So What is Belly Dance, Anyway? Part 2

I've been swamped the past couple of weeks, mainly with getting my new Taming Your Zills video project live. I didn't forget about you though.  :)  My the name "belly dance" and something of what it isn't—so let's tackle what it is.

This might be tougher than what it isn't, honestly. I mentioned in that there wasn't a lot that was black-and-white about this dance. At the simplest, I would say that Oriental dance is the performance version of the social dance done by nearly everyone in Turkey, Armenia, Egypt and most of the Arabian peninsula. Go to a club or a party full of families from these regions, and you'll see men, women, children, grannies and teenagers shimmying and hip-dropping. There's a misconception in the west, fueled by Hollywood, Orientalism, and Mr. Sol Bloom, that this dance is a dance of seduction. I often say this dance is sexy the way an evening gown is sexy—it's mostly beautiful, elegant and expressive. On a beautiful, confident woman, that can be a little sexy. But her personality should always shine through—the dance isn't meant to present the dancer as an object or be risque.

The western term "belly dance" has become sort of an umbrella term that encompasses a group of related dances. There's Oriental dance in its varied styles: Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish. We refer to the social dance version as "belly dance," too. There are closely related folkdances, such as Tahtib and Raks Assaya—the somewhat martial stick dance of the male shepherds, and the wildly popular cane dance of the women, which is meant to poke fun at the tahtib dancers—, both from Egypt. Many "belly dancers" learn to perform Schikatt, a Moroccan dance with similar movements of the hips, or explore the Zar or the Guedra, ritual dances of North Africa. Those who, like myself, specialize in Turkish style often develop a strong interest in Turkish Roman dance, which has had a strong influence on Turkish Oriental dance. "Roman" in this case refers not to the city of Rome, but to the Roma people, commonly known as gypsies.

America, too, has spun off its own styles of this dance. They can't authentically be called "Oriental", as they originate in the west, but they do have their roots in Oriental dance. In the 50s and 60s in the U.S., Middle Eastern clubs were often mixed in both music and clientele, and as such, dancers from that era developed a style that was a blend of Turkish, Arabic and folk dance. It's now commonly known as "AmCab" short for "American Cabaret" style. Americans also created "tribal style" belly dance, which uses much earthier costuming, and is often danced in groups, as opposed to the traditional solo. The earthy costuming and music often lead westerners to believe that this is the "real, authentic" dance of the Middle East. Nope; completely American. The here in Arlington is host every year to a "Gothic-style belly dance" event, Raks Spooki, held right around Halloween.

Traditionally speaking, Oriental dancers are primarily engaged to perform at celebratory events. You can't have a wedding in Egypt without an Oriental dancer. I danced at Turkish restaurant Pasha here in Arlington as part of their fantastic New Year's celebration. More recently I performed at a woman's 60th birthday party attended by her friends and family; my best audience, as always, were the little ones between the ages of two and seven. Children are fascinated by the whirling silks and sparkling costumes, and I think they are just drawn to a smiling, joyous dancer.

And I believe that's the simplest answer I can give you about what this dance is: It's a dance of celebration and joy.