Belly Dance. Belly dancing is an umbrella term used for the various dance forms which includes isolation of different parts of the body. It is characterized by its intricate hip, hand and chest movements, though it incorporates many techniques, from many different parts of the Middle East; Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Morocco to name a few. Each country has its own style.
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 by women 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.

The term 'belly dance' is said to come from the French 'danse du ventre' - dance of the stomach - a phrase coined at the turn of the century after the introduction of Raqs Sharqi (pronounced Roks Sharkee) at the Chicago Exposition or World Fair in 1893. The promoter of the Egyptian music and dance group at the Exposition became concerned because nobody was interested in seeing the dancing show (prejudice against middle eastern people). It occurred to the promoter to rename the performers Bellydancing. The name of the dancer’s who was dancing was Little Egypt.
Thus renamed, the dance created a controversy that became a media sensation. Lines gathered around the block, eager to witness the outrageous act of Bellydancing. Though Little Egypt danced in less revealing costumes than those worn today, but her performance was too exotic for Victorian morality, and the dancers who followed added much to the negative image of Raqs Sharqi unfortunately. This is how the negative image of Belly dancing began to form. Outrageous, scandalous, despicable, offensive.
So what exactly is Raqs Sharqi then?? Raqs Sharqi literally translated means 'dance from the East', and has its roots in Middle Eastern fertility ceremonies. Bellydancing is the last vestige of goddess worship in the Middle East and is in danger of becoming extinct. Bellydancing began as ritual for childbirth preparation in the ancient Middle East. It was originally taught to girls from an early age in order to strengthen their abdominal muscles in preparation for childbirth. The muscle isolation techniques require practice and control, and the smaller the movement, the greater the control and the more the muscle is exercised. It's a fact that exercise mitigates pain. The women of the Middle East knew this, and so the dance was born through abdominal movements like pelvic rocking and belly roll. Before Islam and Christianity, when the Mother Goddess was worshipped, sex and childbearing were sacred.
During this time, many societies were matriarchal, and bellydancing was performed by women for women.
But Today many Middle Eastern countries forbid women to perform the dance. During the 1950's, bellydancing was declared illegal in Egypt. After a popular public uprising, the government repealed the ban with one condition -- that dancers no longer show their mid-riffs. (That law still remains in effect).
Recently, radical Islamic fundamentalists have succeeded in removing bellydancing from televised programming, and they terrorize restaurants and nightspots that feature the art. Famous dancers that performed the art have either retired or moved to other countries.

Why is bellydancing being stopped?
The bellydance shows were not immoral in any way, but the dancers had such charisma and strength that the audience was compelled to silence by the lift of a dancer's arm driven to frenzy by a dancer's union with the drumbeats. I think the Arab men are afraid of the tremendous power in the hands of women when they perform this dance.
If the Middle-Eastern people are uncertain whether the dance is acceptable or too provactive for society, how can the western world be expected to be any more certain? Hence the question of the aesthesis The real dilemma I suspect lies with underlying sexuality of the dance. Where is the line between sensuality and sexuality, between sexual self-empowerment of women and exploitation of them?
But what the middle eastern people have shunned has gained enormous popularity in other parts of the world. Though the prejudice remains its like the forbidden fruit.

Expert ViewThe forbidden Dance by Lucy Pappas | | Bellydancing is the last vestige of goddess worship in the Middle East and is in danger of becoming extinct.
Bellydancing began as ritual for childbirth preparation in the ancient Middle East. Before Islam and Christianity, when the Mother Goddess was worshipped, sex and childbearing were sacred.
During this time, many societies were matriarchal, and bellydancing was performed by women for women. | | Bellydancing Origins
In Arabic, the dance is called Raks Sharqi, meaning "Oriental Dance". Bellydancing was later translated from the French Danse du Ventre, or stomach dance, which was used to describe tribal dances from a group of matriarchal Berbers in Algeria called the Oulid Nail. Bellydancing is not the only dance done by women in the Middle East. There are regional folkloric dances which also emphasize hip and abdominal movements. However, bellydancing is the most popular well known international dance. |