I think it's because some people can't believe it's possible to feel as damn good as you do without drugs or some higher being! And because this dance has the power to make you feel good about your femininity & sexuality, I think that's how it gets latched on to the Goddess thing.
Thing is, I personally don't mind people using a Goddess type theme as part of a thematic show - one I saw last year had one act that was a kind of homage to the goddess Isis (isis wings, of course!) but it wasn't trying to present the dance as something that was ever connected to goddessery. And my friend has an awesome idea for a show that uses various world dances to explore quite spiritual themes.
It's when people start claiming that the high priestesses used to belly dance at the temple of the goddess Ishtar as a representation of fertility & rebirth bla bla bla etc that my blood starts to simmer.
While I derive so many wonderful things from this dance, it is after all dance, nothing more and yet nothing less.
Eshta out!
__________________
Saqarah - London's monthly Belly Dance Hafla!
|