Is belly dancing linked with prostitution or deemed low class?
There are really two questions to this: 1. How is belly dancing regarded in the Middle East, Asia and Europe and who does it? 2. How is belly dancing regarded in the west and who does it? In the Middle East and throughout the conservative world, most societies expect a certain amount of respectability and decorum from their women. Since the coming of Christianity, Islam and other religions it became improper for a woman to display herself in public, as a consequence, women who danced in public for whatever reasons were looked down upon. Since religion in its traditional form is still very much a part of everyday society, especially in the east, this attitude has continued through the ages and affects the respectability of women experimenting within these cultures. Unfortunately, there are other professions also placed within this sphere who utilize this dance in their respective jobs, and they would be prostitutes, strippers and any of the colorful descriptions for ladies of the night.
