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The History of Belly Dance

Beginnings of Belly Dance

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The history of “Belly Dance” as we know the term is very broad, the facts are twisted and really unknown from too many cultures claiming rights and a lot of tall tails throughout history. Also the fact that Belly Dance has such a long and ancient history, the path of its roots have been forgotten or glazed over with fairy tale conceptions. However one thing about Belly Dancing is for sure, it was not even called Belly Dance till around 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, when a girl affectionately called “Little Egypt” first introduced this Middle Eastern Dance.

How Belly Dance Mistakenly Got It’s Name

The dance was mistaken in the French translation of “Danse du Ventre” which literally means Belly Dance. “Raks Sharki” (what it is called in Arabic) actual translation is Oriental Dance. There are two possible reasons for the misinterpretation. One is that this would have been the first time anyone had seen movements through dance in America that had a focus in hip and belly movements. The other is a little more on the “American Way” when the gentleman Sol Bloom saw that there was no money to be made with  just another dance, noticing the hip and belly movements he “accidentally” mistranslated the words to Belly Dancing to add a more exotic and sexy twist. Ladies were to drink tea and wait for there other halves while the gentleman were filed into watch this exotic dance. This giving ladies the idea it was far too risky for there eyes and gentleman the thrill of seeing something erotic.

Belly Dance’s Evolution

Thusly a new craze was born and Belly Dancing was the new in thing. Over the years Belly Dancing in the west has evolved adding new traditions from dances from all over the world; anywhere from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, and the Arab countries. Also having roots from Indian Temple Dancing where one can find many of the arm and head movements. Many of these dances are believed to have had there beginnings from the need to help woman with labor and to celebrate sexuality. The women would take turn dancing in a circle and when it was the first time for a young girl it became a rite into the passage of womanhood. The dance was preformed only in front of woman by woman as a way to feel feminine and sensual. A beautiful not vulgar way of thinking, however this would have also been in the time of the matriarch when women dominated societies.

The Belly Dance Costumes History

Many things like the Costumes that we see today are not traditional. Instead they were made up by the star struck Hollywood production companies. For instance did you know that the Belly Dance midriff tops, the “belly” tops, were not introduced into Belly Dance until the producer of Salome with actress Rita Hayworth. Traditionally these Costumes were a totally covered body with layers of fabric on dresses or skirts belted in at the waist.  But one tradition in the Belly Dance Costume that is thought to be all American is the belly ring because at the time it was thought to be obscene to show the belly button, however this was inducted years ago when the woman performing the Belly Dance techniques would use the muscle to secure stones and as they got better the stones got larger. It is argued by differing parties that many of the props are not traditional but added once again in the dances rebirth in America as Belly Dance.

Belly Dance Today

Although throughout time the dance has evolved and changed from its beginnings with the earth mothers of early history, Belly Dance still has the form and structure of any professional artistic dance. Having clung to some traditions like the bare feet the first founders started to feel more grounded and connected to the earth. Everything changes, there is no constancy in history, everything must move within its time. This is what is so beautiful and fulfilling about this Art form today. Belly Dance has evolved to help the women of today let loose, feel free, and let them know in a male dominated society that they are still the gorgeous, skinny, voluptuous, tall, and short goddesses that they are!

Belly Dance Classes at Temple Arts in Plantation Florida

We at Temple Arts in Plantation Florida are excited to invite all the beautiful goddesses in the South Florida area to come to Belly Dance Class! Pack your hip scarves and zills or if you do not have them, come on in and grab one.

The History of Belly Dance(Get Started now in Belly Dance Classes at Temple Arts in Plantation Florida)

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