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In my opinion, belly dancing in essence is one of the most exotic and sensual ways to express femininity. Through the course time it has developed into an appealing art with a rich, multi-culture influenced background. It is considered to be among the oldest forms of dance with its ancient roots extending from several suggested regions. Although today's Turkish Ambassador makes bold claims to the birth of belly dancing, other countries believe it was born on their ground with the most popular being Egypt, Turkey, the Middle East, and India. Realistically, it is impossible to determine which country actually holds the right to regard belly dancing as its own. The title "belly dancing" itself most likely derived from a French phrase meaning "dance of the stomach" which undoubtedly attests that there are just too many cultural influences in the art for it to have an "authentic" background. I further believe that like all other arts and dances, belly dancing has evolved, subsequently refreshed with the mixture of various roots from all over the world. The practice of belly dancing itself has been identified by scholars and historical buffs as rooting from ancient fertility rituals and goddess worship. Early paganists extolled the fascination of the ability of women to create life. Even some anthropological artifact findings such as paintings and pottery of healthy looking women with pertruding stomachs and over-emphasized hips and chests suggest that the movements within the belly dance were used to re-enact or imitate a woman giving birth. Other sources further indicate that the belly dance may also have even evolved from ancient world prostitutes who performed in civic temples. Such a ballistic notion is actually supported by the fact that many cultures of that time, especially in Africa, Greece, Persia, and Palenstine, regarded heavily on fertility rituals conducted by such temple priestesses. Though they were considered prostitutes because of their sexual connections with the priests, they were only proported as such by those who opposed the act of idolatry. They, however, considered themselves pure, holy servants to the goddesses who allowed them such an enablement of bringing life. Many generations later, Gypsies migrating out of India in the 5th century, A.D. time frame became the main source for the public dispaying of belly dancing. They traveled throughout the world to such places as Afghanistan, Persia, Turkey, Egypt, and even to some parts of Europe. They used belly dancing as a means of income, performing at town squares, markets, and bath houses to earn profit for their journeys. Belly dancing is also said to have been entertainment specifically for women by women, and permitted only during such occassions as fertility rites, weddings, and related celebrations. These strict limitations were most likely enforced in the 1400s, mainly in religious oriented areas such as Islamic communities where gender segregation discouraged women from attending functions with their male counterparts.
Because the belly dance is practiced in several different regions of the world, its style varies. Even so, the movements, terms, and performance techniques are fairly similar in most aspects. Belly dancing does not require an extremely high degree of flexibility. However, it does as a whole requires the ability to isolate or restrict a particular body part at a time, therefore making it a very implicate and challenging art to master. Commonly, it takes belly dancers anywhere between five and twenty years to "completely" master all the movements, especially since now there are even more variations and combinations of movements invented by the famous belly dancers of today. Most common positions emanate from the waist up. But the abdominals, shoulders, and hips are key members used to create movements in the belly dance. Borrowing from traditional Middle Eastern customs of dancing, many belly dancers today perform barefoot allowing the dancer to move comfortably for a longer period of time. However, still others, such as Lebanese belly dancers prefer to wear extremely high heels while performing basically to display their experience. Those who know how hard isolation is can appreciate this creative addition to the implicity of belly dancing. There are only few similiarities belly dancing has to other dances. Like ballet, the moves are intricate and require much discipline and grace. Some footing also rely on "pointe". Also a little similar to hip-hop and modern jazz dance, belly dancing is fast paced and the dancer relies on the use of his/her imagination and personal creativity to make the dance come alive. Salsa, and Flaminco dances are the only dance style relatively close to belly dancing. All three forms have in common the many turns, footwork, and heavy reliability on facial expression. In addition, the three dance styles are very determined in making it clear to its audiences that they are only beautiful expressions of feminity and womanhood. These dances are not sexual in nature. Though ridiculed and scrutinized for its dramatic physical undulations, belly dancing isn't nor ever has been intended to bring sexual arousal, stimulation, or excitement.
In ancient times, snakes, sticks, and massive candlebras were the only commonly known props used to stir up the crowd and keep them in awe. The use of various accessories such as finger cymbals (zills), veils, swords, and "Isis" wings are in effect today. Belly Dance costumes are significantly designed, hosting beautifully sown Beledi dresses, harem pants, and tribal skirts layered with fine embroidery, gold or silver linings, intricate beadwork and gems. Few belly dancers adorn themselves with massive amounts of jewelry only because the costume itself is exhilerating and stunning enough. The attire worn by dancers were never drabby, even in years past. Age old artists created drawings of Indian, Persian, and Middle Egyptian women clothed in the finest silks, chiffons, and satin layers. Of course in some countries where there were restrictions in belly dance apparel, the costumes provided full coverage of the bodice (usually not revealing any skin whatsoever) and if several women performed together they usually wore uniformed, or similar style costumes. Today, belly dancers can easily have a costume customized for their personal taste. But even still, many love to imitate the styles of old. As a matter of fact, most modern costumes are usually designed to replicate famous pieces worn by the most beautiful and world known belly dancers of all time. About 80% of belly dancers have custom made costumes, or personally sewn costumes that are sampled from former belly successful dancers. Sequins, beads, fashion gems, and most imortantly, coins usually grace the costumes of today. Hip scarves are widely used, especially in belly dance classes. It is believed that the origin of the hip scarf or coin belt was popularized by "chengis", which were Gypsy groups who performed in public open areas where it was difficult to store their profits. The dancers would take the coins people gave them as they danced and pin them to belt skins, or sometimes silk scarves they wore around their hips. Eventually, the more money they collected, the louder were the jingling sounds from the coins. Due to the growth of belly dancing, the need for "original costumes" is extreme. There are many online resources to cure this request, as well as private individual distributors of rare costume patterns who only deal with professional, accredited dancers. Please visit the my Links page on this site to view a great collection of the best costume, accessories, and prop providers.
America was first exposed to belly dancing at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The performer was 'Little Egypt", star of the World's Columbian Exposition which was a celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' Arrival. Her dancing was so influential, that some women adopted her moves, which were perversed by prostitutes, strippers, and low wage models. She was outraged, and Little Egypt set to restore the image of belly dancing by returning to her homeland and teaching fellow dancers to remain true to the pure movements and background of the dance. This type of distortion has continued to seep into the modern age, benefiting Hollywood movie companies and commercial businesses who believe that "selling sex" is the only successful marketing strategy to earn a profit. Over time, few people know the roots and history of belly dancing, and how it has truly shaped the many different cultures that has been exposed to it in it's innocent form. Though sometimes to reffered to as the "forbidden dance", I believe people will never know the truth unless they seek to find it for themselves instead of feeding on lies of the media. In other aspects, American and some European belly dancers have erupted and revolutionized the dance into a unique style of their own. More American belly dancers are offering to perform shows for men rather than women, wearing extremely seductive and provocative costumes, and dancing to non-traditional belly dance music. There is even a new dialect of belly dancing called "Fusion" where the belly dance is entertwined with other dance styles such as hip-hop, ballet, or modern. "Bellygrams" are also very appealing at engagement parties, Birthday parties, and wedding, and are beginning to spark more interest in the American society. Even celebrities are beginning to manuever their way into the age old art. Singing sensations like Beyonce, Shakira, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilara all are making their permanent marks in the music industry by adding belly dance moves to spicen up their choreography on stage, tours and in their music videos. In essence, belly dancing is fullfilling and for the most part, a way of life for those who experience it. Hopefully, on your journey through life you will gain the pleasure of knowing how much of a wonderful experience it can be for you!
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