Britain’s oldest belly dancer shows she’s still got the moves AGED 82 – and believes it’s the secret to a long, healthy life. Sprightly Tina Hobin has been teaching ancient women’s dance for half a century and says she has no plans to hang up her hand cymbals and tire belt just yet. The mother of one started belly dancing in 1973 and quickly fell in love with the performance that she has been surfing her hips and torso ever since. Tina, who is the oldest professional belly dancer in the country, says the discipline has helped thousands of women overcome various health problems over the years. She believes belly dancing has numerous mental and physical health benefits – including helping with endometriosis, safe pregnancy, infertility and back pain. Tina says it has also helped women overcome divorce and relationship breakdowns and has been teaching around the world for 49 years as an instructor. The mother of three believes you’re never too old to learn the ‘sacred dance’ and she also wants to change the ‘sexual’ perception of belly dancing. She has visited Egypt and Morocco several times to learn about the origins of the art form and says she will continue to dance until she can no longer dance. Tina, from Cleobury Mortimer, Shrops., who became the UK’s first belly dancing teacher in 1974, said: “I love it and will continue as long as I can. “I started dancing as soon as I can. walk and went to my first ballet lesson aged two and a half. and backaches.” “I have also helped women regain their self-confidence after going through bad relationships and divorces. and Cyprus.” I have also traveled across the UK, from Cornwall to Scotland teaching the art form. belly dance and exercises to complete and a year later she wrote to me saying that she had a little girl. “I have helped thousands of women overcome life and health problems. “The movements you learn through belly dancing are safe and have helped improve women’s mental health and during pregnancy have helped women carry their babies safely and deliver them trauma free. “But I don’t just help women who are expecting. “People come to me with all sorts of issues such as arthritis, MS and more commonly back pain. “Men even came to my sessions and noticed the health benefits too. “When I belly dance, it makes me feel good. I am 82 but no one believes my age. “I’ve never had Botox and I’m completely natural and people say I’m their inspiration.” Tina first discovered belly dancing when she saw an advertisement for a class run by an American instructor while living in Oxford in 1973. She taught herself how to belly dance by attending classes and reading books on the subject and the following year began her career as a belly dance teacher.During the 80’s and 90’s Tina traveled throughout the UK teaching classes to women of all ages and regularly took them to Africa to learn about history the old man When Tina first started her belly dancing career, she discovered that the dance was often sexualized and compared to stripping and prostitution. “When I first started in this profession, it was difficult because people often associated dancing with nightclubs, strippers, and prostitution. e x-husband hated me for belly dancing but the new man in my life is so loving and caring and encourages me to continue with him. “But I don’t see it that way. It is a beautiful ancient art form and I love it. “You don’t have the flexibility to do it, but it helps with coordination and helps protect the elderly person from old age. “I’m going to dance until I die, and I think if I stopped now it would kill me.” Tina now runs a belly dance class in her home town once a week. She has dozens of sparkling Bedlahs – professional belly dancing outfits – collected from trips to Egypt and Morocco and always wears a silver coin belt while dancing. During her dancing career she published a book entitled ‘Belly dancing: For health and relaxation’ and she hopes to publish three more books by the end of the year. Tina also appeared on Blue Peter, Ready Steady Cook and The Good Sex Guide during her time as a belly dancing instructor. Tina added: “When I teach belly dancing, I usually wear a simple, simple outfit that shows off my legs and accentuates the movements, and I always wear my thong. “Over the years I have collected many bright costumes and coin belts from my trips to Egypt. “I believe that any problem you have, there is always a way around it and you just have to stay positive. “Belly dancing is my love and I love that I have helped so many people over the years through dance. “I’m very proud of what I do.”
