I am like many women who began the study of Bellydance out of curiosity and to seek a new and different exercise form. I was 31 when I took my first class, not knowing consciously at that time that I would make an immediate and deep spiritual connection with the movements and music.

It was a confusing start, because while I enjoyed the challenge of the new dance form, I left the class with no incipient knowledge of its history. I assumed, as I remember telling the friend that accompanied me, that maybe it was associated with prostitution? At any rate, we looked at each other with puzzlement.

As I know now, the fact that the history of what we today call "Bellydance" is secluded beyond common knowledge continues to obscure its real roots; and mass consumption of the myths perpetuates racism and misogyny as the 20th century sealed its now oversexual image in the minds of the Western world.

On the website that I created, ZareenaDance, there is a composite historical sketch of Bellydance, which as many experts in the field will tell you is a misnomer. I'll bet if you say it to prominent instructor and dance anthropologist Morocco of the Casbah Dance Experience in New York City, you'd be promptly corrected, as was I. (Did she bite my head off or what!)

My curiosity and confusion led me to reach Morocco, even after reading many versions of the dance's history, and the response I received from her corrected many mistaken notions. Some of the information she gave me is in the History of Middle Eastern Dance section in my site.

What do a flat undulating belly, sequins, and exotic music have to do with history? Is this hypnotic image really harmful? Is it just a fragment of fantasy left over from a time long gone?

Except for those that consciously seek out the historical background of Middle Eastern Dance, the general perception is that Bellydance emerged from harems and harlots, masking in its flowing movements and use of the abdomen and hips, erotic secrets designed to draw aroused men into a seductive trap. Or perhaps the mention of the word leads to images of tall shapely ladies wrapped in chiffon and beaded brassieres, flat belly and long flowing hair a prerequisite feature?

If any of these images seems correct to you, Hollywood has put a spell on you.

The legacy of these images is a product of what historians call "Orientalism", a European colonial concept that later fed the Western image of bellydancers adapted in American films. Starting in the 1920's and 30's, the burlesque example of an Oriental dancer came out of vaudeville and a turn of the century fascination with ancient Egypt.

It later appeared in more sophisticated form in later Hollywood "golden era" movies which attempted a fantasy recreation of the East. Unfortunately the general concept became that such fantasy and epic depictions were truth.

The staged version of Bellydance has its roots in the wide expanse of tribal regions in the Middle East and North Africa. The histories of these cultures are hundreds of years old, and dance has always been part of cultural events: spiritual and religious ceremonies, folk celebrations, weddings, and communal gatherings. The evolution of dance forms in the Middle East and North Africa has also been influenced by surrounding areas: India, Greece, Spain, and Nubia.

In many of these cultures, women taught women how to dance. Some particular dance movements such as the Schikhatt dance from Morocco were used to prepare new brides for marriage; the cane dance or "Raks al Asaya" was created by women in the Egyptian countrysides to mimic a men's martial art; in Saudi Arabia where Islamic custom prohibits dance in public, and segregates the sexes, women dance for each other in the home and family celebrations.

Some versions of dance from this part of the world are also athletic, requiring dynamic physical stamina and dexterity. Both men and women participate in folk dances and sometimes dance in groups.

The principles of Middle Eastern dance and also many other dance traditions from around the world differs form Western dance, which in the absence of historical and knowledge of ethno-history, has contributed to misunderstandings and misconceptions. In general, Middle Eastern dance centers movement from the torso.

The traditional movements are grounded and earthy, using the limbs to support or as an extension of the internal movements. The abdominal undulations were sometimes used as exercises to strengthen muscles used in childbirth, and sharp hip movements accent percussive beats in the rhythmic music.

In 1923, a Lebanese businesswoman named Badia Masabny opened a theatrical club for European tourists in Cairo. Under the influence of colonialism and European tourism, Cairo, Egypt became an entertainment capital. Madame Masabny opened her club to cater to the political elite and wealthy classes. She organized a professional troupe of dancers and orchestras.

It was during this time that the sole female performer was highlighted and many stars came out of this era: Tahia Carioca and Samia Gamal were the biggest, and in their careers also starred in hundreds of Arabic films in the 1940's and 50's. The Egyptian golden era of film produced the stars that were copied by the West, but the cultural background was largely ignored and misunderstood. The modern fantasy notion took root.

From a cultural point of view, this era in and of itself is an important part of the evolution of dance. Trained dancers developed the unique ethnic styles into staged choreographies while the vocabulary borrowed from other sources such as Latin American dance, African, and jazz dance. The music also became more complex as traditional instruments were layered beneath orchestral compositions. This was the birthplace of what is now the most highly choreographed form of Bellydance today, known as the modern Egyptian style.

So far, no mention of harems, harlots, or women dancing solely for the pleasure of men. These concepts associated with this dance are not cultural or based in fact.

Today there are many elite performers of Middle Eastern dance around the world, many who began or continued their studies in the birthplace of modern Bellydance in Egypt. It has also spawned many fusion trends in dance and music, and countless of devoted students and performers. What we call 'Bellydance" is one of the most beautiful dance forms in the world, and one of the oldest. Its enduring qualities and timeless charm has made it one of the least understood but most intriguing forms of entertainment in the world.

© 2005 By Zareena