Four years ago, a friend invited us to a Belly Dancing performance in Bennington, Vt. We were both blown away and surprised by what we saw.

The men I know all jeered about belly dancing as if it was dance designed to excite and arouse men.

The image is of some exotic Persian dancer trying to seduce powerful men.

It was not. It is the opposite of that. Modern belly dancers do not dance for men; they dance for themselves.

It is, in fact, a dance for strong women who were proud of themselves and their bodies and were making a solid statement of pride to the world.

I’ve only been invited to two performances, I am impressed.

Some women (and men) are shocked that some belly dancers do not have classic Hollywood postures but are proud and confident about who they are and what they look like.

Some show their bellies, tight or not.

Maria loved it and joined and has been loving every class and every dance ever since. Last year, I went to one of their performances and photographed three dancers in her group: Emily Gold, Julz Irion, and Maria.

I love this photo. I love the look on their faces, their joy at dancing with one another, their pride in themselves, their bodies, and their love of one another.

They are committed to one another, working hard and learning, and speaking out for strong women everywhere.