Shimmer

Belly dance was evolved by women, for women, a fact which lends it it’s unique character and appeal. It has its roots in the folk dances of the ancient Middle East, and served to express joy and celebrate life. As a discipline, it spread rapidly to many parts of the world, and nowadays women of all ages and from all walks of life share in this wonderful artform, which teaches us to truly appreciate both our similarities and differences.

Unlike other forms of dance, belly dance utilizes most of the muscles without putting an undue strain on any particular set. Belly dance is a fun and gentle way to tone and tighten muscles- even those you didn't know you had- and it can help with weight-loss. It doesn't feel like that much exercise if you are wearing chiffon! More importantly, it is a wonderful confidence booster and helps many women to realize that not being twenty, or a size 8, doesn't exclude them from being beautiful. Of course, it is also a good excuse to dress up, make a noise and have a ball! It offers a rare opportunity in our stress-filled modern world for women to connect with one another and have fun at the same time. Whether you’re looking for a great way to unwind after a heavy day in the office, or would like to take it further to performance level, belly dance makes for a great way to re-acquaint yourself with the inner, feminine you. With our brand-new, homegrown examination system, there’s also something for the more serious minded dancer.

No one is really sure exactly where belly dance came from- some claim it has its origins as entertainment in the harem's of the Ottoman empire, others that it began as an aid to women in preparing for childbirth. It has tracable and aknowledged links to many cultures, countries and societies, from India through Turkey, the Levant areas, ancient Arabia and Persia, Egypt, North Africa and even the Spainish Peninsula. Its forms and style can be traced through most if not all of written history. Depending on personal belief, a dancer can prove its links to ancient goddess worship, folk tradition or women and childbirth, simply because it derives and incoperates elements of all of these and more. No danceform is single-dimensional, least of all one so established. Bellydance is one of the oldest danceforms around, and has absorbed and assimilated elements from all sorts of life-ways and purposes as it has evolved- another of the reasons we all love it so much! One thing that everybody agrees on, though, is that it was never really meant to be 'sexy', nor even, in the majority, to be seen by men.

"Not meant for men?", "Not meant to be 'sexy'"? It may seem difficult to believe, but it is true! Even though we can't be a hundred percent sure of its exact origins, we know that belly dance, like Greek, Flamenco and the ever popular Irish dancing, has its roots in the culture of its countries. With the bulk of the pre-modern Middle East practicing the Islamic faith, and with most of the more ancient civilizations organised patriarchally, there was little social interaction between the masculine and feminine worlds. Women, for the majority, would keep to themselves and if they ever danced 'publicly', it would most likely be for other women and girls. Even at mixed-gender gatherings, men and women would form up in separate groups to dance.

This doesn't mean, however, that there is no room in the belly dance world for men! The cane and the sword, two props commonly used by female belly dancers today, were originally the sole domain of men. Many styles of Belly dance are still danced by men as well as women, and any belly dancer who has danced in public will have had at least one Middle Eastern man from the audience join in- whether to show off his own dance skills or simply to clap her on.

It was not, in fact, until the now infamous World Faire in 1893 that any hint of "scandal" attached itself to the dance-form itself. With her exotic, "outlandish" costumes and never-before-seen sensual movements, the 'danse du ventre' [dance of the stomach] of 'Little Egypt' was deliberatly hyped by organisers intending to shock the corsets off of the staid Victorian audience- and make themselves as much money as possible! Of course, once this image had been created, it was cultivated, particularly by the infant Hollywood. 

Modern belly dance has come a long way from its origins, though, as women of all ages, shapes, sizes and walks of life come together to celebrate everything that is good about being women. Alongside the traditional styles of Oriental dance, a new and exciting style known as 'Tribal' is also now emerging. The broad 'Tribal' catagory of belly dance evolved in the U.S.A in the early 1980's, influenced by Middle Eastern dance but reworked through the eyes and sensibilities of Western artists. Tribal style is not related to any specific 'tribe' but instead pays homage to the multicultural influences that helped shape Western bellydance, and blends this diverse mix [from a fusion of ancient dance techniques to modern cross-overs into ballet, jazz, and dance theatre with a blending of classical ethnic styles throughout the world] into one cohesive artform that is forever evolving and pushing the boundaries of modern belly dance.