Thread: History of Bellydance in 5 Sentences or Less

Originally Posted by zumarrad

*adopts Shira face*

Oh, THAT old piece of fakelore? Ha ha ha.

Which? That's ALL fakelore!

- Leela

My version:

The origins of the solo improvised hip-and-torso based dance found in the Middle East and northern Africa are lost in time. We do know that it originated as a social dance, and we have documented evidence of it being used as a performing art as of the 18th century. The transformation of this traditional dance into the performing art we know today occurred in Egypt in the 20th century, drawing influence from European dance forms that were popular at the time. Emigration patterns over the course of the century from Armenia, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt brought the dance to Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and beyond. The rise of home video technologies in the 1980's and increased international travel has fueled the growth in worldwide popularity, with many countries creating their own local variations.


Personally, I don't think Sol Bloom, Hollywood, or the term "belly dance" are important enough to the greater scheme of things to work them into the 5-sentence version.

Shira - I agree with you, I was just trying to be funny. I mean, five sentences?

- Leela

Originally Posted by flimflamgirl

Shira - I agree with you, I was just trying to be funny. I mean, five sentences?

- Leela

Leela, yup, I knew you were joking. My comment about Sol Bloom, Hollywood, and the term "belly dance" was aimed more at general stuff I've seen on the net over years.

And that's why I moved over to the Haiku thread.

So wait, what is erroneously credited to Bloom? I thought he was just a vaudeville shouter who happened on a good thing. I'm so curious - I love learning about fakelore.

- Leela

The idea that belly dance is an American term invented by Bloom, the idea that Egyptian dance was solely inspired by Hollywood reinterpretations of BD and the idea that "belly dance" is actually an American invention that just looks a bit like ME dance are all common misconceptions.

Well, I'm glad I missed those when I was a baby dancer. I always think of Bloom as having coined the term, and nothing else.

- Leela

It's an English translation of danse du ventre. It was named that by the French before Sol had anything to do with it. In fact, in the excerpts of the US reports I've read of the Chicago World's Fair the term "danse du ventre" is used, not "belly dance." I think Bloom was on record as saying that he didn't use or popularise the term, but people realised what "danse du ventre" translated into. BUT he could well have demurred a little too much.

I don't think there's ANY popular book on BD that doesn't channel all the vague fakelore into the Chicago World's Fair at some point, but obviously BD existed and continues to exist in other countries, and it would be awesome to find out how it was perceived and what influences it had in other countries where ME dancers were "displayed". Like France, where Sol Bloom got his Algerians in the first place.

The fact that so much fakelore accrued to Bloom was something he probably liked and encouraged. Again - vaudeville mouth-flapper.

Edited to add that I know he only translated the French term. But didn't you poor lil' furriners know that if it didn't happen in America, it didn't happen? ;)

That's right! NOTHING happened before the Mayflower! And the Americans totally won WWII! All by themselves!

That's right, Americans rock! I always get a kick out of how we Save the World from invading aliens, approaching meteors, etc. all by ourselves in adventure films, while people in other countries huddle around their old-fashioned transistor radios in front of their picturesque landmarks and cheer for us.

Lauren, it's because we don't have any picturesque landmarks of our own to huddle in front of. It's like a kind of cultural penis envy. We have to prove how heroic we are, even without all those picturesque landmarks, so we save the world singlehandedly, all the time.

- Leela

Originally Posted by flimflamgirl

Lauren, it's because we don't have any picturesque landmarks of our own to huddle in front of. It's like a kind of cultural penis envy. We have to prove how heroic we are, even without all those picturesque landmarks, so we save the world singlehandedly, all the time.

- Leela

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;, you're so right. I think the American Action Hero IS our penis.

Wow, Lauren, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around that particular image! ..l;,

Originally Posted by kashmir

Joke? Right? Belly dance (as described by the Romans) predated the Rom arrival - which is reasonably recent.

Yeah, I'm joking. I couldn't resist flipping off. ,m:: But I've heard so many versions I honestly haven't the slightest idea anymore. That's why this thread is so interesting.

Originally Posted by flimflamgirl

The fact that so much fakelore accrued to Bloom was something he probably liked and encouraged. Again - vaudeville mouth-flapper.

Edited to add that I know he only translated the French term. But didn't you poor lil' furriners know that if it didn't happen in America, it didn't happen? ;)

And then there's that!!

Originally Posted by Fotia

Yeah, I'm joking. I couldn't resist flipping off. ,m:: But I've heard so many versions I honestly haven't the slightest idea anymore. That's why this thread is so interesting.

I agree, especially when penis envy is involved.