Nahla Bellydance @ Bollywood in the Bronx

So you've read my posts now see the dance! Enjoy everyone! :)

So how's this Summer heat for ya, huh? I hope so far its going well for you! Work that tan! :)

So now that I have finished my History of Belly Dance Series for you I will now start my NYC & Bx Misconceptions of Raqs Sharqi and Middle Eastern Dance. Belly Dance is known by many names and the most common are the above mentioned. Raqs Sharqi and Oriental Dance means "dance of the east" and these are the proper names for Belly Dance. I use the term Belly Dance because it is what most people know it as. The term Middle Eastern Dance encompasses all the dances from northern Africa, the Mediterranean, and Middle East including Belly Dance. With name game out of the way, I hope this clarifies what to call it a little better. But what about what Belly Dance really is?

Ask almost anyone in NYC or the Bronx what Belly Dance is and I can guarantee that you will get a different answer for each person you ask. Ask them where it comes from and 9 times out of 10 you may be told, with conviction, India.

My personal favorite is when they tell me where I'm supposed accept my tip...more on that later.

Since I've been bellydancing I've heard all kinds of things: why it's done, where it comes from and who does and specifically who doesn't.  I myself had some misconceptions of Belly Dance, luckily I asked questions and read a lot. This is my craft and I want to make sure I get it right, this way I can give you the correct information! :) So for those who were too afraid to ask (it's not like Belly Dancers bite or anything, tee hee), here are some clarifications.

Belly Dance as we know it now is a fun style of dance thats used for entertainment for special events and parties.  Its also a good alternative to gym workouts.  I always recommend people try it because it works the core and helps with flexibility and agility.  It indulges your inner "girly girl" and brings that dormant femininity out for the those who aren't so girly. From an American perspective women see it as  empowerment. In the Middle East it is a part of their culture, empowerment has nothing to do with it, and because it is a part of their culture, the dance is not limited to only women.  There are male Middle Eastern dancers as well.  Many of them are great teachers as well.  Yes it is essentially a woman's dance but men dance it as well.

With that said, Oriental Dance as far as we know it, got its start as a dance made for women by women, to prepare her body for child birth and to celebrate fertility.  It spread from the Far East to the Near East and throughout the Maghreb (Northern Africa) and the Mediterranean.

It did NOT get its start in the casbah, with harem girls dancing for the Sultan. That's another kind of entertainment all together! That image came from movies and paintings, especially from Orientalism art.  But because people have seen this image over and over for centuries, we now believe it to be true.  I can assure you it's not. I remember dancing in one place and I noticed this guy staring at me as if he was caught up in his own sultan/harem girl fantasy with these aggressive and intense eyes-very creepy (cue the song Hungry Eyes here).

Some people equate it to salacious entertainment, like we take tips in our cleavage. Quite frankly I'm not doing that with a child or someone's grandma in the audience.  Want to know where that person told me to take my tip? One women actually TOLD ME "no, no; you're supposed to take it here" as she pointed to her bra strap. Uh NO, none of my teachers EVER mentioned that to me nor have I EVER SEEN a Middle Eastern dancer take tips like that. Another man insisted on tipping me in my cleavage even after I politely shook my head then put my hand out to accept. He had nerve to get upset at me. Okay, rock on Grandpa, but you're not degrading Belly Dance. I'll take my tips wherever I deem appropriate. And you're welcome.

So how do you tip a Belly Dancer? For starters, you DO NOT touch them.  Give her respect as an artist and give her the tip in hand. If she allows it you can place the tip in her waist belt or hip belt. Some people, especially in Middle Eastern establishments and parties will hold the money in one hand and use the other hand to "shower" the Belly Dancer with the tip money. It kept with their tradition in not touching the dancer. Belly Dancers are very friendly so she will signal what's okay and what's not. DO follow her lead, DON'T push your luck.

So to review Belly Dance also know by other names is mainly a woman's dance though in the Arab countries it is a part of the culture so men dance it as well. It is a dance for everyone from young to old and can be done for fun and exercise.  It is not to be confused with another kind of entertainment.  Even an exotic dancer deserves respect as the human being she/he is.

Now ladies, after you learn a couple of Belly Dance moves and you want to try them on your honey at home-by all means do you! RAHRAHRAHRAHRAHRAH!


See you soon with more myths and truths of Belly Dance, shimmy on my friends!

love always,

Nahla

Hi everyone! I hope the summer is treating you right so far. NYC summers are known for intense heat and mugginess, this summer is no exception. This heat doesn't compare to Iraq or Nigeria (so I hear) but that NYC humidity is what does it. Ugh...

This post is part 4, the last of my History of Belly Dance Series. There is so much information about Belly Dance history and let me tell you, condensing this was difficult! My concern was to include well-rounded information while pinpointing the main events and individuals that contributed to Belly Dance as we know it now (accuracy was pretty important too!). There are plenty more people and information about Middle Eastern dance and the different kinds of Belly Dance (what's the difference you ask? I keep telling ya! There's A LOT to this dance!) that will be covered in my next posts. I hope you enjoy and as always, feel free to leave comments!

Middle Eastern Dance from the 19th and early 20th century...

Finally from shimmying our way through the ancient world with a magic carpet ride to the 18th and early 19th century, we debkeh into the modern-day world of Belly Dance.

The early dancers of the Orient from Northern Africa and the Middle East were traditionally covered from head to toe and they wore many layers.  This means their mid-section was covered. So how did the two piece costume come into play? Simply put- supply and demand.  The Western world expected to see a certain kind of costume based on their perception, not the actual reality so Middle Eastern dancers adapted their costumes to a certain degree.  Arab modesty required the costumes cover the belly with either beading or sheer material.

For hundreds of years Cairo was the last stop on what was known as the Silk Road where many economic, cultural, and educational exchanges from other countries along the Silk Road took place.  This may attribute to how Cairo became the entertainment center of the Arab world where the majority of TV shows, movies, music and other forms of media come from; for this reason Egypt is also considered the center of Belly Dance even though other countries within the region each have their own style.

After the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 Belly Dance became the feature in Vaudeville shows as the Hoochie Koochie dance.  American interest was still heavily into the Orient with King Tut's exhibition and Oscar Wilde's play, Salome. Even Thomas Edison got into it when he filmed Dance of Fatima on 1897.

To the Present 

During the Roaring Twenties an actress/dancer named Ruth St. Denis became famous for her Egyptian-inspired shows. She herself was inspired by the spiritual aspects of the Oriental and Hindu dances she witnessed.  Her most famous work was Egypta in 1910. Other names associated with the Orient image was Little Egypt, Gertrude Hoffman and Mata Hari (who was not an authentic dancer, she was more of a performer who was known to rely on her charms; eventually her charm ran out and she was executed by the French government in World War 1 for espionage).

On both sides of the Atlantic Middle Eastern Dance was very popular.  Egypt's strategic location as center of the Arab world made it easy for Belly Dance to spread throughout and for other Arabs to add to the dance.  Once such innovator was Badia Masabni of Syrian descent who herself was a famous entertainer and shrewd business woman.  She opened up a cabaret called the Casino Opera and trained dancers for her popular and elaborate shows. The most notable dancers from the Casino Opera were Samia Gamal and Tahia Carioca who are some of the most famous belly dancers of all time.  They, long with many other Egyptian dancers, reached great fame during the Golden Age of Egyptian Cinema.

During this monumental time in Belly Dance history many movies from Cairo featured Belly Dance performances.  It was here in these movies that the Western modernization of the two-piece costume was used (with modifications according to Arab customs). The DVD, The Legends of Belly Dance, is highly recommended to witness the beautiful artistry of the Golden Age of Cinema.  Also a part of Belly Dance history is the famous composer Farid Al-Atrache, from Lebanon, who was not only linked to Samia Gamal through performances, but romantically linked as well.

Other wonderful trendsetters of more recent years are Nagwa Fouad, who produced and performed shows of spectacular proportions, Shohair Zaki, who was the first to dance to legendary Umm Kolthum's (very long) songs and Fifi Abdou, who was also know as Bent al Balad, Egypt's beloved "country girl."  Most presently Dina, the Queen of Cairo and Soraya of Brazil are the most famous dancers out of Cairo.  Raqia Hassan is the most sought after instructor in Egypt.

Belly Dance comes from a long line of history that encompasses multiple cultures and all of it has lead up to what we know now.  Many of theses 20th century innovations still continue today and we are sure to see more to come!

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Well everyone, this is it for the History of Belly Dance Series by your favorite neighborhood belly dancer, Nahla! If you're interested in more posts about all things Belly Dance, keep a lookout for my posts. I urge you as well to research Middle Eastern dance and look up the names mentioned in this post.

I wish you well and happy shimmies!

~Nahla

On this rainy June day I write to you and as promised Part 3 of my History of Belly Dance Series: Resurgence of Women's Dance. 

From the seminal ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Middle Ages we take a magic carpet ride over to the Age of Colonization in the 18th century all the was to the early 20th century.  First and foremost- Belly dance as we know it now came from an ideal that Western foreigners had of the Orient (also known as the Middle East and Northern Africa).

Colonization played a large role in exposing Europeans to the Oriental culture.  It was during the 18th century specifically that Napoleon sent French troops over to Egypt.  Hearing from others who came before them, they wanted to see the "dancing girls;" they really meant the Ghawazee, the Egyptian gypsies.  The Ghawazee danced in public for fellow countrymen and foreigners alike, however the Awalem, who were educated and trained Egyptian dancers, did not perform for men or foreigners.  These women performed for other women in private quarters.

Traditionally the Ghawazee & Awalem alike were covered from head to toe.  Their clothing incorporated many layers and most notably their stomachs were covered.  The two piece costume that is familiar today came around later in the early-mid 20th century.

The intense interest in the Orient developed into Orientalism which was a period where many writers, artists, and the wealthy visited Northern Africa and the Middle East; they brought back their perceptions of the Orient based on their Western sensibilities. Orientalism was in full swing by this time as it started earlier with French colonialism.  Many beautiful writings and paintings come from this art period and of course the women and the dancers were the main focus, however their depiction of the Orient was inaccurate.  It was based on fantasy.

The Chicago World's Fair in 1893 was of particular importance. It was here were Middle Eastern dance made its American debut.  It was met with both fascination and repulsion; Victorian morality wouldn't allow people to admit they were fascinated yet Freudian philosophy could explain the fascination.  It was here in this fair we find out how the craze started and America and we meet the legend of Little Egypt.

For the first time in the American public saw Middle Eastern dancers that included the Ouled Nail and Mr. Sol Bloom, the World's Fair organizer, played an essential role.  There was a section known as Cairo Street and this was the most popular section.  At the fair's press release Mr. Bloom improvised a tune on a piano so reporters could preview the performers.  This tune is known as The Streets of Cairo or Poor Little Country Maid and by now it is known by everyone, even if they don't realize it. Trust me when I tell you, you HAVE HEARD this tune! LOL!

The legend of Little Egypt is truly an interesting one because stories abound about who exactly she was or if she even existed.  Even Mr. Bloom himself denied knowing Little Egypt.  What is believed is that she was Farida Mahzar of Syrian descent and received dance training in Cairo.  There are many other women whose names are tied to the legend but only her name can be validated thanks to witnesses her skillful performance and elegant costumes.

The spread of Oriental dance can be tied to world events spanning from the 18th century to early 20th century which heavily influenced how we view Middle Eastern dance.  Social phenomenon such as Industrial Age.  Victorian Era and even Freud's psychology influenced the world and made it just a little smaller. The effect of colonization and the World's Fair are prime examples of how different cultures mixed together and introduced the dance to the Western world. From these events Belly dance as we know it continues to spread and just as traveling gypsies, the dance takes on a different style of wherever it ends up!


See you soon with the last part of my series History of Belly Dance: Middle Eastern Dance from the 19th century...to the Present. 

Hello everyone! Normally I like to discuss all things belly dance but today I'll give that a rest. I feel it is more important to say a big and sincere thank you to our military past and present, those living and living with God for their bravery and sacrifice in defending our country. Your example of courage is an inspiration to us all even though we may not say it everyday. It is because of your voluntary actions that there is no draft. You do what others can't or won't do. You do the job and even after you leave and are an ocean away from the conflict it still stays with you; you still feel the need to help your brother and sister in combat because you do not want them left behind.

Women (because its ALWAYS ladies first!) - I become speechless when I think of you and what you do for our country. You show the world and even us here women really can do anything! Real-life Annie Oakleys! You represent that warrior side of women most people don't think about and you embody it. Thank you so much for being role models to our young girls and showing them females can be strong. Men- thank you staying strong here and there and also being a role model to our young boys who really need to that example of a man who does right by his brothers and sisters. 

Happy Memorial Day and God bless you and your families! Happy shimmies US military!

Love always, 

Nahla

Happy Saturday Everyone! Finally we have some nice Spring weather, and the spring allergies that come along with it...oh well, its not so bad. Nothing I can't shimmy off my shoulders.

I hope the Spring is treating you well so far. As promised I have Part 2 of my History of Belly Dance Series so without further ado here we go:

The Devolution of Women's Dance

From the ancient world we shimmy on over to the Mediterranean; as ancient societies stared moving ahead, there was a shift in spiritual beliefs from matrileny to partrieny.  Goddess worship now became God worship with the spread of Christianity and Islam.  This monumental shift took more than a few centuries to take hold; women saw their place in society dwindling and restricted to very concrete roles.

First evidence of this shift was found in Crete.  The ruling class performed dances at official events that were more political. Acquistion of land meant acquisition of wealth; war was one way and marriage was on a smaller scale, another way.  These events were based on reason, and from this point came the separation and restriction of women's roles.

This development continued into ancient Greece where the focal shift became militaristic and in ancient Rome where public dance became a showcase of the dancer's speed and flexibility to show off a man's warrior-like abilities.

Public or ritualistic dance was no longer important in this society. Dancing was seen as purely entertainment and performed by foreign dancers from Spain and Syria. Later Roman women began to see an opportunity during the fall of the Roman Empire to gain some of their independence back by going into public life. One way was becoming a professional dancer and very often this included prostitution.

After the fall of the Roman Empire there was a clear understanding of women's roles in the Middle Ages.  At this point women, whether upper or lower class, were seen as property. Dancing was done by professionals and public forms of Goddess worship were (no pun intended) stomped out. Beginning from ancient Greece and well past this point in time professional dance was the ruling class's entertainment. Any ritualistic dance was done by the lower class and regarded as trivial.

Class separation played an integral role in dance during the Middle Ages.  In the time of knights, nobles, and chivalry, women were very much confined.  Public dance was done in a very couth and controlled manner by the upper class right down to the very clothing they wore.

The lower class had a little more freedom with one another and less formal in their behavior.  Their clothing allowed more movement for dancing (due to all the hard labor, loose clothing was very helpful).  Gypsies, who lived marginally, continued with their dancing traditions and acclimated to their surroundings, however they did not live by the rules and restrictions of the lands they settled in.

To summarize, the societal focus from Goddess to God worship was due to conquests, class separation and upsurge of male dominated religions of Christianity and Islam.  These religions altered the way people saw each other and defined roles and functions of the sexes. Even though roles were restricted, the desire to express oneself through dance could not be quelled. After a couple of centuries of regression eventually a period of women's progression was forthcoming.


Part 3 will come soon continuing from here and discussing more on the progression of women's dance. Hope you enjoyed and happy shimmies!

~Nahla <3

Hello everyone!

I hope this week has started out good for you. Mine started with an audition and Iron Man 3. Both were pretty good! :)

This week I thought it'd be a good idea to share the history of Belly Dance with you. Belly Dance has a  long and varied history as much as it's fascinating. Here I will include the first part of my History of Belly Dance series. Comment as you wish! Always good to get feedback. :)

Belly Dance as it's known by most here in the states is exotic and different. Back in their respective native countries Belly Dance (or more accurately Oriental Dance) is a part of the Middle Eastern and Arabic culture.  Whether here or there Belly Dance is a beautiful art form that celebrated happiness and joy of living.  It is a form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by all ages for all occasions.

Middle Eastern Dance and Oriental Dance are some of the most common names practitioners of the dance form will use.  It is danced throughout Northern Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.  The history of Belly Dance is long and widespread and cannot be traced back to one absolute origin.  From what is known, the roots of the dance can be traced to the ancient Indian gypsy tribes that traveled west towards the present-day Middle East.  You can still note similarities in the dancer's head slides and arm poses.  It must be observed however that the dance form is not Indian as many assume.

Matriarchal societies ruled the ancient world; women were the leaders, holding positions of power in the temples and as tribal leaders.  There was an understanding that women had an intuitive connection to the earth due to their life-giving ability and the correlation between a female's menstrual cycle and the lunar cycle.  To celebrate this incredible ability, priestesses would gather on full moon nights and conduct fertility rituals.

Many of the dance moves we are familiar with today such as chest circles, undulations, figure 8 hips (also known as infinity hips) and shimmies come from these ritual dances.  The dance emphasized and celebrated the female body's ability to give and nourish life.  Birthing was a vital matter as the mortality rate for both mother and child were high.  This dance was a celebration of life.

The dance moves also accentuated sexual energy necessary to create life. Keep in mind this was during a time where the correlation between sexuality, fertility and menstruation was an everyday part of life and not shameful or shocking.  It was a spiritual dance that gave thanks and praise to the Goddess for the ability to give birth and nurture life.

Next week I will present Part 2, see you then and happy shimmies!