Cultural significance of belly dancing

Famous belly dancers
Early Belly Dancing History
The term "belly dance" is a westernized name that originally referred to traditional Middle Eastern dancing.
The earliest forms of belly dance were the Egyptian ghawazi dance during the 19th century, and Raqs Sharqi, an Arabic dance of the 20th century..
Famous belly dancers
The graceful movements of the dance would also be utilized to assist in birthing rituals.
Eventually, belly dancing enhances the core of feminine energy.
It elevates the sensuality and spirituality of a woman who experiences being a goddess while dancing..
What does belly dancing Symbolise?
This type of dance is supposed to be indeed good for preparing women's body to give birth, but there does not seem to be proof of any link to ancient fertility rituals.
In spite of this, there has been a tendency, in the last 40 years, to associate belly dance with spirituality and the power of the feminine..
What is the message of belly dance?
Belly dancing is one of the most expressive dance styles.
Its language conveys a wide range of moods, including mysterious, romantic, spiritual and meditative.
It suggests raw emotions through movement.
It's artistic, expressive, passionate, elegant and graceful..
What purpose does belly dancing serve?
"As a spiritual activity, belly dance is viewed as quieting the mind, a moving mediation, ritualistic and serving a form of worship.
In this sense, belly dance is similar to traditional rituals, such as chanting, responsive readings, taking Communion or saying the rosary.".

Some people consider the 'Oriental dance' to be a dance of seduction, whilst others believe that belly dance originated as a fertility ritual. Throughout Middle Eastern history, belly dance has been performed at special celebrations and occasions like weddings, birth announcements, and festivals.

In traditional Muslim society, women often gathered to perform a dance in the evening. Known as Raks sharki ('dance of the East'), this type of belly dance helped women to ready the stomach muscles for childbirth, and was also danced by young women to display their readiness for marriage.

Overview

Belly dance ( Arabic: رقص شرقي, romanized: Raqs sharqi, lit. 'oriental dance') is a Middle Eastern dance that originated in Egypt

Names and terminology

"Belly dance" is a translation of the French term danse du ventre

In the Middle East

Belly dancing is believed to have had a long history in the Middle East

Belly dance in the musical industry

Belly dance today is a dance used by various artists among which are Rihanna, Beyoncé, Fergie

Outside the Middle East

Belly dance was popularized in the West during the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries

Are belly dancers misrepresenting the dance?

Critics outside and inside the American belly dance community complain that many dancers do not understand the cultural context of belly dance and therefore misrepresent the dance outwardly to the general public and also inwardly to the belly 103 dance community

A professional performer Natalie lamented, “They [uninformed belly

Where did belly dancing originate?

Belly dance was said to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in Turkey, Egypt, and Cairo

In fact, Cairo is said to be the belly dancing capital of the Middle East! In the 1960s and 1970s, belly dancing gained popularity in the United States as a result of the feminist movement

Why is belly dance so popular?

In spite of this, there has been a tendency, in the last 40 years, to associate belly dance with spirituality and the power of the feminine

This may be due to the fact that the feminist movement, in the 1970s and 1980s in the USA, rediscovered belly dance as a form of dance that empowers women

Body jewelry worn around the waist

A belly chain or waist chain is the popular English term for the Indian jewelry called kamarband.
The belly chain is a type of body jewelry worn around the waist.
Some belly chains attach to a navel piercing; these are also called pierced belly chains.
They are often made of silver or gold.
Sometimes a thread is used around the waist instead of a chain.
The chain may be delicate and thin, or heavy and thick.