Country:United States Occupation:Belly dancer Companies:Veiled Impressions Interests and Hobbies:Bellydance is perhaps the oldest form of dance.
Its origins can be traced back to ancient Oriental,
Indian, and Middle Eastern Cultures. Although many people
today think of it as a seductive dance intended to entertain
men, in fact men have only been permitted
to observe this unique art form in its more recent history. Films and Shows:Traditionally bellydance was performed by women for women as
part of ancient fertility rituals and goddess
worship ceremonies.
In Arabic, bellydance is known as raks sharqi,
which literally translates as dance from the East you
may also see it referred to as danse Orientale. Music:There are several different theories on how
it came to be known as bellydance in the West. it is similar
in sound to the Arabic name for dance of the people,or beledi,
but a more likely explanation is that
it came from the French danse du ventre
dance of the stomach. Books:The Origins
Because bellydance spans so many cultures, its exact origins are
difficult to pinpoint. What I find fascinating is its connection
with fertility rituals practiced in the Stone Age. Many
ancient artifacts depicting deities as female exist(far more than images of men),
which has led archaeologists to speculate that women were dominant,
and considered sacred in Stone Age society.
Women would have danced together to honor Mother Earth in
spiritual ceremonies and were taught to dance as a way
to celebrate and worship their goddess, for sexual fertility,
and in preparation for childbirth.