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ORIGIN OF THE BELLY DANCE:
Like all early dance, it was originally connected
with religious worship, at a time when religion was an integral part of
daily life and had relevance to every aspect of human existence. But as
primitive cultures grew more sophisticated and civilization suppressed
the faiths of a former age, so too were the rituals connected with these
bygone religions suppressed. Thus the female pelvic dance died out in
many parts of the world. In some areas, however, it turned from a religious
rite into a secular entertainment.
On the acceptable side was dance as a social pastime, performed in the
home by women to entertain each other. On the unacceptable side was professional
dance, which was the province of gypsies, minority communities and the
poorer members of society.
However much professional dancers were welcomed into the home animate
family festivities, dancing in front of strangers was not considered an
acceptable activity for respectable women.
In its own society, Arabic dance has rarely been the subjets of study
and representation in the arts.
Serperts od the nile - Wendy Buenaventura
Veil dance: Found to statuettes, called Tanagras, were famous in the centuries first and of the Christian era. In these statuettes dancing stand out that pick up the end of their ample dresses, of their veils or their layers with great elegance. Times show their body and others hide when moving the arms and the wide sleeves to it. Some coptos engravings exist (century VIII and X of the Christian era), realised with animal bones whose main reason is the naked dancing covered by fine veils. There are other similar dances to those of the veil, belt like the one of the chal, represented in pieces of ceramics coming from the fatimí time. These dances were realised by young people dressed in Straits zaraguelles that arrived to them until the feet, subjects to the waist with belts. It seems that the dancer takes to a chal or a long belt with both hands he holds and it stretching it by the back. This it is the same gesture that at the moment realises the popular dancing, that hold the belt around the waist and with they loosen it to a hand, making oscillate it. Other times the dancing unites both extreme of the tied belt to its waist, as if outside the tail of an animal, moves and it in circle just as a ventilator while it shakes the rumps. (Primitive Imitation of the animal, dances). |
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