Thread: "Bellydance university" - anywhere?

In a discussion with my (CS professor) husband on conferences and universities in computer science vs. bellydance, I have not come up with too much, so I am wondering - what are the big central venues and gatherings for dancers? I am not sure that yet another list of bellydance events will help me in this friendly dispute - I am wondering which events are more academic in character, if that makes sense. Bear with me, it's important for my domestic peace ;-)

I was thinking of the UCLA ethnomusicology department (well, it's more for music, but that counts) and the IBDCC in Toronto, which seems to have a more research-like focus than e.g. Rakkasah. (I hope that I make any sense at all here, I know that what I am asking for is not something I have wrapped my own head around.)

Anyways, beyond UCLA and IBDCC - are there "bellydance universities" I am not aware of?

Well, there's the International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance at Orange Coast Community College (not to be confused with the IBDCC), but I can't find any central information on it, just a bunch of links to people's papers, and a report at:
Venus - Articles

I also can't tell when the Conference was last held.

Maybe MECDA would count....Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association....they do a lot of educational things in addition to performance

Mecda - Home Page

Wow, do I ever wish! I'd have double-majored.

I believe Alexandra King teaches in the west coast, or is she part of the UCLA program? I would definitely count Sahra Saeeda's Journey through Egypt 3-day program (Ithink they count for college credit-anthropology(?) but I could be wrong.). And are you talkin' only here in the States? 'Coz when Atef & Magda Farag (principal dancers w/the Reda Troupe) did a workshop this Spring in Chicago, they mentioned the American University in Cairo; they pointed out one of the girls in the Saidi workshop from out-of-state as having attended AU and she was also learning how to speak Arabic :)

Originally Posted by jmdruadh

Well, there's the International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance at Orange Coast Community College (not to be confused with the IBDCC), but I can't find any central information on it, just a bunch of links to people's papers, and a report at:
Venus - Articles

I also can't tell when the Conference was last held.

There were two of these conferences held, one in 1997 and one in 2001. They were sponsored by Sahra (Saeeda) Kent, Angelika Nemeth and Shareen El Safy, and were quite amazing.

Steffi, they definitely sound like what you are talking about, although they are sporadic and perhaps completely over with. That said, I have heard rumors both that there will definitely be another one and rumors that there will never be another one. I hope for the former rumor is true, but we'll see.

Steffi, what about Mendocino Dance Camp? And Sahra's Journey to Egypt programs are definitely heading in this academic and formalized direction.

Oh, I know that Cassandra Shore teaches a class at the University of Minnesota, if that's what you meant, and I might be teaching one at the University of Wisconsin.

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

I believe Alexandra King teaches in the west coast, or is she part of the UCLA program?

UC Santa Barbara. She's incredibly knowledgable.

What about the advanced intensives taught in Egypt, etc. ? Does that count?
If one pursued a Master's Degree in Dance and did a thesis on belly dance...hmmm
*dreams of pursuing yet another degree*..c::

there's not a lot out there, in the official sense. UCLA's World Arts and Cultures program, which I have heard quite mixed reviews of from its students. OCC is a junior college, but is where Angelika Nemeth is based. University New Mexico had flamenco major, not sure if it is still going. UCSB is where Alexandra King is based, but she is not ladder faculty so far as I know. So I don't know that there would be any conferences organized there.

There is a lot of interesting activity in the field of performance studies these days. Not so much belly dance oriented, but there is a shift toward being even more intellectually engaged. This has its pros and cons of course. On the one hand, it's a bit frustrating that dance sometimes lacks academic rigor. On the other hand, said rigor provides very convenient camouflage if you happen to suck as an artist.

generally i think most dancers of an academic bent have gone the interdisciplinary "make your own major" route, and cobbled something together. Usually after searching hgh and low for a sympathetic faculty member to help push it through channels. Or else double majored in a couple of fields which overlap in belly dance, like Performance Studies/Anthropology, etc. in which case it's still hard to find mentorship that is relevant to one's particular interests.

You frequently may find your self having to educate the person who is supposed to be your teacher! Theoretically I guess that could be an ego boost, but in practice it means you are getting the short end of the stick.

I'm leaving with History/Anth as my university does not have a dance major. Calls itself a liberal arts place too.

Originally Posted by steffib

In a discussion with my (CS professor) husband ... I am wondering which events are more academic in character, if that makes sense. Bear with me, it's important for my domestic peace ;-)

The thing is - BellyDance is a practical skill, in Maths for example, do you see the maths professor having to hold his chalk at a certain angle and get a rapport with his students via his own personal magnetism.

In my opionion, trying to academicize bellydance is like trying to compare volume and temperature.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

UC Santa Barbara. She's incredibly knowledgable.

What about the advanced intensives taught in Egypt, etc. ? Does that count?
If one pursued a Master's Degree in Dance and did a thesis on belly dance...hmmm
*dreams of pursuing yet another degree*..c::

I'm doing a masters' degree in cultural studies with sociologist supervisors and I'm doing a thesis on belly dance.

Su'ad here in Connecticut organizes a Symposium on Near and Middle Eastern Dance that combines academic lectures and practical dance workshops. The next symposium is slated for 2009.