Belly Dancing as an Art Form!!!

A few years ago I took a two-hundred level humanities class.  I don’t remember how I ended up in that class because I had never taken a humanities class before.  All I know was that when we got to the section of the class that talked about art, I was utterly surprised.  More than half of the pictures and statues seemed to be depictions of naked men or women.  If you think about some of the most famous statues or painting in the world today, your mind may included some of these images.  For example, one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, The Statue of David which is meant to show the strength and power of David in his youth.  Another famous status is that of the Venus de Milo statue.  This statue is a depiction of the Greek goddess of love beauty and fertility.  Aphrodite, also known as Venus, is sculpted to portray the beauty and affection that binds people together in marriage.  What makes this statue unique is that Aphrodite has no arms; a piece of cloth covers most of the lower half of her body; the rest of the statue is bare.  This statue, and many others like it are honored for their portrayal of classical elegance and representation of beauty. 

Now, what do these statues have anything to do with belly dancing? 

Most people, when first hearing the words "belly dancing", immediately think of the costume they have deemed as immodest.  This thought is followed shortly thereafter by a mental image of a type of dance they have declared inappropriate.  Middle Eastern Dance is a form of art like unto these statues.  The dance and costumes are not meant to flaunt or sexually portray the body, but rather, it is meant to help express the beauty of the dance and body.

The other day I was talking to an individual who is experienced in the areas of psychology and sociology.  Something he said stuck me.  He said that the largest sexual organ in our body is our brain.  In other words, we decide how we respond to what we see.  It is US, as individuals, that train our brains to respond to our surroundings in specific ways.  This is why one person looks at the Venus de Milo and thinks it is pornography, and another person, seeing the same statue, finds its view breathtaking and beautiful.  This is why one person looking at a belly dancer thinks the costume is revealing and the dance is scandalous, and another person, seeing the same outfit and dance finds the view to be impeccable, graceful and a representation of a pure art form.

It is each of us, individually, who decides how we respond to the world around us.  Might I encourage each of you to give Middle Eastern dance another change.  Take another look, and this time, open your mind, and your eyes will adjust accordingly!  You will see the beauty I see, the gracefulness that has me so deeply in love with this art form.