Exotic Secrets Of Belly-Dance

Have you ever been to a belly dance show? If you haven’t, then you've been missing one of the most exotic and arousing form of dances in the world.

Belly dance is a Western-coined name for "solo, improvised dances based on torso articulation" originating from the Middle East, especially Raqs Sharqi (Arabic : رقص شرقي‎). Other names which are sometimes used for the dance in English speaking countries include Oriental Dance, Egyptian Dance, Arabic dance or Middle Eastern dance.

Tipping the Dancers

The most exotic part of Belly dance is the tipping etiquette. Many people actually sometimes receive the opportunity to touch the most sensitive organs of female anatomy, while tipping the dancer. You never know, you may have the opportunity too some day. But remember, it’s never perceived as any kinda sexual perversion, rather it’s a great honor to tip the dancer in some specially odd way. The dancers truly love people’s appreciation.

The folk origins of belly dance are apparent in the tradition of tipping the dancer.  In the old days, young women who did not have enough dowry money, would sometimes dance in the market place for gold coins which they would later sew on to their clothes for safe keeping  (That’s why modern belly dancers often have decorations on their costumes which resemble coins!)  This is a custom that has been carried on.  In fact, tips are a major source of income for many belly dancers around the world. In belly dancing the audience is an active part of the performance. Tipping is not only a way to praise a dancer’s talent, it is also a way for the audience to interact directly with the performer. There are several ways of tipping.

1.  You can tip the dancer by placing money in the side of her belt. Don’t worry, this is not considered sexual or sleazy (and in case you’re worried about it, you won’t actually be touching the dancer, only the money will be going inside her belt!). Sometimes dancers may “tease” you just for fun by making it a little difficult for you to tip them as they continue to move around.  Children especially tend to enjoy this game of “catch the dancer”. Sometimes dancers don’t want to get too close to you for fear of making you shy or uncomfortable. So if you want to tip the dancer, but she isn’t coming your way, just hold up the money.  She’ll come over when she sees it. And you may use your own way of tipping the majestic beauty.

Another way to tip the dancer is by giving her a “money shower”. You simply throw a stack of bills ($10 or more – it’s a shower not a drizzle!) over her head. Most people shower with singles but place larger bills in my belt. Now, if you’re worried that the dancer will not realize that you’re giving her a larger bill, don’t be.  Genuine professionals always keep track of who gives them exactly how much.

You can always put your tips in the dancer’s basket (usually located by the stereo).

Last but not least, you can place your tips directly in the dancer’s hand, like a truly decent person.

If you are wondering why the dancer does not pick up the money that falls to the floor, it is because this would be seen as very trashy behavior in belly dance etiquette.  Therefore, as a rule, dancers do not pick up money that they accidentally drop or money that has been showered over them.  This money is eventually picked up by someone other than the performer and given to her.  Of course, if you feel like helping out the dancer by collecting her tips for her and putting them in her basket, that is much appreciated. 

  

Sometimes restaurant owners or staff will tip the dancer in order to encourage the customers to do the same.  They may also “shower” customers or put money in their belts.  This is meant as a compliment or a little joke as in “You are dancing so well that I’m going to tip you too!”

A genuine professional dancer puts great time, effort, practice, and love into this captivating form of art.  She spends so much on expensive costumes and even music.  She does all of this despite the knowledge that she won’t get much of a monetary return for her investment.  When you tip her, you are not only helping her continue performing, but you are also saying “Good job!  I appreciate your art!” That means a lot more to an artist.

Names and terminology

The term "belly dance" is a translation of the French term "danse du ventre", which was applied to the dance in the Victorian Era, and originally referred to the Ouled Nail dancers of Algeria, whose dance used more abdominal movements than the dances described today as "belly dance". It is something of a misnomer, as every part of the body is involved in the dance; the most featured body part is usually the hips.

Raqs Sharqi (Arabic: رقص شرقي‎; literally "eastern/oriental dancing") is the style more familiar to Westerners, performed in restaurants and cabarets around the world. It is more commonly performed by female dancers but is also sometimes danced by men. It is a solo improvisational dance, although students often perform choreographed dances in a group.

Raqs baladi (Arabic: رقص بلدي‎; literally "local dancing", or "folk" dance) is the folkloric style, danced socially by men and women of all ages in some Middle Eastern countries, usually at festive occasions such as weddings. However, this naming is used synonymously in Egypt with Raqs sharqi as a generic term for "belly dancing".

Technique and movements

Belly dance is primarily a torso-driven dance, with an emphasis on articulations of the hips. Unlike many Western dance forms, the focus of the dance is on relaxed, natural isolations of the torso muscles, rather than on movements of the limbs through space. Although some of these isolations appear superficially similar to the isolations used in jazz ballet, they are often driven differently and have a different feeling or emphasis, which is usually more subtle and contained. Correct posture and muscle control is as important in belly dance as it is in other fields of dance, and enables a dancer to move the hips freely whilst avoiding lower back injuries. The basic posture used varies slightly between styles (in particular, the knees may be more or less bent, weight may be held slightly further back or forward, and 'resting' arm position may vary), but a correct posture should always be used. Some belly dancers also study Pilates or Alexander technique in order to achieve a healthy and efficient posture.

Many of the movements characteristic of belly dance can be grouped into the following categories:

·         Percussive movements - Staccato movements, most commonly of the hips, which can be used to punctuate the music or accent a beat. Typical movements in this group include hip drops, vertical hip rocks, outwards hip hits, hip lifts and hip twists. Percussive movements using other parts of the body can include lifts or drops of the ribcage and shoulder accents.

·         Fluid movements - Flowing, sinuous movements in which the body is in continuous motion, which may be used to interpret melodic lines and lyrical sections in the music, or modulated to express complex instrumental improvisations, as well as being performed in a rhythmic manner. These movements require a great deal of abdominal muscle control. Typical movements include horizontal and vertical figures of 8 or infinity loops with the hips, horizontal or tilting hip circles, and undulations of the hips and abdomen. These basic shapes may be varied, combined and embellished to create an infinite variety of complex, textured movements.

·         Shimmies, shivers and vibrations – Small, fast, continuous movements of the hips or ribcage, which create an impression of texture and depth of movement. Shimmies are commonly layered over other movements, and are often used to interpret rolls on the tablah or riq or fast strumming of the oud or qanun (instrument). There are many types of shimmy, varying in size and method of generation. Some common shimmies include relaxed, up and down hip shimmies, straight-legged knee-driven shimmies, fast, tiny hip vibrations, twisting hip shimmies, bouncing 'earthquake' shimmies, and relaxed shoulder or ribcage shimmies.

In addition to these torso movements, dancers in many styles will use level changes, travelling steps, turns and spins. The arms are used to frame and accentuate movements of the hips, for dramatic gestures, and to create beautiful lines and shapes with the body, particularly in the more balletic, Westernised styles. Other movements may be used as occasional accents, such as low kicks and arabesques, backbends, and head tosses. Also, belly dance at an young age makes a woman more healthy to conceive in future. So, the next time you need complete relaxation of mind and body, find a belly dance show and have fun at your fullest.