Bellydance Explained

Question:  Aren't Bellydancer the same as  strippers?

There is no nudity involved and we are not strippers.  The only item we discard is the veil we dance with, and that is not an item of clothing.  We do not perform at bucks nights to avoid confusion between the two genres of dance.  We do not do anything that your children would not enjoy and love.  This is a family oriented dance genre.  It is not 'adults only'. 

Question:  Do Bellydancers flirt with men?

Contrary to popular belief amongst people who are unaware of exactly what we do, Belly dance is not a dance of seduction.   Any bellydancer  who flirts with men in the audience is not a good, nor professional, representative of our dance form, but please be aware that bellydancers do use 'characters' during performances.  She can be shy, coquettish, in charge and playful..but she should never be a flirt. She will smile a lot at various people in the audience, not concentrate on any particular person unless there are children in the audience.  Children have 'open season' status for multitudes of Bellydancing smiles!   Bellydance is for the enjoyment of all....From Grandmothers to the cute little five year old imagining that she really is seeing a princess or Esmerelda from the Hunchback Of Notre Dame.

So...What is it then?

Bellydance........as explained by Sedonia of  www.sedoniadance.com

Belly dance is a dance style from the Middle East. Also known as Raks Araby (Arabic dance), Raks Orientale (Oriental dance), and Raks Sharki (Egyptian for Oriental dance), it is rooted in social dance, where the entire family would participate. It was not initially a performance event, but a dance done at festive occasions like weddings, birth celebrations, etc. Whether in family settings or just with other ladies, as circumstances permitted, common people would dance with, and for, each other-no costumes, just wearing their festive clothing.

Over the years branches of this dance became more formalized dance presentations, or performances/shows. Belly dancers were very commonly hired for weddings to add fun, music, and entertainment. The first nightclubs offering belly dance as the primary source of entertainment began opening in the 1920, including the preeminent Casino Opera, run by a woman named Badia Masabni in Cairo, Egypt. Badia was an extremely influential woman and dancer.

In today's world, belly dance has become popular. There are a variety of great shows to attend and many excellent teachers and resources available. People recognize that it is an art form requiring years of disciplined training to perfect, and that it is not just a novelty act. It's a dance from ages past that delights every child today.

It's dance art for everyday life.

A Sister In Dance: Sedonia