Dance, Fitness & Wellness Studio
Belly Dance
BELLY
DANCE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Belly dance is a Western name for an Arabic style of dance developed in the Middle East. In Europe, it is sometimes called an oriental dance. Similarly, In Turkish it is referred to as oryantal dansı ("Dance of the East"). Some American devotees refer to it simply as "Middle Eastern Dance".
The exact origin of this dance form is an actively debated subject among dance enthusiasts, especially given the limited academic research on the topic. Much of the research in this area has been done by dancers attempting to understand their dance's origins. Many dancers subscribe to one or another of a number of theories regarding the origins of the form. Some of these theories are that it:
· descended from dances in early Egypt
· descended from a religious dance Temple Priestesses once practiced
· had been a part of traditional birthing practices in the region(s) of origin,
· had spread from the migrations of the Roma people and related groups.
Of the theories, the first explanation is rarely invoked, even with such high-status proponents as the Egyptian Dancer Doctor Mo Geddawi promoting it. Much of the support for this theory stems from the similarities between poses in Egyptian artwork and the modern dance moves.
Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women. Few depictions of mixed dancing exist. This practice ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband, her close family, or her female friends. Sometimes a professional dancer would go to a women's gathering with several musicians and get the women up and dancing. Sex segregation was not a strict practice, however, and sometimes both men and women would get up and dance among close friends in a mixed function.
Belly dancing often features the natural "roundness" of the female body, in contrast to the modern Western cultural preference for flat abdomens. Most of the basic steps and techniques used in belly dance are circular motions isolated in one part of the body; for example, a circle parallel to the floor isolated in the hips or shoulders. Accents using "pop and lock" where a dancer either shimmies or makes a striking motion in her shoulders or hips are common, as are feats of flexibility, rolling one's belly muscles, balancing various props like baskets, swords or canes, and dancing with chiffon or silk veils.