Belly Dancing History and Origins
Taken from the book "Oriental Dance: Discovering the Art of Belly Dancing"
Oriental Dance, in one form or another, has been around for millennia, tracing back to a time before recorded history.
Belly dancing is Oriental.
In this case, Oriental means Eastern, as in Near East, Middle East and/or Far East. Belly dancing was not introduced to the Western (European and American) worlds until the 18th century, and was seen only rarely until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Examples of the various styles encompassed by the name belly dancing can be found in cultures across the Eastern world, from India to Egypt, from North Africa to Spain, where the development of Flamenco dancing is attributed to the Moorish dancers in the area through the 700s. Even the dances of Polynesia bear striking similarity to Oriental dance.
These styles all have their own cultural and geographical differences, but share elements such as a focus on controlled muscle movement in the abdomen and hips, delicate and deliberate hand motions, and a lack of jumping or movement in a large area.
Belly dancing was performed in praise of, or to honor a goddess.
Throughout human history, dance has been a part of many cultures as a way to honor gods. Native Americans in the United States and tribes in Africa have used dance to call to the gods, to ask for favorable results in endeavors or to appease an angry god. Archeological research suggests that prehistoric tribes often worshipped fertility and a Great Mother goddess, and that dance was a part of such worship.
Painted dancing figures have been discovered on tomb walls that date back to 5,000 BC, and dance was a major component of goddess worship in ancient Greece. Dancing in the temples of goddesses continued until the last was closed by Christians in 500 AD.
Belly dancing was a part of local and folk dance traditions.
Every tribe, every culture, developed its own dance traditions. Typically, these dances were done as part of gatherings and celebrations. Due to conquests of different lands throughout the world’s history, these local dances were shared with other societies. Because belly dancing was likely a part of individual societies and then shared with other groups, part of belly dancing’s origins came from local and folk dancing found in small populations.
Belly dancing was to honor and to help a woman ready for childbirth.
There are some who believe that belly dancing was used to help women prepare their bodies for birth. Oriental dance makes use of muscles throughout the abdomen, hips and pelvis that, when toned and strengthened, can help make birth easier. For those early, goddess-worshipping societies, it only makes sense that birth would be celebrated as part of the fertility rites.
For further information on "Oriental Dance: Discovering the Art of Belly Dancing" please visit the Belly Dancing Secrets website and sign-up for the Belly Dancing Newsletter
Oriental Dance, in one form or another, has been around for millennia, tracing back to a time before recorded history.
Belly dancing is Oriental.
In this case, Oriental means Eastern, as in Near East, Middle East and/or Far East. Belly dancing was not introduced to the Western (European and American) worlds until the 18th century, and was seen only rarely until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Examples of the various styles encompassed by the name belly dancing can be found in cultures across the Eastern world, from India to Egypt, from North Africa to Spain, where the development of Flamenco dancing is attributed to the Moorish dancers in the area through the 700s. Even the dances of Polynesia bear striking similarity to Oriental dance.
These styles all have their own cultural and geographical differences, but share elements such as a focus on controlled muscle movement in the abdomen and hips, delicate and deliberate hand motions, and a lack of jumping or movement in a large area.
Belly dancing was performed in praise of, or to honor a goddess.
Throughout human history, dance has been a part of many cultures as a way to honor gods. Native Americans in the United States and tribes in Africa have used dance to call to the gods, to ask for favorable results in endeavors or to appease an angry god. Archeological research suggests that prehistoric tribes often worshipped fertility and a Great Mother goddess, and that dance was a part of such worship.
Painted dancing figures have been discovered on tomb walls that date back to 5,000 BC, and dance was a major component of goddess worship in ancient Greece. Dancing in the temples of goddesses continued until the last was closed by Christians in 500 AD.
Belly dancing was a part of local and folk dance traditions.
Every tribe, every culture, developed its own dance traditions. Typically, these dances were done as part of gatherings and celebrations. Due to conquests of different lands throughout the world’s history, these local dances were shared with other societies. Because belly dancing was likely a part of individual societies and then shared with other groups, part of belly dancing’s origins came from local and folk dancing found in small populations.
Belly dancing was to honor and to help a woman ready for childbirth.
There are some who believe that belly dancing was used to help women prepare their bodies for birth. Oriental dance makes use of muscles throughout the abdomen, hips and pelvis that, when toned and strengthened, can help make birth easier. For those early, goddess-worshipping societies, it only makes sense that birth would be celebrated as part of the fertility rites.
For further information on "Oriental Dance: Discovering the Art of Belly Dancing" please visit the Belly Dancing Secrets website and sign-up for the Belly Dancing Newsletter
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posted by Lisa at 7:04 AM
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