Why has traditional Raqs-al-sharki dancing (known as ‘belly dancing’) lost its meaning as a symbol of female liberation and freedom for Middle-Eastern women and gained the connotation of being sexual and seductive as it came to the Western World?
By emmadeena
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4001 BCE
Introduction
Belly dancing ( Raqs-al-sharki) is one of the oldest forms of dance. The abdomen performs both smooth and percussive movements to music. Nowadays, it is considered to be an important artistic aspect in defining the culture of countries such as Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. Over history, Raqs-al-sharki spread to the West and took on the name of ‘belly dancing’. As it spread, it became sexualized and its purpose was to be appealing to a male audience. -
4000 BCE
Worship of Fertility
The type of traditional dance (later known as Raqs-al-sharki
or belly dancing) is believed to have originated from civilizations in the Middle-East and North Africa (predominantly Turkey and Egypt) who worshiped a goodness of fertility. The women used to dance by means of moving their torsos and their pelvis to worship this goddess and her femininity. Some anthropologists believe this one of the oldest forms of dance. -
4000 BCE
Bedouin Fertility
The dance also was used as a means to ease the pains and struggles encountered during childbirth. The Bedouins, nomads of the North African deserts, would use this method to aid a mother during childbirth. The mother giving birth is surrounded by women in the tribe. The women surround her and chant while performing circular motions of the torso. They would encourage the mother to perform the actions as well, to facilitate the birth and ease the mother’s pain. -
500 BCE
By Women, For Women
Women would perform the traditional dance, which they now called Raqs-al-sharki, in front of other women- never in front of men. Women performed the dance simply for fun and as a form of artistic expression! The women believed this was a good way to bring on happiness, manage stress, and have good reproductive health. The dance still carries this positive vibe. The dancers would wear loose-fitting clothing with a scarf wrapped around their hips and loud jewelry to make noise as they danced. -
Napoleon In Egypt
For a long time, the traditional dance was unknown to the Western and European world. Napoleon Bonaparte travelled to Egypt in the year 1798. Him and his men requested to visit an Egyptian brothel. There, the women danced for the men in the only style they knew: Raqs-al-sharki. The men enjoyed this style of dance and called it ‘Dance du Ventre’ or in English, ‘Belly Dance’. They brought the term back to France and introduced it to their country as an erotic and exotic dance style. -
Burlesque in London
In Victorian London, a form of theatrical dancing known as Burlesque emerged. This dance was inspired by what Europeans considered belly dance. Both dance styles incorporate similar slow torso movements and similar costumes. Belly dance was thought to be a seductive type of dance. Burlesque is also considered a sexual type of dance used of adult entertainment. It was considered risqué for its time, in an era where most women were fully covered to the ankles! -
Illegal dancing in Cairo
In Cairo, Egypt, the political situation of the city changed. New officials outlawed public dancing in the city. Once the women of Cairo could no longer dance, the dance was further modified by the rest of the world. The new, hyper-sexualized styles became the main ones practiced in the world. Many dancers moved away with the potential to become professional dancers in other cities. However, they were forced to adapt their dancing to what audiences desired, which was an exotic and sexual dance. -
Daning Ban Lifted
Between 1849 and 1856, the dancing ban was lifted in Cairo. Therefore, many dancers returned to their home city. However, dancing was always closely regulated for signs of ‘too much’ promiscuity. Dancing became popular in Egyptian cabaret bars as well. Many bars became lower class establishments and hired women to act as dancers/ prostitutes. It seems as though even Egypt, one of the places of origin for Raqs-al-sharki had fallen to the Westernized and sexualized fantasy of dancing. -
Chicago World Fairs
A dancer known as ‘Little Egypt’ performed Raqs-al-sharki dancing at the Chicago World Fairs. Some appreciated her artistry, however, many were appalled by her sexuality. She is responsible for truly introducing belly dancing into the United States. However, it was not introduced as a cultural dance, but more so a sexual style of dance. Belly dance also adopted a more ‘attractive’ costume to suit its audience, which consisted of a jewelled bra and a long skirt- called a bedlah. -
American Cabaret Dance
Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment developed in France. It includes dance, music and acting. Though Cabaret existed since the 16th century, it gained popularity in the United States in 1911. American Cabaret was influenced by the rise in popularity and Westernization of belly dancing. The dances have similar movement and costumes. Cabaret dancers wore minimal clothing, and like belly dancers, were walking the line between being entertaining and overly sexual. -
Greek Belly Dancing
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Greece and Turkey were at war. The Greeks from a city called Smyrna had a culture that was a mixture of Greek and Turish. The people of Smyrna took the traditional style of Raqs-al-sharki dance, combined it with Greek elements which modified the music, made the moves simpler and included males in the dance. This dance is called Tsifteteli. It is one of the branches of Raqs-al-sharki dance that was created due to military expansion and migration -
Popularity in American Night Clubs
During the 1920s, America was in a period known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ because it was in a prime financial position and night-life exploded. Night clubs became much more prominent than Cabaret theatres. Belly dancing was performed in the night clubs. Many Middle-Eastern women were hired to perform the 'new', hyper-sexualized form of belly dance to please audiences. The dancers would wear newly adopted ‘attractive’ costumes comprised of a bra, veils, a visible midriff, sequins, and glitter. -
De-popularization in the United States
The 1960s were a time of great change in the West. There was a focus on freedom, peace, and new styles of music. Anti-establishment ideologies introduced more risqué forms of entertainment. At the beginning of the decade, belly dancing was considered exotic. At the end, belly dancing lost popularity as it was considered boring. Clubs were now allowed to show bare breasts. This drew attention away from dance clubs (who would not show breasts) and drew audiences towards more sexual clubs. -
Feminist Vision
Feminist movements during this time created a 'new' vision for Western belly dancing. Feminists view the dance as a way to celebrate the female body and is a form of art for women. They view the female body not as something erotic, but something that men consider erotic and sexual. There is nothing wrong with celebrating the female body- it is patriarchy that have changed its connotation. Feminists believe that if the women are able to dance freely they are actively escaping oppression. -
Present Interpretation
Today, belly dancing is not as popular or widespread as it was at the beginning of the 20th century. Artists such as Shakira have given it a new surge of popularity in the West. Many cities now have belly dancing studios where anyone can learn to dance. Belly dancing is regarded by some as being a form of liberation, however others may see it as overly provocative. It is still identified with cultures from North Africa and the Middle-East, therefore it has not lost its sense of cultural origin. -
Conclusion
I believe that belly dancing and its evolution represents how our society views both sexuality and cultural expression. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the dance was dissociated from its cultural heritage and was simply erotic and sexual. Now, as North America is (hopefully) becoming more ethically and culturally diverse, people are slowly learning to respect and appreciate different traditions. This has led to the dance becoming more respected and associated with its true cultural heritage.
