The History and Uses of Belly Dance
Belly dance has a long and rich history, and has been used for a variety of purposes, including childbirth, spirituality, and rite of passage.
Here are some of the different ways that belly dance has been used:
- Childbirth: Belly dance can be used to help ease the pain and go naturally with the movement of the child down and out into the world.
- Spirituality: Arabic dance has many forms, and one is the Trance Dance (The Zaar), used to connect with the Devine or heal a person on a spiritual or psychological level.
- Rite of Passage: Traditional families will celebrate the flow of blood of a newly menstruating young woman, and will get her to dance her first dance as a woman. This happens in the gatherings of the women of the tribe only; the men do not belong in such celebrations.
The zaghareet is a loud, shrill sound that women make when celebrating in the Middle East. It is often used to express joy, excitement, or solidarity.
For more information on the history and uses of belly dance, please visit the following websites: