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What is the Meaning of this Dance?
What is all this "Middle Eastern Dance", "Danse Orientale", "Raks Sharki" about anyway? Why do women, and in the Western world some men, immerse themselves in its song? What do they hope to get out of it? Is it a "New Wave Exercise" - a sort of "make-believe dress-up game", a competition? Should Oriental Dance be a part of the Olympics? I think Barbara Woods best described what Middle Eastern dance really is in her book, Virgins of Paradise:
"This kind of dance, known as beledi, always formed an integral part of women's gatherings, released pent-up emotions, and expressed secret forbidden yearnings; because such dancing was a very personal expression, the dancers were not judged or compared to one another. This was not a competition, no one was better than her neighbor, and no matter how poor or unskilled a dancer, she was never criticized, every dancer received only encouragement and praise from her companions."
My Dance Journey Begins
My "conventional" study of the dance began in 1986 at age 31, but I have been a part of the culture since I was born. My maternal grandparents came over from Lebanon in the 1920's. They lived in a Lebanese neighborhood of St. Louis made up of immigrants from the Middle East. My earliest memory of my grandparents is sitting in Grandma's lap and watching Grandpa and his brother dance with sticks around the garden of eggplants and grapevines in the backyard. I also remember playing Grandma's records on the record player for her as she would dance and sing in the living room.
When I was nine, my mom, aunt, and grandmother were all in an uproar because my mom's cousin was going to "belly dance" on a local television show. My mother said I couldn't watch the show, so I went up the street to my friend's house to watch anyway. My aunt performed in a green beledi dress with a huge hip scarf wrapped around her hips; she did the old style "Beledi" - a vison I will never forget!
Grandma died when I was twelve, after which I don't recall hearing Middle Eastern music again for many years. Growing up I never thought about being a dancer. I was a tomboy who excelled in sports - mostly softball, tennis, swimming, and ice skating. I never had a dance class in my life until my cousin, Suzy, called me inviing me to join her at a belly dance class.
The first class I attended was at the house of a friend of Suzy's. The instant she turned on the music my memory was jolted, and I suddenly remembered Grandma. As far as me moving my body like that - no way. I didn't even know my rib cage was part of my body! But, I felt a connection to the music and loved spending time with my cousin, so I stuck with it and my life was forever changed. My teacher thought I had potential, and it felt good to be physically active.
As Director and Choreographer
After several years, I went to study at Simone's Seventh Veil Dance Studio. My mother and father and family would come to local clubs and watch me perform. My mother would help me interpret music.
In 1992 I took over as director of the studio. I was privileged to tour with a band from Chicago on several occasions to Tulsa and Wichita, and of course in St. Louis. I have traveled all over the Midwest attending seminars and meeting so many people who share in my love for this beautiful dance and the culture from which it comes.
It is because of the privlege and opportunities afforded me as director, that I have been able to acquire knowledge and expertise about the dance and it's culture.
My Current Focus
As a dancer, I choose/want to focus on teaching and sharing this knowledge. I stepped down from the studio as director in 2007 so I could be more devoted to the dance, to continue my focus on teaching all women, regardless of age, size or level of experience.
I currently study with Vashti of Dallas and Yousry and Nourhan Sharif, of New York City. I have also gained great insight from Mahmoud Reda, Raqia Hassaan, and Amel Tafsout as well as a variety of choreographers and performers touring the States.
Egyptian women are very proud of their bodies. Life begins in a woman's hips and abdomen, in the Egyptian culture this makes that area sacred and beautiful. The focus of the dance on the hips and abdomen is way of celebrating life! This is where I find that studying with Middle Eastern people connects me with the true spirit of the dance.
Let us not get caught up in just the performance of this dance, forgetting its true meaning, To paraphrase Barb Woods from Virgins of Paradise,
"This is a dance of camaraderie among women. This is the common thread that should be what brings us together in dance. The uniquely female aspects of Orientale Dance might tap into our power as women, which should unite us in dance rather than tear us apart for individual gain."