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<p>KINGSTON &#8212; The women wrapped scarves adorned with jangling beads around their hips, slipped tiny cymbals onto their fingers and, at least in their imaginations, traded a cold Pennsylvania winter for the warm breezes of a distant desert.</p><p>&#8220;It works all the muscles in your body, and the music is beautiful,&#8221; Carolyn Tavella, 72, of Plains Township said, explaining why she enjoys twice-weekly belly dancing classes at the Kingston Active Adult Center on Third Avenue. &#8220;A lot of times when you&#8217;re dancing, you get lost in the music.&#8221;</p><p>Assistant center director Jean Spindler, who teaches the class, said Mid-Eastern style dancing is a low-impact way to exercise and allows each dancer a chance to express her individuality.</p><p>&#8220;You can teach everyone the same steps,&#8221; she said, &#8220;but each woman will do them in a unique, different way.&#8221;</p><p>Indeed, on a recent Thursday afternoon, each of a dozen women seemed to put a different spin on her dance. Wearing veils and skirts that made them look like extras from television&#8217;s &#8220;I Dream of Jeannie&#8221;, some stepped side to side, a few covered their faces with their veils and one or two leaned backward and beckoned playfully toward the ceiling with their hands.</p><p>&#8220;The music tells you what to do,&#8221; Tavella said.</p><p>&#8220;It gives you the feeling of the dance,&#8221; agreed Esther Paratore, 84, of Kingston.</p><p>Husbands or other partners have been known to enjoy watching the dancers rehearse at home, some of the women noted.</p><p>&#8220;They get a kick out of it,&#8221; said Maureen Leone, of Forty Fort.</p><p>When the group recently performed at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, one member of audience got up and danced with them. The Haram Dancers of the Kingston Active Adult Center got a kick out of that.</p><p>Spindler began teaching the class in 2011, and had to take a break from it last year when a car accident gave her severe whiplash. But in recent weeks, she said, the gentle exercise has been therapeutic for her.</p><p>It can make a dancer feel very feminine, too.</p><p>&#8220;It brings out your inner sensuality, even though we&#8217;re older,&#8221; Spindler said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a wonderful activity that lets a woman follow her natural movements.&#8221;</p><p>For more information on the class, or to ask the Haram Dancers to entertain for your event, call the Kingston Center for Active Adults at 570-287-1102</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Carolyn Tavella of Plains Township, enjoys belly dancing for fun and exercise at the Kingston Center for Active Adults. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Carolyn Tavella of Plains Township, enjoys belly dancing for fun and exercise at the Kingston Center for Active Adults. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Instructor Jean Spindler said she has found the gentle, low-impact exercise of belly dancing to be therapeutic after she suffered severe whiplash in a car accident. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Instructor Jean Spindler said she has found the gentle, low-impact exercise of belly dancing to be therapeutic after she suffered severe whiplash in a car accident. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Esther Paratore clicks her little finger cymbals as she dances at the Kingston Center for Active Adults. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Esther Paratore clicks her little finger cymbals as she dances at the Kingston Center for Active Adults. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">It may be winter outdoors, but inside the Kingston Center for Active Adults, belly dancers can imagine they&#8217;re experiencing warm desert wind and sand. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing4.jpg</photo3><caption3>It may be winter outdoors, but inside the Kingston Center for Active Adults, belly dancers can imagine they&#8217;re experiencing warm desert wind and sand. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jude Lane wore a dramatic outfit and veil to belly dance class on a recent Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL012617bellydancing5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Jude Lane wore a dramatic outfit and veil to belly dance class on a recent Thursday afternoon. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>For these seniors, belly dancing is fun, low-impact exercise.</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What:</strong> Belly dancing classes</p><p><strong>When:</strong> 12:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Kingston Center for Active Adults, 335 Third Avenue, Kingston</p><p><strong>Info:</strong> 570-287-1102</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Belly Dancing at the Kingston Center for Active Adults