What is Middle Eastern Dance

Bellydance ~ In Brief

One of the first things to know about Middle Eastern dance is that only the U.S., Britain, Australia, and a few other English speaking countries use the term "bellydance." In countries of origin a few common terms to be used are Raks Sharqi, Oriental dance, beledi, and danse du ventre, to name a few. In most of the world, belly dancing is called Danse Orientale, or Oriental Dance. It is a form of artistic expression inspired from such varied places as Morocco, Lebanon, Spain, Egypt, and even Russia.

Some say "bellydance" began as a way for women in North Africa and the Middle East to train for childbirth. Dance has been used to pantomime the sowing and harvesting of crops, to bless and heal, to prepare for childbirth and the wedding bed, and to entertain. Contrary to what many Westerners believe, belly dancing did not originate as a seductive dance, but rather as a form of everyday expression. In fact, the role of dance in Middle Eastern society has been that of a folk dance, which people did at joyous occasions like weddings, births, community festivals, and other events that brought people together. For centuries, it has been a dance that men, women, and children do for fun, not only performance to entertain. The flowing yet powerful movements of the torso and hips are a rite of passage passed from generation to generation. These same folkloric movements have been brought to the stage thanks to Mahmoud Reda and the talented solo artist of the Reda Troupe, Farida Fahmy.

Traditionally the dancers are always fully clothed, often layering intricate belts and pom poms at the waist and hips. Earthy and matriarchal, fluid and smooth, the sensuality of these movements has intrigued and captured the imagination of international proportion. Today, in Egypt the belly must be covered and it wasn't until the Hollywood version of Salome in 1903 did we see the sparkly bra, belt, and sheer, flowing skirt. America has in essence, thanks to Hollywood, created the nightclubs in Egypt and Lebanon to satisfy the curiosity of tourists seeking to see glamorous, shapely, exotic women in glitzy costumes.

Today, American "bellydancers" have raised the standard of performance and technique by fusing together elements of modern dance, jazz, and other ethnic dances. Movement, our first language, or to dance, at its simplest, is to let the body express itself rhythmically. Belly dance has been so widely embraced with domestic culture that it can now be seen as a veritably organic and American mode of female expression, giving it rise to one of the hot new exercise trends according to the American Council on Exercise. Dance schools and major universities are embracing this beautiful art form making it their own and enjoying a sense of empowerment and freedom.

West Michigan School of Middle Eastern Dance LLC
Kalamazoo, Michigan
info@wmschoolofmed.com
269-375-0990