Thread: 1970's article about belly dance in Egypt.

Saudi Aramco World : La Danse du Ventre

Kay Bushman from the 1970's group posted this article. I thought I'd share it here.

I'd read that article before... not sure whether it had been posted here or elsewhere. But either way, it was a pleasure to read it again. Thanks for sharing.

Interesting article, I've read it before somewhere, too. I wish there was a photo essay along with it!

I found this quote from Nadia Gamal interesting:

"The Turks have nothing to do with it," insists Miss Gamal. "All they did was to introduce the sagat." She says belly dancing originated with the Phoenicians, the ancestors of present-day Lebanese. It was performed by virgin maidens about to be sacrificed to the gods. Later in Arab history, Miss Gamal says, women in harems, trying to attract their masters' attentions, found the belly dance a most effective way to get their message across. Over-romanticized accounts of this version brought back by western travelers in the 19th century led to the unfortunate reputation that the dance has in the West.

Ahh, the origin myths of belly dancing didn't start with misinformed Western belly dancers, apparently.

And I love this quote from Tahiya Carioca:

What qualities should a good belly dancer have? "Dignity," says Miss Carioca with unquestioned authority. "She must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." Miss Carioca concedes that a belly dancer must also be sexy, "but it must not be vulgar or blatant."

Perfect i loved it i am fgoing to share it thanks for sharing!~

I do have to wonder if Miss Gamal was winding them up just a little.

Originally Posted by Ariadne_Eleni

I do have to wonder if Miss Gamal was winding them up just a little.

Thank you for sharing, Norma. I had never read this before. It gives the ages and bios of the dancers! That alone was priceless info.

Thanks for sharing this, Norma!

I'm a regular subscriber to Saudi Aramco World. It's a fabulous, informative, and beautiful magazine --- and it's free!


Khalida