Belly dancing The ancient art of belly dance is as complex and colorful in its origin as it is in its movement. The oldest and most well known dance in the world has left little evidence of its history. Seemingly, belly dance evolved through a multitude of cultures and has felt the effects of various historical time periods. Whether positive or negative impact, this blend of influence has shaped the art into the modern form of belly dance. Myths attach the dance to several cultures including that of Egyptians, Greeks, Turks and even Indian gypsies, and place it as far back as at least 4,000 BC. Experts agree that the myths are only speculation or stories passed down by ancestors, and that there is not enough valid evidence to provide a definitive answer to the question of specific origin. However, most agree that it started and flourished in the Middle Eastern region. Chrystine Brown, an American belly dancer of German descent, claims, "The beauty of this art form is that it is an improvisational dance and leaves much room for individual expression. So to study belly dance, one must study a broad range of cultures and influences, there is no sole source." Anthropologists and historians have attempted to form some theory by combining pieces of information, but no one has the complete picture. The most popular theory places the origin of belly dance in Ancient Egypt. Pharoanic wall paintings and tomb scriptures indicate the presence of dance. Specifically, they hint at movements used in belly dance. At a time when temple dance and goddess worship was common, it is said to have been derived as a fertility and child birthing ritual. It symbolized both spiritual celebration and aid in the labor process. During the 18th century, there stemmed a group of the gypsies known as "ghawazee". These dancers were found living in Cairo and along the lower Nile. It is debatable whether or not this group originated in India and later settled in Egypt, bringing belly dance with them, or were in fact, purely Egyptian. Although little is known about them, they played a big role in spreading belly dance as they took the dance with them on their cultural migrations. At a time when only the wealthy were literate, little was recorded about the behaviors of the lower class, such as the ghawazee. They were street performers that were normally hired to entertain men. Women dancing in public places and in the presence of men was considered to be disrespectful behavior at that time in Egypt. Such improper conduct had no value to the wealthy, and so it was never of enough importance to be documented. Over time, belly dancing spread throughout the Middle East and with each stopover, new costumes, instruments, movements and props were incorporated into the dance. Each culture added to and transformed elements to the dance to suit their cultural styles and beliefs. Various myths explaining the use of snakes, candles, canes, and other props evolved, but without basis or evidence. Sharifa Asmar, an American professional belly dancer, teacher and historian observes, "The dance is carried through the centuries in the cultural continuity of the peoples of the Middle East. Meaning, that dance continued as a practice of everyday culture, it was and still is an important expression of life." Ancient Egyptians were strong believers in goddesses and their worship. The dance was always performed barefoot as a symbol of connection to the mother earth. Alternately, myths conclude that mostly low status women danced in public, and were unable to afford shoes. The use of sticks or canes in belly dance derived as a form of jest. Originally, the "asaya" or cane was used as protection by Egyptian peasants, especially when traveling by night. It then took on the form of martial art, perhaps the first in history. Women began to use the canes to mimic these peasants, and eventually, the asaya was incorporated into belly dance. Ancient cults used snakes in dance as a form of protection, and in some cultures, a snake was used in fertility rituals by women wanting to become pregnant. This idea brought about the snake arm movements exhibited in belly dance. The use of swords and floor dance movements have been explained by times of war. Many dancers were assigned to entertain the soldiers in the field. Within the confines of a tent and unable to peform standing, the dancers began to use the floor in their art. The balancing of the sword was used by dancers as a symbol of "an uncontrollable spirit", at a time when dancer were sold and used as slaves. The technique of pelvic and abdominal movement dated back to the use of belly dance as a natural child birthing process. Women used this and breathing exercises to ease the pain of labor. Although most of the facets of belly dance have been attached to cultures of the past, there are many characteristics that were only recently incorporated when belly dance reached America. The dance first came to America when it was performed in Chicago in 1893 by a Syrian belly dancer. This event is what brought about the name "belly dance" as that is the incorrect Arabic translation. Formally, the dance is known as "raks sharki" or oriental dance. This also began the use of belly dance as a money making scheme in the United States. Later, it evolved into a more sexual form of entertainment, rather than its original art form for cultural rituals and religious worship. The use of naval jewels and the two-piece belly dance uniform used to today mainly originated in Hollywood. Fantastical ideas of harems and genies developed. Most dancers will agree that the bad name they receive and the stereotypes associated with belly dance today is the fault of American sensationalism and the images portrayed by Hollywood. "It was America that made it sexual" claims Israeli belly dancer, Oreet Jehassi. |
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