Belly Dancing
Oh how I love your program. As an avid traveler myself, the Savvy
Traveler lets us revisit our favorite spots and entices us to travel
further.
With an MA in Middle East Studies and a second MA in dance education
(also a dancer, choreographer and instructor myself.) Nothing remains
of Pharonic Egyptian dances in any form. History has proven that many
people from many places have made Egypt their home, and no accurate
record of ancient Egyptian dance remains, only conjecture.
There are many Orientalist sources available on the topic of belly
dance which have romanticized a folk tradition and turned it into a
commercial venture which does not compliment Egyptian culture. (See
Malek Alloula's book Colonial Harem for the Algerian take on this
topic).
As an officer with the Arab Anti-defamation League, noted
broadcaster, Kasey Kasim said that Arabs are always faced with the
negative image as "Billionaires, bombers and belly dancers". You know
that Egypt has much more to offer. The dress, music and movements
have been denigrated for the sake of commercialism, at the expense of
decent Egyptian/Arab/Middle Eastern women's reputation. While the
Islamic Fundamentalists may seem severe, on this point I must agree,
this dance is degrading to women in general and doesn't show the
inner power of women, but rather the power we all know is in
sexual/sensual excitement - not altogether healthy in the end.
Thanks for letting me share this information and my opinion.
Katherine
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