Today we’d like to introduce you to Portia Lange.
Hi Portia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Greetings, I’m Portia, a.k.a. “Miss P!” I’ve been teaching people how to belly dance for fun and fitness for 20 years! Yup, I chose belly dancing as an actual career!
From a small-town Jersey girl to a Miami-based international Belly Dance star, mompreneur, childhood cancer advocate, wife, and now social media creator, I am a Jill of all trades!
Here’s a little more about my journey…
I began teaching group exercise while a student at the University of Florida. At 23, I experienced my first Belly Dance class and found my ultimate passion! In 2005, I founded Belly Motions, Inc. a Belly Dance Studio in Miami, Florida, that would enable me to soar as an entrepreneur, performer, and fitness professional.
Belly Motions became one of the most successful Belly Dance studios in the United States. For 15 years, the company offered World Dance classes at its on-site Miami studio location, booked performers for events, produced large-scale theater shows and launched the MIAMI RAKS FEST, a Middle Eastern Dance festival.
After the Covid-19 Pandemic, I took Belly Motions online and restructured the company to adapt to the new world as well as allow me to serve our clients and spend quality time with my family. Today, Belly Motions looks a bit different but offers professional live stream and on-demand classes to students around the globe, on-site group classes at Jill Mallory Dance Studio by the Falls Mall as well as private and semi-private lessons.
As a professional dancer and entrepreneur, I hold the First-Place title in the Nile Group Oriental Belly Dance Competition (2008 Cairo, Egypt), have been honored as Miami Herald’s Top 20Under40 Emerging Business Leaders of South Florida (2011), and have appeared on several covers of ELLE Oriental (2012), the number one fashion magazine in the world. I have been featured on local and national networks such as TLC, HGTV, Telemundo, and Univision promoting the art and benefits of belly dancing.
Over the years, I pioneered a teaching methodology combining authentic Belly Dance movements with fitness principles to create a fun, safe, and effective dance-fitness format designed to teach anyone how to Belly Dance. I now share this method in my Belly Dance Fitness Instructor Training Program, which is the only Belly Dance Fitness Course in the United States approved by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).
Today, I continue to teach bringing movement, joy, and laughs to those who join me! I am happily married to Arturo and the proud mother to Leo, 7 years old, and Meliha, 6 years old.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening a business at 25 years old was no easy feat. I wasn’t equipped with a business degree or a lick of business knowledge, so I learned along they way, “baptism by fire” for sure! Ultimately, my passion and joy for teaching overcame my lack of business savvy. The business grew and grew and grew!
In 2012, I had to opportunity to participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program designed to educate, empower and enable small business to grow through education and the development of a growth plan. I finally gained my “business degree” cap, if you will!
In 2015, at the age of 36, I became a mother. While the most magical experience of my life, motherhood also posed some challenges. Taking care of my family often competed with taking care of my business. I was torn. There were days I was a good mom, and then days I was a good business owner. It was exhausting emotionally and physically but I did it and continue to do it!
And then there was the pandemic, oh, that damn pandemic. That was a tough one. We pivoted, went online, and launched Belly Motions Livestream classes which kept the business viable and still meeting the needs of students. After several months of not being able to operate in person, we decided to close our onsite location with hopes of re-opening post-pandemic. But alas, that was not my largest struggle yet to come…
In 2021, my then 5-year-old son Leo was diagnosed with Lymphoma, a blood cancer. He battled, was declared in remission, and then relapsed the very same year. It was a grueling journey living in the hospital, enduring the effects of high-dose chemotherapy, and becoming part of the “pediatric cancer club.” While heartbreaking, there were some beautiful relationships and experiences that developed for our family. Today, we on fire to fight for more awareness and research for pediatric cancer.
And so here we are, at the end of 2022, and I can honestly (and finally) say I’m back. I’ve overcome the anxiety, stress, and self-doubt that came with the past 3 years, and I’m ready to SHIMMY, SHAKE AND ROLL!!!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My job (and entire gaol in life!) is to empower women through belly dance and to make a living doing so.
My ability to connect with people on a personal level and my unique teaching method make learning to belly dance more than just a dance class. It becomes an empowering experience, almost like dance therapy, and the student transforms. It’s super rewarding to witness this process and earn a living at the same time.
I pride myself on creating a professional, safe and enjoyable experience, so whether you’re looking for a fun way to exercise, start something new or get your “mojo” back, belly dancing can be a great way to do just that! …and P.S. you are NOT too fat, old, jiggly or uncoordinated to start belly dancing. I got you!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My ability to connect with and make people feel comfortable, combined with the Belly Motions teaching method and the magic of belly dance create the perfect environment for an amazing client experience.
Pricing:
- On-Site Classes $28 per class, $125 for 5 classes, $220 for 10 classes
- Livestream Classes $25 per class, $100 for 5 classes, $180 for 10 classes
- On-Demand Classes $9 per video, $35 All Access. No contracts; cancel anytime.
- Private Lessons $150
- Private Dance Class Party $300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bellymotions.com
- Instagram: @bellymotions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellyMotions/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BellyMotionsMiami
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/belly-motions-miami-2
Image Credits
Siufer Artistry
Alexandra Molina
