Originally Posted by Aziyade

This is sort of off-topic, but I've read a lot about various Arab/Turkish/Muslim styles of music, and what not to dance to, and I'm wondering, for us Yanks, is there a specific type of music that we would could consider inappropriate for dancing? (Dance in general -- not just bellydance)

I guess you might have to differentiate between social dance and formal dance (like ballet). ???

The only thing I thought might come close would be possibly the national anthem (although I've seen this done in modern dance, but not to the whole song). Even songs like Amazing Grace, or Nearer My God to Thee have been tackled by modern/ballet companies with lovely results. (Religious songs I think are often accompanied by liturgical dancing, but I think that's a different sort of category altogther. Would ballet dance be acceptable if done to what is usual considered a religious song?)

Do we have anything in our culture that would be considered off-limits? If not, could this possibly explain why some Americans seem not terribly sensitive when it comes to the question of what categories of music are "appropriate" for bellydance. ???

(Non Yanks: please feel free to contribute regarding your own culture's taboos for dance music.)