| About Belly Dance |
A Herstory of Belly Dance Belly Dance is one of the most ancient forms of dance. The origins can be traced back to the Orient, India and, of course, the Middle East. Although many today perceive it as a dance intended to entertain men, traditionally it was and still is performed by women for women to celebrate special occasions. It is also used in preparation for and during childbirth. In fact, it seems likely that this ritualistic dancing formed the foundations of modern Belly Dance. These undulating movements and the focus on the hips, abdominals and chest suggest a strong connection to female fertility, both in conception and labour. In the artistic community, Belly Dance is known as Raks Sharqi (pronounced Rocks shark kee), which means “Dance of the Orient” in Arabic. You may also hear it called Danse Orientale (French) or Oryantal Tansi (Turkish). There are several theories on how it came to be known in the West as “Belly Dance”. It is similar in sound to the Arabic term “Beledi” or “dance of the people”, but a more likely explanation is that it mimics the French term “danse du ventre” or “dance of the stomach”. For other common terms to belly dance and interesting articles… visit www.shira.net Some other great sites on belly dance are: Casbah Dance, The Middle Eastern Dance Association, & Belly-Dancing Info |
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| Contact Goddess Annyse 778 294 6888 or annyse@goldengoddess.ca |