BellyDance or Belly Dance

Dipali · 08-31-2006, 11:26 AM

Hi everybody...

I am not sure which is the correct way of writing Bellydance or Belly Dance, I have seen both the words used in many books and sites. Are they both correct ? or not?

Moon · 08-31-2006, 12:25 PM

I think they are both correct. I guess it was orinially two words (belly dance) but one or more people just started to write it as one word, because most people know it as one concept.
I've read somewhere on a website of a bellydancer (unfortunately I don't remember which dancer) that she thinks she was the one who started to write it as one word, but she says maybe someone else she doesn't know about was first. However, now lots of people write it as one word.
My dictionary says it is "belly dancing", but I think "bellydancing" is correct too.

TribalDancer · 08-31-2006, 06:30 PM

Well, here is my personal metamorphosis of the use of the word.

I once heard the argument that it is "tap dance" and "ballet dance", not "tapdance" and "balletdance", and therefore, it is more appropriate to use it as two words. I stuck with that until about 2 years ago, when someone aptly pointed out that "tap" and "ballet" modify the word "dance"; but can also used on their own--if I said "I take a tap class", everyone knows what I mean.

But "belly" does not stand on its own. If I said, "Whew! That was a very exhausting belly class!" people would look at me funny. The only way it makes sense is when it is together with the word dance, thus it makes more sense to make it one word: bellydance.

And that is my theory on it at this time.

Marisha25 · 08-31-2006, 09:17 PM

I've used both words interchangeably but what TribalDancer says makes a lot of sense. Of course, there are also people who this that the term bellydance/ belly dance should not be used at all. For example, I've read in Morocco's article: "There is no term in Arabic (or Turkish or Farsi) ever used for the dance that would translate as "belly" dance, nor is there any other dance form anywhere in the world that is named for a body part, especially since only two of the myriad movements involved are done with the aforementioned muscle, whose proper name is "abdominal" to begin with." and "To use the disgusting misnomer "belly dance" is not only incorrect, it is an insult equivalent to calling Flamenco "cockroach killing". Worse. In Arabic, the dance is called "Raks Sharki" or "Raks al Shark", which translates: "Oriental Dance" or "Dance of the Orient". In clubs in the Middle East, it is often also referred to as Danse Orientale."
I am struggling with what term to use myself. I can see why "Oriental dance" is correct but I sometimes use "bellydance" as well. What do you prefer to use?

Mouse · 09-01-2006, 12:28 AM

since both bellydance and belly dance are western translations I would say that they are both correct and incorrect. Correct as far as widely used and understood in western society, but incorrect as far as being an accurate translation. Although I personally think Raks Sharki or Danse Orientale is probably a lot more accurate I use bellydance simply because no one (other than other bellydancers) would understand me if I used the other terms

Mariesaffron · 09-01-2006, 12:46 AM

Wrong, the term bellydance or belly dance was introduce in America by Solomon Blum, 1892-1893 yes, in that infamous World Fair Columbus Exposition, by then it was called belly dance or houchi couchi dance, remember "Little Egypt" she never existed it was product of Sal Blum's fantasies too.

Demelza · 09-01-2006, 08:28 AM

I don't know what it's called !! but if you look at ebay and type in Belly Dance, there are thousand more entries than if you type in bellydance !! Sad point to make I know:o ,

Moon · 09-01-2006, 10:05 AM

I mostly use the term "bellydance" for the same reason as mouse: if I call it Oriental dance or raqs sharqi, no-once else except for bellydancers know what I'm talking about (I even doubt if all students in my group know what "raqs sharqi") means. I probably would be more correct to call it Oriental dance as this is a correct translation of "raqs sharqi". (But honestly, I don't think countries like Morocco are that Oriental

)

samira shuruk · 09-01-2006, 05:04 PM

on dictionary.com (which cites several dictionaries) whether you type it in with one word or two words it comes up as two words.

The dictionary works for me along with Tribal dancers logic.

TribalDancer · 09-01-2006, 06:22 PM

As for whether to call it Orientale or Raks Sharqi...I do neither. I see those as dance genres under the moniker bellydance. I consider Orientale to be the very sweeping (almost smooth jazz-like) movement style based in Egyptian, and Raks Sharqi to be strictly Egyptian.

I don't do either. I do something that doesn't resemble those styles, but is based in them and was developed in America. So it seems appropriate that I should use an American name for what I do, and bellydance not only fits the bill, but is understood by the audiences I dance for. As was pointed out above, nobody would know what I meant if I said I was a Raks Sharqi dancer, and I would be lying if I said I was a Middle Eastern dancer. I'm not. I'm an American Bellydancer, who dances the style of tribal.

08-31-2006, 11:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dipali Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sunshine coast,Australia Posts: 859	BellyDance or Belly Dance Hi everybody... I am not sure which is the correct way of writing Bellydance or Belly Dance, I have seen both the words used in many books and sites. Are they both correct ? or not? __________________ Australian Belly dance store - Belly Dance Costumes, Bollywood & Tribal outfits.

08-31-2006, 06:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
TribalDancer Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 313	Metamorphosis of language Well, here is my personal metamorphosis of the use of the word. I once heard the argument that it is "tap dance" and "ballet dance", not "tapdance" and "balletdance", and therefore, it is more appropriate to use it as two words. I stuck with that until about 2 years ago, when someone aptly pointed out that "tap" and "ballet" modify the word "dance"; but can also used on their own--if I said "I take a tap class", everyone knows what I mean. But "belly" does not stand on its own. If I said, "Whew! That was a very exhausting belly class!" people would look at me funny. The only way it makes sense is when it is together with the word dance, thus it makes more sense to make it one word: bellydance. And that is my theory on it at this time.

08-31-2006, 09:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Marisha25 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 37	I've used both words interchangeably but what TribalDancer says makes a lot of sense. Of course, there are also people who this that the term bellydance/ belly dance should not be used at all. For example, I've read in Morocco's article: "There is no term in Arabic (or Turkish or Farsi) ever used for the dance that would translate as "belly" dance, nor is there any other dance form anywhere in the world that is named for a body part, especially since only two of the myriad movements involved are done with the aforementioned muscle, whose proper name is "abdominal" to begin with." and "To use the disgusting misnomer "belly dance" is not only incorrect, it is an insult equivalent to calling Flamenco "cockroach killing". Worse. In Arabic, the dance is called "Raks Sharki" or "Raks al Shark", which translates: "Oriental Dance" or "Dance of the Orient". In clubs in the Middle East, it is often also referred to as Danse Orientale." I am struggling with what term to use myself. I can see why "Oriental dance" is correct but I sometimes use "bellydance" as well. What do you prefer to use? Last edited by Marisha25; 08-31-2006 at 09:20 PM.

09-01-2006, 12:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mouse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 514	since both bellydance and belly dance are western translations I would say that they are both correct and incorrect. Correct as far as widely used and understood in western society, but incorrect as far as being an accurate translation. Although I personally think Raks Sharki or Danse Orientale is probably a lot more accurate I use bellydance simply because no one (other than other bellydancers) would understand me if I used the other terms Last edited by Mouse; 09-01-2006 at 12:30 AM.

08-31-2006, 12:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Moon V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 3,627	I think they are both correct. I guess it was orinially two words (belly dance) but one or more people just started to write it as one word, because most people know it as one concept. I've read somewhere on a website of a bellydancer (unfortunately I don't remember which dancer) that she thinks she was the one who started to write it as one word, but she says maybe someone else she doesn't know about was first. However, now lots of people write it as one word. My dictionary says it is "belly dancing", but I think "bellydancing" is correct too.

09-01-2006, 12:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mariesaffron Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: I live in Morgan City Posts: 155	Wrong, the term bellydance or belly dance was introduce in America by Solomon Blum, 1892-1893 yes, in that infamous World Fair Columbus Exposition, by then it was called belly dance or houchi couchi dance, remember "Little Egypt" she never existed it was product of Sal Blum's fantasies too.

09-01-2006, 08:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Demelza Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 417	I don't know what it's called !! but if you look at ebay and type in Belly Dance, there are thousand more entries than if you type in bellydance !! Sad point to make I know:o ,

09-01-2006, 10:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
Moon V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 3,627	I mostly use the term "bellydance" for the same reason as mouse: if I call it Oriental dance or raqs sharqi, no-once else except for bellydancers know what I'm talking about (I even doubt if all students in my group know what "raqs sharqi") means. I probably would be more correct to call it Oriental dance as this is a correct translation of "raqs sharqi". (But honestly, I don't think countries like Morocco are that Oriental )

09-01-2006, 05:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
samira shuruk Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 47	on dictionary.com (which cites several dictionaries) whether you type it in with one word or two words it comes up as two words. The dictionary works for me along with Tribal dancers logic.

09-01-2006, 06:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
TribalDancer Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 313	As for whether to call it Orientale or Raks Sharqi...I do neither. I see those as dance genres under the moniker bellydance. I consider Orientale to be the very sweeping (almost smooth jazz-like) movement style based in Egyptian, and Raks Sharqi to be strictly Egyptian. I don't do either. I do something that doesn't resemble those styles, but is based in them and was developed in America. So it seems appropriate that I should use an American name for what I do, and bellydance not only fits the bill, but is understood by the audiences I dance for. As was pointed out above, nobody would know what I meant if I said I was a Raks Sharqi dancer, and I would be lying if I said I was a Middle Eastern dancer. I'm not. I'm an American Bellydancer, who dances the style of tribal.