In my humble opinion:
Did the dance originate with so called temple priestesses? No.
Do some people experience a connection to the divine when they dance? Yes. I suppose in that sense, some women have danced in this way as a personal spiritual ritual, perhaps to the Mother Goddess.
Brea, I think the reason why so many dancers cling to this idea of the Goddess-inspired belly dance tradition is because the sacred feminine has long been exiled from many popular religions. I think many women really feel the need to recapture that mythology, and find something powerful and sacred within themselves, and the Goddess-stuff may help them to do so.
I have no problem with people teaching belly dance as a spiritual exercise and as internal exploration, though the cultural and historical origins of the dance should not be ignored. It's just another fusion.
__________________
Natalie
|