The dance of the belly was created by and for women as a way to socialize, condition their bodies and celebrate their femininity. It was a way of teaching the movements of love making, preparing the body for childbirth and practiced as ritual and for spiritual enlightenment. Later, Belly Dancing evolved into an art form that has captivated audiences throughout the ages, including the belly dances women danced for each other in the harems.
Origins of the Belly Dancer’s classic styles came from the Middle Eastern countries referred to as raqs sharqi meaning oriental dance or raqs baladi meaning folk dance. When Belly Dancing was introduced to America, the Americans became fascinated with the belly and so the coined term ‘belly dance’. Women in America have taken this dance to higher levels, blending and creating new styles as well as developing increased abilities, while our Middle Eastern sisters have been subject to increased oppression and the insanity of war.
I believe in the dance of the belly. From the moment of conception to our last breath the belly is central to our lives. The belly dancing enriches us through its healing, exhilarating, sensual movements. The posture of belly dancers creates body awareness allowing intricate layered movements to not only massage the organs, but also encourage space for them to function as they should.
As the body moves through various isolations our body produces lubrication to our skeletal structure making us more flexible and less breakable too. Some of the undulating movements actually lengthen the vertebrae while other movements such as figure 8’s adjust it naturally.
The Belly Dance is a weight bearing exercise that if we continue dancing later in life offsets the possibility of osteoporosis. Staying flexible we offset the possibility of arthritis as well.
Dagaz, the figure 8, the symbol of infinity, also connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The dance of the belly weaves together such dualistic principles as tension and release simultaneously so that we may move effortlessly and so that we may add more layers to the dance. The belly dance truly enhances our motor skills, perhaps some that we never thought we had before.
Always returning to that sparkling golden or silver thread of light that reaches into the universe, through us and rooted into the earth, we cultivate centeredness adding to our balance and ability to gracefully transition the continuous movements of the dance. As we dance the chakras open up, endorphins are released and our souls awake in play.
Our life energy center is called the ‘hara’ located below the belly button familiar to those who study martial arts. In the dance, we extend our hara out from the belly on out through our finger tips. And for example, when dancing with veils our life energy extends on out through the fabric creating another beautiful flowing dance of color.
The deep breathing methods of belly dancing develops muscle control and also cleanses the body. The quivering hip shimmies strengthen pelvic muscles somewhat like kegels do. The dance creates a higher level of energy, enhances the libido and the vibrations break up blockages in the body that may cause illness and disease.
Learning the dance of the belly also taps into our artistic imagination of infinite design. Belly dancing is becoming one of the most popular dance forms around the world enriching many lives. I invite you to enjoy the healthy radiance that the dance of the belly offers.
Light…
Marsha West
For Belly Dancing Bookings and Instruction consultation contact me here:
marshawest@earthlink.net
