Some MYTH-BUSTING about Middle Eastern Dance:

The term ‘belly dance’ is a misnomer, and a historical artefact. Still, I refer to it, since that’s what’s in common usage. Middle Eastern dance or Oriental dance are more accurate. There are many websites out there that already provide a wealth of info on this.

If a somewhat distasteful image comes to mind when you hear ‘belly dance’, you are not alone, but you are missing out. This beautiful art form suffers from a bad reputation. But it is not deserved. Please make sure you allow yourself the opportunity to watch a performer who is skilled, embodies a respect for the artform, herself and the audience, and is aware of the cultural roots of the dance. Under those conditions, you are in for a treat.

And why such a bad reputation? Well, partly it’s because of Hollywood (if what you think you’ve seen of this dance is from TV, there’s your first problem). But moreover, frankly, some folks propagate this bad reputation in the way they perform. It’s not surprising. The dance is sensual and feminine to be sure, and anything that’s sensual and feminine is likely to be misunderstood in our culture. That applies to performers and audience alike. We are all bumbling through what it means to be human, our bodies and our sensual/sexual expression of them is subject to particular chaos and confusion.

We have far more images of the extremes of prudishness or in-your-face sexuality bordering on vulgarity. We need more examples of women who find a balance with grace. I believe this need for a healthy expression of sexuality/sensuality is evidenced by the number of women who flock to ‘belly dance’ classes across North America. It is simply something in our culture that we lack, and we crave it.