Is there really a connection between belly dancing and slimming?

There isn't a simple yes or no answer to this question. It depends on many factors. Belly dancing can help construct some core strength which can lead to the figure in the waist area being molded. Belly dancing is another form of exercise. In normal sessions, you can burn more than 200 calories, in some other a lot less since there won't aerobic exercise involved, but simply slow and steady hip movements and warming up exercises.

As a form of exercise, it means that the more you dance, the more you burn. If you engage in regular classes, three times a week for example, or 30 minutes per day at least, it can aid to weight loss, the opposite of what would happen with only one class a week and a sedentary lifestyle the rest of the days. Also, you need to keep in mind that the basics of weight loss are: burning more calories than you eat. You won't lose weight with belly dancing if you don't do the right dietary choices: binging on alcohol, eating junk food, foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats and so on.

Most dancers are conscious of what they eat most of the time. The healthier, natural and nutritious your diet is, the better you can nourish your muscles and have a correct hormonal environment. Furthermore, it's also important to understand that belly dance cannot compensate for the effects of health and medical conditions: medication side effects, hormonal issues, stress, psychological issues and genetic predispositions (not all bodies will react the same to belly dancing. Some women will lose weight on their legs, others on their arms and so on).

Think of this as an enjoyable and fun activity. Everything we do is related to the brain activity, and if you adapt your mind to think of this as something pleasant, you will stick to it more easily and you can lose more weight than you imagined.