Belly dancing is a dance style that originated in the Middle East. It is characterized by its sensual, circular hip, rib cage and shoulder movements.
Misconceptions About Belly Dance
Although belly dancing is sometimes associated with the strip tease, this could not be further from the truth. Some belly dancers may enter the stage wearing a veil, which is eventually removed as part of the dance. However, the veil is the only thing that comes off. Additionally, the best belly dance teachers discourage lewd movements. For example, in most movements, the legs are held fairly close together, to discourage any perception that the dancer is offering and "invitation." The words "belly dance" do not really provide and accurate description of the movements, which make active use of the hips, shoulders, legs and arms. However, the term was actually coined by American event promoter Sol Bloom, who brought the dancer called Little Egypt to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
History of Belly Dancing in America
In 1971, "Life Magazine " published a story about Serena Wilson, a New York City belly dancer who owned Serena Studios. She was also the author of the book titled, "The Serena Technique of Belly Dancing." Serena stressed the exercise benefits of belly dancing. Because of the Jane Fonda technique, Americans were already getting used to the idea of exercising to music. Thus, a new fitness craze was born. At the same time, Ibrahim Farrah a man of Lebanese descent opened up a competing studio on 8th Avenue in New York. Farrah's style emphasized the cultural aspects of the dance, which, in Bedouin cultures, was indeed performed by men. From 1975 to 1997, he published a magazine called "Arabesque," which featured various articles on Middle eastern and other international dance styles.
Significance
It's interesting to note that despite tension between the Middle East and the United States, belly dancing has remained a popular dance and exercise form. In fact, while some instructors tend to ignore the political implications and focus on the dance and exercise benefits, others used it as a means of creating a cultural bridge. For example, in the 1970s, Ibrahim Farrah would bring Middle Eastern celebrity dancers, such as Lebanon's Nadia Gamal to his studio.
Benefits of Belly Dancing
The rhythmic, continuous movements of belly dancing make it an excellent aerobic workout. In fact, every single muscle in the body is used. The advanced movements of belly dancing enhance dynamic strength and flexibility. Some routines involve back bends, and slow, controlled descents to the floor. According to the belly dancer and belly dance historian who goes by the name Morocco, belly dancing was originally a dance of natural childbirth. As such, some of the rib and hip movements are an effective form of prenatal exercise.
Types of Belly Dance Movements
Typical belly dance movements include lateral hip rolls, hip circles, hip twists and rib cage circles. Shoulder rolls are performed to the slower music, and the shoulder shimmy, which is a rapid forward and back movement is used during the faster music. A wide variety of arm movements are used. Many of these involve bringing the veil in front of and behind the body.
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