World's oldest belly dancer, 82, vows to continue tradition as long as she can

06 February 2023 , 21:00

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Tina Hobin loves belly dancing (Image: Joseph Walshe SWNS)

She was truly shaken when she discovered the “sacred” art of belly dancing in 1973 and had become the UK’s first teacher by 1974.

And now aged 82 and the country’s oldest ­professional practitioner, Tina Hobin insists she’ll never stop celebrating the “beautiful” tradition – which she says has huge health benefits for women and has helped keep her young.

Tina said: “I just love it and I’ll keep going for as long as I can. I started to dance as soon as I could walk and went to my first ballet lesson aged two-and-a-half.

“I performed many genres before I discovered belly dancing.”

Tina pictured in the 90s (Courtesy Tina Hobin / SWNS)

Tina says it can help with issues including endometriosis and infertility, adding: “Belly dancing is good for women’s health, especially periods, pregnancy and back pain.

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"I have also helped women get their self-esteem back after bad relationships.”

The mum of three, of Cleobury Mortimer, Shrops, also insists you are never too old to learn and wants to change belly dancing’s “sexualised” image.

She thinks belly dancing is the secret to a long and healthy life (Courtesy Tina Hobin / SWNS)

Tina says dance keeps her young (Courtesy Tina Hobin / SWNS)

When she started out, she was frustrated by how it was often compared with stripping and prostitution.

And 50 years on she is in no doubt about its ­benefits, declaring: “I will be dancing until I die and I think if I stopped now, it would kill me.”

Adam Aspinall