Bellydance
Bellydance has mysterious origins, no one is quite sure where it originates from. Many believe it came from India with the original gypsies and was taken all around the middle east by them. Wherever it came from the style of dance has similarites all across the middle east from Turkey to Lybia. Most people think of Egypt and Turkey when they think of bellydance, indeed the dancers most well know in the Uk are from Egypt and Turkey- Samia Gamal, Tahia Carioca, Nagwa Foud, Dina, Sema Yildiz, Princess Banu, and my favourite- Nesrin Topkapi. There is footage of all of these fabulous dancers on YouTube, well worth a look as they all have very different styles, and cover different ages of Bellydance from the 1940s to present day. In the Middle East most women dance, and men, generally separately, professional public dancing is still frowned upon and the dancers not highly regarded. Dance however is an important part of life there, many of the moves in bellydance are moves passed down from mother to daughter for generations, and have associations with childbirth and fertility. Having a bellydancer at your wedding is considered good luck for a couple.
Bellydance is beautiful dance, very feminine and can be very powerful. Thank goodness today it is becoming well respected as an art form in the western world, thanks to the many women who have been teaching and performing here for many years gradually increasing its popularity and awareness. There are still some who think of bellydance as an erotic dance form for mens entertainment, but this attitude is changing as more and more dancers proove they have talent and that the dance is so much more than just shaking your assets!
Bellydance helps to build strength and stamina, tone the body and is a great aerobic workout. For arthritis sufferers and those with joint problems it is fantastic to get everything moving very gently, many people attending my classes who have had joint problems find that they improve. It is also fantastic for increasing confidence and self esteem, many women find it alleviates depression and generally makes them feel great.
Today bellydance is changing again, fusing into many fractions- Tribal, tribal fusion, gothic, metal, cyber. All with different costumes and slightly different movements, often fused with Indian dance and flamenco, jazz. Again footage of all these styles can be found on Youtube.
