Diva Focus

Meet our Diva Roxann Botman

My path crossing with Hip Fusion was quite serendipitous. Regardless of how it happened, one year ago – my life changed.

My love for dance is nothing new; I just stopped dreaming about dancing and put myself in a dance school. Belly-dancing allows you to love your body as it is, through movements that are sensual and strong. It is clear to see the effect of Hip Fusion’s Belly dancing when crowds react to our performances. Besides the effect it has on an audience after dancing next to beautifully strong women - and going for it 100%, because you know the diva next to you is doing the same - you find yourself on high that cannot be bought.

But Hip Fusion is not just any belly-dance school; there is something special, intangible indescribable that keeps me coming back for more (all the way from Stellenbosch).  Crystal is an unselfish, passionate leader who goes the extra mile to make all the dancers feel special and appreciated. She has created this extraordinary place where all kinds of women come together and allow themselves to feel sexy, confident and part of something special. 

Every diva part of Hip Fusion will have the opinion that belly-dancing in Hip Fusion gives you a great sense of self-confidence. It has become extremely clear to me that women need to begin to create their own perception of beauty. It is about time that we look in the mirror and be less harsh of the person staring back, but rather grateful for the curvy, flat or voluptuous bodies we have. We do not need to “let ourselves go”, but rather let ourselves be. Not only love the body we’re in, but also respect it enough to demand that others do the same.   

I am no longer so critical of myself. I shook off the care for what others think of me. Belly-dancing with Hip Fusion has also helped improve the balance in my relationship with my girlfriend. Dancing in a group of women who accepts and welcomes all of me without any judgement has also added to my sense of self-assurance.  I have become more of a whole person since my journey with Hip Fusion started.  I am sure this path of growth and self-discovery is far from over, but I know it’s a path I do not see myself wavering from. 

For those readers who have not joined Hip Fusion yet, do not take it lightly when you see or hear the phrase “changing lives, one hip at a time”. Hip Fusion will really change your quality of life for the better. It definitely improved mine. Do not hesitate; bring out the diva shimmying inside of you

Biking and belly dancing

I have been biking for almost 17 years now and two years ago my mantra was "work hard, play hard"....during the week I wore a lab coat and swopped it on weekends for a leather jacket yet I always had this overwhelming feeling of something was missing from my my life. So two years ago my husband bought me a months lesson in belly dancing as a mothers day gift. I went to my first lesson very reluctantly ( if I think back it was not disappoint my hubby more as he went to all this trouble for my gift)- I knew nobody, had never danced before, had absolutely no co-ordination and had a huge hang up about exposing my body to other ladies.........well it took only one lesson to change my perception. The warmth of the ladies, the smiles, the continuous encouragement and above all the wonderful teachings of our principal, Crystal, who is this amazing person who truly changes a life, one hip at a time! I have not looked back since my first lesson. I am no longer that wall flower, I am more confident, I now embrace my female form, love my curves and my body more and I truly value myself.  I am still a wife, mother of one, hard core biker and a neurophysiologist but thanks to belly dancing I am so much more - WOMAN

Renecia Scheepers

If you find yourself struggling with infertility… don’t give up. 

People can be insensitive, they will put you on the spot… you will live through it whatever the outcome.

My breaking point came when I was meant to lose 10 kilo’s in 6 months… Doctors orders, and when I returned to the Infertility Clinic, not only had I not lost the 10 kilo’s required to get me onto the treatment program…  I had gained another 9kilo’s on top of that….and that was it…  I fell to the ground. This was one of the hardest realities… it hit me hard, made me numb.  I couldn’t feel anything…other than….  I remember feeling a strange vibration in my body while sitting there in that consultation room, perhaps it was the effect of me fighting back tears of sadness… tears of anger, frustration, bitterness and disappointment.  I felt so ashamed, and this is when I decided that action steps were going to be the only solution….And so began my journey of self-discovery…  (I’m sure everyone remembers)… whatever I learnt along the way, I passed on the torch.  Doing the radio work kept me going. Each week I would invite a guest to come in and educate myself and the listeners on topics relating to healing of the self, offering options for personal action steps. As I was saying… I remember being mocked and ridiculed for taking actions steps… controversial action steps… but action steps non-the-less.  When I started opening myself up to the possibility of self healing … things started happening… you might say that I started attracting into my life, people and things that would aid as a guide. 

At the end of my sharing is an excerpt of what one can expect from The Breakthrough Experience. I recommend this to everyone.I took another step and Raw Green Food was introduced to me by Sister Johanna… a guide sent by God in my opinion.  I attended The Breakthrough Experience by Dr. John Demartini a world renowned human behavioral specialist and international authority on maximizing human potential. This was the very first step to my recovery.  Here I learnt how to make the most out of my life.

Bellydance was introduced to me by a colleague whom I had not seen in a while…  She went on annual leave, and then I went on Annual leave and we missed each other, so there was that gap of almost 2 months and when I got back to work I was quit shocked to see Micky looking so good, healthy and happy.  I craved that for myself after all the years of feeling inadequate. 5 years… that’s 60 months of feeling like a broken woman.  This needed to be changed.

It was a real challenge but I promised myself that if I kept to it, that I will have grown tremendously.  I followed instruction by my Teacher, Crystal, whom I don’t even know how to thank for being such an inspiration to me and so many other woman. She knew just how to treat me, to help me crack out of the thick shell that surrounded me. I’m certain that many of the women in class know exactly what I’m talking about.  Crystal has a very special connection with all of us as a whole group but especially with each of us as individuals. Crystal’s spirit is contagious.  She carries an energy that is hard to ignore.  The way that she communicates with her eyes makes one feel truly present, often times it feels like she’s not only looking at you, but looking into the heart of you. She need not say a single word to know what mood you’re in and this I’ve noticed is when she seems to resonate and bring you out of the darkness and into the light. I believe that she’s an instrument of The Most High chosen to offer healing in certain areas of your life… but you must want to be healed.

With all my love; Renecia

Meet our Diva Wendy Loxton Paulsen

My dance story started one Women's Day event at the RAF. To be honest, I was at the LOWEST point of my life. My marriage was falling apart, my kids were struggling with the way things were at home, i was recovering from a fractured coccyx and work, .......was well work. Life was passing me by very slowly, or very fast depending from which way you were looking at it. I hated who I have become, this weak, spineless, sad assed woman that was just allowing life to be happening.

 Then on this day in October,  a few years ago, we had our Women's Day event. I was not inspired despite the fact that this day was set apart for the ladies at the Fund. Then Crystal appeared in her belly dancing outfit, confident, radiant, and doing things with her body that had me standing and watching in awe. Needless to say that when she called up volunteers to come and dance I was one of the First Ladies to go up to the front. My soul started vibrating and singing a song that has been long forgotten within me. I wanted more. From that moment I realized I have forgotten who I am and what my purpose on this earth was for it was for living life. That turned out to be a great womans day and the start of my new life as because of the interest Crystal started teaching classes at our offices and because once a week was not enough i joined the classes in Parow at that time and the rest is history.  All I can say, I found myself, I found that long lost and forgotten Wendy that I have allowed to disappear into the background of stuff happening in life. Through dancing I grew back my spine, but most importantly. I learned to love myself. I gained back my lost confidence, I was better able to love my children, and others, because love to others can only be freely given if you have learned how to truly appreciate and love yourself.

 I tried leaving tried for a short while not to dance, I cannot, it is physically, mentally and emotionally impossible once you have started to stop. Your soul goes quiet and it starts dying slowly and painfully, so I cannot, will not stop dancing, and no matter how bad my days has been or how tired I am or just not in the mood for it, once I am there and the music plays through my soul.....well the rest is history. Sweat on the dance floor, and contentment, excitement, self love. Those are the greatest benefits of finding something you love doing, and keep on doing it despite what others tell you and yes I travel from kraaifontein every week sometimes twice a week but for the love of dance and my divas

 It is difficult to sometimes explain to others what it is about belly dancing that has that effect on women, I come to class and I sometimes just look at the faces of the Divas, and I can see a reflection of myself there. No matter who we are outside of those class walls, when we are there together we are one, we can feel it, taste it, dance it. It is something that runs through all of us, it is a feeling of community. We do it for the love of dance.

 I am a Diva, woman, dancer FIRST till the day I die, then I can be mother, wife, partner, RAF employee something we as women must never ever loose is the sense of self first.

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to dance. I’ve always admired the dancers and the way they could just move their bodies in all directions. When I got a bit older I wanted to learn to jazz, but that required a partner who also had the same interest. So no luck there.  I then tried Hip Hop when I was in my early 30’s, but eish that was way too fast and too many moves to remember for my slow brain.  I then joined the Company I’m currently working for and one the ladies started doing belly dance. This was about 8yrs ago.  I went to watch a few of their  shows and totally fell inlove with the dance.  After every show I went to I used to say that I want to do that.  Then one day at one their shows I spotted a dancer whom I couldn’t keep my eyes off.  The way she executed all her moves left me in awe…….  Not too long after that show I started arranging my sister-in-law’s kitchen tea and I was speaking to my ex and saying I wonder if that lady dances for kitchen teas.  He then said that a friend of his wife teaches bellydancing and he’s almost sure she dances for that same school.  He then called his friend and low and behold it was the same woman, Crystal Simpson, that I had been watching in awe.  Needless to say she came to do the gig for us and after that day my cousin and I decided we are joining up with her class. That was 4yrs ago.  The class that we had joined up with was dancing for about 3months already, but we managed to pick up the moves quickly enough with Crystals help. Then we had our first show and that was Awesome. It was my first time on stage since primary school. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So with us needing to have costumes and me battling to find something  I liked, I decided to start making my own.  Who would have thought that I’d started my own little business making costumes.  It started with just  a little clip-on piece that I showed to Crystal and with the response i got from her that day I thought, wow I can do this.  I then started making and selling them.  And it’s just been growing and growing.  I’ve advanced to making Bra and Belt Sets and recently Toe-to Ankle and Finger bracelets. Who knows what would be next…  I Totally enjoy the beading.  It relaxes me and I can do it while watching ‘Greys Anatomy’.

 Moving back to the dancing part………..  Then, to cut a long story short, Crystal opened up her own school, Hip Fusion and there was no way that I wasn’t going to be a part of her school.  After all she was the reason I actually started dancing. And I thought I want to dance just like her when in big……  im still dreaming though…lol.  And that’s when the Fabulous journey with Hip Fusion started. Going to class every week had become a MUST. Crystal has really created a space where we can all just be ourselves. Have laughs together. Act crazy. A space which helps us forget all the problems and trouble that we have.  I can honestly say when im having a down day, from the time I put my foot into class till the time I leave there, my troubles are all forgotten.  And the problems even feel lighter by the time im driving back home.  I went through a rough patch about a year and half ago. And I don’t think I would have gotten through it without the Diva’s and Crystals support.  Just going to class and dancing and laughing made it sooooo much easier to get through all the hurt and pain I was feeling. You ladies have no idea how much I appreciate you being in my life and being that support group i/we can go to and just forget all our worries. U are my Crazy Lovely diva BFF.

And Crystal, the reason I come back week after week to YOUR classes is because of you.  I have and always will admire the way you dance and teach.  There is still so much for us to learn from you and you are so willing to teach us. I wasn’t very comfortable doing tribal a year ago, but with your encouragement and drilling…………sharper hips ladies…… …faster shimmy ……oh and my all time favourite…. BEND THOSE KNEES…..  I’ve become more comfortable and confident with my moves.  I feel I can do it now.   And you’ve made that possible for me/us.

You have a heart of Gold that not many ppl get to see because you do things so subtly and without expecting anything in return.  You’ve created opportunities for all of US. Gosh we are dancing in one of the Biggest events in CT on the 24th Mar - CT Carnival.  You made that possible because you have taught us and drilled us and made sure that we are Great dancers.

Natalie Williams

Diva, Natalie, started dancing with me in 2008.  She is not just a passionate dancer but have also been on an amazing journey through dance.....  This is what I have achieved by being introduced to Belly Dancing by you.  I have a new found love of my body and myself.  I always considered myself a strong person but was never really happy.  Belly dancing introduced me to the feminine side of me, a place that under all the fat rolls and lumps i never thought existed.  I love the dance but through the dance I achieved what I always wanted.  A nice body to go with this personality that I have.  It’s taken me 8 months of following a good nutritional plan and the most fun form of exercise. Yes the eating plan helps but it’s the exercise that really works the body.  Belly dancing is also my stress release and it has given me a new found confidence which makes facing life’s obstacles easier.  I realized that a positive attitude and love of myself is such a power tool. I live by two quotes:  “Nothing tastes as good as slim feels” and “The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you”. The one thing that I can truly commend Hip Fusion on is that its not just a belly dance school.   It truly lives up to its name of community in dance.  The ladies are sisters.  The friendships are lifetime partnerships.  Its not just having fun and being amazed at what you have achieved, discovering muscles you never knew you had.  Its about just going to share and enjoy the other ladies company.  Its so much fun. And I pray that this community of belly dance divas only grows in strength, numbers, excitement, spirit and fun. So wanted share my before and after pics with you. You are an inspiration.

Luv Natalie

I’ve always loved belly dancing. This graceful, exotic, sensual art of dance has always intrigued and fascinated me.  My problem was that I could not commit to it. The reasons not to start always outweighed the ones to start.

The beginning of 2012, I decided enough was enough; I needed to make “me” a priority. I was tired of making an entire list of New Year’s Resolutions, and never sticking to them, so I decided to make just one.  I planned to say yes to as many things as possible.  And I’m very proud to say, that I’m still sticking with this resolution.

I started in March 2012, and boy was that the right or wrong time to join, depending on how you looked at it. All I’m going to say is Cape Town Carnival 2012. Yip, I was thrown in at the deep end!  I had a two week crash course in belly dancing. It was an absolute pleasure to experience, and an honour to share “the road” with all the amazing Divas.

Belly-dancing has definitely changed my life. It still amazes me how this dance can transform you as an individual. I’ve become more aware of my sensuality, my body, and abilities. My confidence in myself has increased tremendously. Not only am I a working, mother, and wife, but I am a woman, gorgeous, sensual, sexy, and divalicious. We all have different facets to our lives, and different things that complete us and make us happy and whole. Dancing is one of them for me; it makes me happy and brings me joy. Dancing with Hip Fusion adds to the puzzle of my life.

Hip Fusion is not only a dance school. In this haven that Crystal has created, we are not judged by our physical appearance, our background, where we live, our education, our job title, or our salary. We are a group of amazing woman, sharing a vision. We share a bond of love, friendship, sisterhood and joy for dance. This is why I come back week after week.  It’s intoxicating. We get together once or twice or sometimes thrice a week, if our families allow it, and for that perfect hour, you can forget about all the stress in the world, deadlines, meetings, dirty dishes, and laundry, in my case renovationsJ, and become “all woman” again. It revitalises my mind, body and soul. “For the Love of Dance” is truly what this special dance school symbolises. We definitely change lives one hip at a time.

Crystal, our instructor is truly an amazing soul.  She is everything we could ask for in an instructor, a friend, confidant and therapist at times. She is patient, kind, loving, amazing, super-talented, unique, selfless, and extremely generous with her time, and resources. Her energy and enthusiasm for life and dance is contagious.

I want to thank Hip Fusion. I’ve have experience many “firsts” with the Divas, and am very thankful to each one of them, for all their support and guidance. Thank you for an amazing, memorable and life changing 2012 and 2013. Here’s to many more eventful years to come.

Sam Smith (Wife and Working Mother of 2): “I decided on belly-dancing as my form of exercise, but what I have since discovered is a sensuality within myself; a connection with this art form that allows freedom & expression through music & dance...I have come out of my shell somewhat (having been shy & introverted) and am blessed to have joined a school of women who share their lives, not just their time. I also look forward to catching up with the other ladies just as much as I look forward to learning new techniques :-)”

Rashidah (Wife, working Mother of 2): “Since i started classes i found that i am much more confident as i was very conscience about my somewhat overweight body but Hip Fusion changed all that. Now i am proud of my body i feel sensual and sexy feelings i thought i lost.  Joining the school made me feel part of a family and i love it!

Megan Richards (full time student): I thoroughly enjoy classes at Hip Fusion, it's my "me time" where there are no distractions. Through dance, I have learned to embrace my body and my confidence has increased so much. Something magical happens in class, it transpires into my body and I am able to move and express who I am. What I enjoy most about Hip Fusion is the group of women. It is refreshing to know that there are still women are support each other in dance and other areas of our lives. And of course, our instructor Crystal, always encourages us to push a little harder. Her passion for dance created Hip Fusion, a school like NO other!

Roxanne (Honor student and HR Manager): Dancing with Hip Fusion has helped me realise that women need to take ownership of their bodies and express themselves in a way that is for themselves and their sisters. It is a place I can go to where I can be different and still belong.