Belly dancing has provided more flexibility and reduces chances of injury, according to 83-year old Sandy Warren. Warren is seen at right demonstrating some hand movements Feb. 21 in the dance studio at End of the Rainbow herb shop on Farmington Falls Road in Farmington. Also seen is instructor Erynn Hiscock. They are Farmington residents. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

FARMINGTON — Sandy Warren has been taking belly dancing classes for 10 months and is seeing benefits in numerous ways.

“I am affiliated with the [End of the Rainbow] herb shop and [Erynn Hiscock] started classes here,” Warren said during an interview Feb. 21 with The Franklin Journal. “I decided to try it.

“It loosens up my body so I am less likely to get injured. I use some of the moves during the day just to loosen me up.”

Warren is 83 years old, claims she is not Hiscock’s star student. “You sure are!” Hiscock responded.

Sandy Warren at right, an 83-year old Farmington resident completes belly dancing arm movements with instructor Eryyn Hiscock, also of Farmington Feb. 21 at the dance studio at End of the Rainbow on Farmington Falls Road in Farmington. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

A prior shoulder injury keeps her arms from working the same so some moves, like the flag aren’t possible, Warren said. “By the time we get to the flag I am too tired anyway,” she quipped. “The flags are beautiful, colorful, silk, provide a real huge flourish.”

Warren shared an unusual circumstance that happened shortly after she started belly dancing. “My left hip was kind of locked up,” she said. “I was walking with some people and I accidentally stepped off the curb. I wasn’t prepared for it. It really jerked my left hip. It hurt when I did it. I think if I hadn’t been doing belly dancing I would have been too stiff and probably would have ripped something.”

Hiscock holds Well Belly Dance classes Tuesday and Thursday starting at 5 p.m. Warren goes to one, sometimes both. “Classes last about an hour,” Warren said. “We socialize so much that we never leave by six.”

A belly dancing student offers a women’s drum circle program after class on Thursday.

Most enjoyed by Warren are the flexibility belly dancing promotes and the sociability. “It’s all women, but men really need it,” she stated. “A men’s belly dancing group, all us women would want to come and watch. It is beautiful when Erynn does it.”

This is Hiscock’s sixth year belly dancing. She went to a show in Boston, saw belly dancing to live music. “After I saw [the dancer] dance, I was determined to learn how to do exactly what she was doing,” Hiscock said. She started taking classes across the United States, obtained certifications in fluid movement, dance therapeutics and anatomy for dancers. The latter is like physical therapy for dancers, she noted.

“I wanted to bring belly dancing to my community so other women could dance and enjoy it just as much as I do,” Hiscock added. “A huge reason why I love dance so much is because it helps loosen up my body, areas where I am tight so everything stays fluid and I am not injuring myself.”

Dancing has helped Warren move more. “It’s really handy when I am doing dishes,” she noted. “I used to get really tired. So if I think I am getting tired, now I just do some of those steps while I am doing dishes and I feel good.”

Hiscock grew up in Wilton, now lives in Farmington.

“Belly dancing is right at the top of the list of exercises for women and how to keep moving,” she said. “As Sandy said, it’s great. The sociable aspect of it, as well as the flexibility, exercise, overall health.”

Class size ranges from three to 12 with women of all ages. Some students bring their daughters, which is a nice aspect, Hiscock noted. “I say, ‘We wiggle and giggle,'” she added.

“You don’t wiggle, you flow like honey,” Warren responded. “I am the oldest one [in the class] so all those young women are very nice to me.”

For more information on classes email erynndances207@gmail.com or call 207-491-9544.