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Belly Dancing and the Goddess
When we dance at any given time, do we feel the divine? Is it a feeling of complete submission or is it a feeling of out of control dominance?
There were a few moments in my lifetime when I danced that I felt something incredible happened.
In that enlightened state, did I become a goddess? The word goddess has been apart of my life since I was a child. But like most women I didnt take the word seriously. I mean, I didnt know any goddesses and to say I was one quite frankly seemed arrogant.
So as time has passed one thing became apparent to me. There was never a time I was not a goddess. The word seemed arrogant because the definition was never made clear to me. As we grow older we actually create the definition of what a goddess is.
This divine feeling is the purposes of why l dance. In many ways it has nothing to with me and everything to do with the world around me. Through this amazing dance for a very brief moment in time I can actually change the world around me and make it a better place. This is the miracle of belly dance and this is why we are all goddesses".
But a question pops up that always tugs at the back of my heart and mind regarding being a goddess.
Is God ok with me being a goddess? Is it blasphemous to even say that I am a goddess because here is where my religious background nails me every time. Than a thought came to me that belly dancing is about being in the divine moment which means God is there with me as I am dancing. So if God can take time out of his busy schedule to be with me in those brief moments than how can I not be a goddess? God is everything outside of me but he is in me when I dance. This is how I started to understand the definition of what kind of goddess I am.
If we look at the mortal woman and her need to get into a rather revealing costume to go out and dance in public than a question arises. Whats up with the costume? Yes, the thought has crossed my mind too but than I have six costumes and pine for more. Its a very simple answer really and one that every woman understands. The costume represents how we really feel about ourselves. And the odd thing is that the costume also represents freedom. It doesnt matter freedom from what, all that matters is women can feel good about themselves for a few amazing moments. In these moments, you will see hundreds of heavenly definitions of what a goddess is and all of them will be dancing in the divine state of being. And this is how we know that life is more than just the physical. When we are touched by the divine at that very moment we are transformed in Goddesses.
So does the costume really help with the dramatic change from mortal to goddess? We distinguish between the two because the definition of a goddess seems to be defined by image. So I realized that if I am a goddess than that means I wake up a goddess and go to sleep a goddess. I realized that the transformation once it takes place is eternal. The gift and challenge is how you choose to define your transformation. It is almost as if the costume is the essential link for the transformation from mortal to goddess to take place. But what happens when the costume comes off?
The definition of a goddess must come from inside us or the feeling and image will be fleeting. The costume which seems to represent so much for all of us is the symbol of our definition. This is why I feel it is so liberating to perform. All that is required is to dance in the divine and to show the world what a miracle our dance is. And by doing this our definition of what a goddess is continually grows and changes with us and the result is the freedom to define who we are.
Belly dancing and the goddess than become one and the same. So smile and realize that it is ok to be a goddess. Because every time you see a belly dancer you are looking at a goddess.
About the Author
Leyla Najma is a professional belly dancer with 25 years experience teaching and performing as well as writing with articles recently published in "The Chronicles".
Some Rare And Interesting Facts About The Belly Dance
People have debated for years as to the origins of the belly dance. While most everyone can agree it was developed in the Middle East, it has not been determined what country gave this gift to the world. It may have been from the Persian countries, by maybe Egypt, possibly even from the Romans.
Another debate that has raged over the decades is what the dance was used for. Some scholars say that belly dancing or 'raqs sharqi' was used during childbirth. Others believe that is was practiced by Temple Priestesses in religious ceremonies. In several countries and cultures, belly dancing is a time-honored tradition. In the Middle East, most of the belly dancers are over forty years of age. The dance is used to celebrate the maturity and sensually of a woman.
It is believed that if she is not forty or over, she has not lived long enough to experience life. She may not be able to feel the music and will just go through the steps with little or no emotion. It has been shown that the movements used in belly dancing have been employed in the child birthing process. One thing is for certain, the 'raqs shariqi' or belly dance has been used through out history and in current times, as a form of entertainment.
There are two main types of belly dancing – tribal dances and Cabaret. While Cabaret dancers will be found in nightclub type establishments or even on the stages of Broadway and will be wearing flashy jewelry and lots of glitz, tribal dancers are more traditional. They will wear more ethnically accurate costumes and will use the same moves as found in the Middle Eastern, Oriental and Lebanese cultures.
The large amount of emotion and sensuality is one of the main reasons that belly dancing is so special. Although it is sometimes believed that the belly is the only part of the body that is working; it is actually the whole body that is needed to dance this way. And because it firms the thighs, hips and belly all at the same time, it is a wonderful form of exercise.
The thought of a male belly dancer still holds its shock value, whether in western cultures or elsewhere. The stereotype is that it is for homosexuals or the more effeminate males. However, it has become more popular among men who are confident and secure within themselves.
The key is not to try to do female movement with a male body. Because a man's and woman's bodies are built differently, the moves have to be modified. The key to being a male belly dancer is to not forget you are a man. When traditionally female moves are rendered with masculinity, the result can be just a breathtaking.
At one time, only virgin and possibly homosexual teenage boys were trained to belly dance for rulers in the Ottoman Empire, but no more. With Tarik, Jal Kimo and Zorba performing this art in the form of exercise and entertainment, it is becoming clearer that very masculine, muscle-bound men can belly dance and do it with a masculine flair. Men can be found belly dancing in gyms and in nightclub type establishments to crowds of adoring women.
Thomas Edison made a video in 1898 that featured the Turkish belly dancers Ella Lola and Crissie Sheridan. Through the years, there have been several belly dancers that have made it to the 'famous' category. Aisha Ali is very recognized as both a performer and a teacher. She has been practicing the ancient art form for more than thirty years and passing the gift to others through her teachings for a little over two decades. Neena and Veena, identical twin dancers, have been seen at Hollywood parties and teaching classes as well.
Summary:
Even though, in recent times, belly dancing has been recognized as a wonderful form of exercise, it is a time-honored tradition throughout many countries and cultures all over the world. This is because of the emotion and sensually that is ribboned through the dance. It can also be used to ease the child birthing process.
About the Author
Brooke Hayles
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