What is bellydance?

[nightdancer]

So I have spent a fair amount of time looking about, etc. I see a lot of threads criticizing peoples' style as "Thats NOT bellydance", and others praising, "She's an amazing bellydancer.." but to the untrained or inexperienced eye, they look much the same.

There are so many fusion styles, etc, out there that people are picking up, and some get criticized (and I do it, too) but others dont. So I thought I would throw this out there for debate.

What is belly-dance, by basic and expanded definition?

Thank you


D

 

[Kharmine]

This topic has come up again and again. Why not do a search or look at the older threads? You might come up with a different take or question.

 

[nightdancer]

I did, actually, and didnt really find any that straight up answered the questions. If you have any that you remember, that I am just not putting the right search terms in, I'd really like to read them. I moderate another forum, and "The search engine is masochistic, use it, it likes it..." is part of my signature. However, this forum is vast, and if I am not using the right terms, I'm not going to find the threads that you are thinking of.

The ones that I found contained a lot of "Thats just not bellydance" but did not include what it really is, then.

 

[Moon]

I like the definitian on A'isha Azar's website:

Egyptian belly dance is an authentic ethnic dance in movement and spirit. The dance and dancer are the physical manifestation of and visual compliment to the music they accompany. The dance has precise movements based on root concepts.

 

[nightdancer]

Ooh, that works nicely, thank you so much.

 

[sultan]

Indeed, the issue has come up before and I gave a rather long answer:

http://forum.orientaldancer.net/debate/1513-belly-dance-religion-23.html#post29489


So, at bottom, what is ''belly dance''?

It is a divine gift designed to mend troubled hearts and souls. And you have the Bible as authority to prove it!

 

[KuteNurse]

I am glad you are safe and sound Sultan.

 

[Shanazel]

The Bible says belly dance is a divine gift designed to mend troubled hearts and souls? Cool. I'd like to see this Bible of yours, sultan. It would be a refreshing change from the regular one.

 

[charity]

i consider belly dance like any other. though its history is rooted in the middle east, when i dance it is an expression of myself, my soul and not of a people or culture.

one day if i become good at it, i will pay my respects to those who have allowed me to take this dance and make it my own.

 

[TinaL]

The Bible says belly dance is a divine gift designed to mend troubled hearts and souls? Cool. I'd like to see this Bible of yours, sultan. It would be a refreshing change from the regular one.

There is a series of articles on Gilded Serpent's archives entitled "God Belly Danced" (5 parts going back quite a ways, but worth the search) that cites biblical references to dancing that might answer this question.

Hope no one minds my just jumping in here.

 

[Aisha Azar]

I like the definitian on A'isha Azar's website:

Egyptian belly dance is an authentic ethnic dance in movement and spirit. The dance and dancer are the physical manifestation of and visual compliment to the music they accompany. The dance has precise movements based on root concepts.

Dear Moon,
Thank you for citing my quote.
For Nightdancer, here is the quote in its entirety.(This could apply to all authentic forms of the dance, including Egyptian, Lebanese and Turkish, which are the three main forms of the dance, with individual cultural aspects and elements that define each style. I am an Egyptian dancer and this quote is from my class ad.)

"Egyptian belly dance is an authentic ethnic dance in movement and spirit. The dance and dancer are the physical manifestation of and visual compliment to the exotic music they accompany. Like ballet, the dance has precise movements based on root concepts. The dancer enjoys a full range of emotional expression within the dance."

I hope this is helpful.
Regards,
A'isha

 

[sultan]

I am glad you are safe and sound Sultan.

Thank you KN, you are very kind.

 

[sultan]

The Bible says belly dance is a divine gift designed to mend troubled hearts and souls? Cool. I'd like to see this Bible of yours, sultan. It would be a refreshing change from the regular one.

All references made in my post to the virgin dance are from KJV.

 

[Kharmine]

All references made in my post to the virgin dance are from KJV.

Well, technically, it's not called "belly dance" in the Bible, even in the King James Version. "Belly dance" is old American slang roughly translated from the even older French "danse du ventre." The KJV is a Renaissance-era English translation.

People simply dance in the Bible -- they don't call it a specific style. Everybody from maidens to kings dance, and it is rarely condemned except when it is done for "wantonness."

 

[charity]

please tell me of any discrepancies.

i read the same that belly dance term came from the french term danse de ventre and that it was translated to an english version so as to draw an audience to the introduction of a production...little egypt. and little regards was taken as to whether danse de ventre was in fact the same as the belly dance being presented in the production. so i guess it was just like a catch phrase to catch the public's eye.

that is the story of belly dance. belly dance began as a sort of theatrical presentation of me dance.

me dance. that is something different and all inclusive. me dance is like a'isha has stated, rooted in cultural heritage

...[it] is an authentic ethnic dance in movement and spirit. The dance and dancer are the physical manifestation of and visual compliment to the exotic music they accompany. Like ballet, the dance has precise movements based on root concepts. The dancer enjoys a full range of emotional expression within the dance."

 

[sultan]

I did note previously that it was called ''virgin dance'' and drew parallels between the two forms. You may check Blue Letter Bible for concordances and other references which define and illustrate every word that appears in the KJV and all other translations. Also check my previous post notes on Sephardic dance which some people consider a bit raunchy.

 

[Aniseteph]

I couldn't even find anything descriptive of a virgin dance using that site, let alone belly dance. Can you give us chapter and verse? (we LOVE finding old references to belly dance! :dance

 

[nightdancer]

Thank you all so much. Whatsisnames's parents were here, so my internet time was extremely limited for about 10 days. I'm just thankful we all survived, I only drank a little (...every few hours...) and all is well.

I'm off to go read links and site, I appreciate everyone's input.


D

 

[sultan]

I couldn't even find anything descriptive of a virgin dance using that site, let alone belly dance. Can you give us chapter and verse? (we LOVE finding old references to belly dance! :dance

References were to Jeremiah 31:4, 13 and I Samuel 18:6 among others. The performer is a virgin ''adorned with tabrets and shall go forth in the dances of them that make merry'' as ''the virgin rejoice in her dance, both young men and old ..." The point being that the performer's task is to bring restoration to the stricken hearts and souls of men. Again, you may utilize Blue Letter Bible for its concordances and commentary in order to give more specific definitions and illustrations of the terms used in the KJV.



''Is Sephardic Dance Too Sexy" --

Judith Brin Ingber : Dancer, Writer

 

[Sara]

I like Aisha's definition too.

I don't think the references in the Bible necessarily apply to this cause it could mean any sort of dancing really. Plus the idea of it dunt seem to flow well. :think: