What is belly dance?
Belly dance is the western term for raqs sharqi (literally eastern dance in Arabic), a solo improvisational dance with a unique vocabulary designed to interpret complex rhythms and melodies. The main influences on what we call belly dance come from the North African country of Egypt, as well as parts of the the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine) and Turkey. Dance stylings from Iran/Persia, Southern Europe and Greece, and the Maghreb (Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) also play a large role in influencing modern belly dance, especially as it is interpreted in Europe and the Americas.
Belly dance has many names – Danse Orientale, Raqs Sharki, Middle Eastern Dance – and many benefits. Belly dance is one of the oldest known dance forms still practiced today. Its origins predate recorded history. Basically, as long as there have been women there has been such dancing in one form or another. While it is difficult to trace belly dance to a specific source, many historians agree that it originated among the devadassi (temple dancers) of Northern India and other regional ancient goddess worshipping cultures. In pre-monotheistic cultures, the body was considered sacred rather than profane. When the devadassi left India around 500 BC (there are different theories about why they left), they took their dance form with them, spreading it throughout Persia, the Middle East, North Africa, and up into Spain, where it became known as Flamenco. In Egypt, the dance evolved into a particularly refined art form, and was taken off the street and put onto the stage. Centuries later, this
Many experts say belly dancing is the oldest form of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from the orient to India to the mid-East. Probably the greatest misconception about belly dancing is that it is intended to entertain men. Throughout history, this ritualized expression has usually been performed for other women, generally during fertility rites or parties preparing a young woman for marriage. In most cases, the presence of men is not permitted. Belly dancing is natural to a woman’s bone and muscle structure with movements emanating from the torso rather than in the legs and feet. The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in sensuous patterns, weaving together the entire feminine form. Belly dancing is generally performed barefoot, thought by many to emphasize the intimate physical connection between the dancer, her expression, and Mother Earth. Belly dancing costumes are often colorful, flowing garments, accented with flo
The dance which Americans know as “belly dance” has gone by many names. The French who found the dance named it “dance du ventre”, or dance of the stomach. It is known in Greece as the cifte telli (also the name of a Turkish rhythm), in Turkey as rakkase and in Egypt as Raks Sharki. Middle Easterners also call it “danse orientale” to distinguish it from the “balady”, or country, dance. It developed through the influence of many different areas and continues its long process of development today. After its appearance at the Chicago Exposition at the turn of the century, Americans discovered it, and the French name, danse du ventre, was translated into the “belly dance”. In this report, “oriental dance” and “belly dance” will be used interchangeably. “Eastern dance” as used here can include belly dance, Indian dance, or Persian dance. This improvisational, and uncodified form of dance is, nonetheless, a form of dance distinctly different from the many forms of “folk dance” which develope
