves and called it Zambra which was the forerunner of a very famous dance known as Flamenco. Belly dancing has been popular in the U.S. for the past few years and many dancers there do a style called Tribal Fusion.
And now Japan is forming its own style too.
Lisa Li, owner of The Lisa School in Osaka, and her partner Maya Amamiya make up the popular Sahara Queens dance group. They teach at Li’s school and also do many shows all over Japan.
Li recently returned from a trip to New York City to take classes from the famous belly and Zambra dancer and teacher Reyna Alcala.
“I always want to learn more,” Li said. “Everyone has a different style and I can use what I learn from them in my dance.”
Li has had several teachers over the years. Her interest in dance started at a young age when she lived in China. “I studied traditional Chinese dance. One style is very similar to belly dance. Belly dance is also called Oriental Dance maybe because of the style in China. I enjoy teaching very much.”
Li and Amamiya have been featured in several Japanese magazines and television shows. There are currently about 150 students learning belly dance at Li’s school. Twice a year, she rents a club and has the teachers and students perform for family and friends.
There also is a workshop and belly dance festival in October called Sahara Festival which was quite successful last year. She said more than 300 spectators and 100 dancers from several schools in Japan as well as vendors participated.
“It was great! We also had other styles of dance like Salsa and Traditional Chinese. But the act that got the most response was by bELyVIS! bELyVIS! (notice the capital letters spell “Elvis”), who is the only Elvis-impersonating belly dancer in the world, and the only male dancer in Japan that she knows of.
“He is very funny. He is not a serious dancer, but a comedian. He has many fans here.
bELyVIS!, also known as Mark Tovsen, has been in show business since he was young. A former stunt man and movie actor, he enjoys seeing the crowd laugh.
“I’ve always been partial to humor,” Tovsen said. “I meet a lot of great people, and of course a lot of beautiful women. If I would have known that dressing up like Elvis and shimmying my hips would have allowed me to do that, I would have done this a lot sooner.”
Tovsen has taken a few lessons with Li but admits most is self taught.
“There are actually some other male dancers who are quite incredible. Belly dancing was originally done by men,” he added.
Li is currently setting up shows in the Kansai area featuring the Sahara Queens and bELyVIS! as well as her students.
“People love to perform. I try to give my students an extra lesson by having them in front of an audience. You can’t teach them how to handle being nervous!” she said.
If you are interested in learning more about Li’s many dance and language classes call 06-6377-0628 or 080-5707-8998 or go to her website www.axisweb.co.jp/lisa/ for more information. 
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