![\"Tulay](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art49\/graphics49\/TulayKaraca.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Usually, the first idea that one has of Belly dancing is that it has to do with sexuality in some way, but not so much the sexuality of a woman. The fantasy about Belly dance seems to emphasize an arousing effect that provokes the desire of the man watching her dance. Sometimes, in clubs or in TV, we can still hear a dancer presented in this way: \u201c\u2026and now, specially for the gentlemen\u2019s pleasure, here is Jasmine!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This type of introduction might suggest that the dancer is an object that inspires the longing and attention of men, but it doesn’t seem to promote her intent. <\/p>\n
This stereotype of Belly dancing\u00a0 has caused me a lot of displeasure; it has made me angry to see how imprisoned in negative models Belly dancing still is, and how much it had lost since it was formerly an ancient art that honors the female body.<\/p>\n
I think it’s necessary to clarify the difference between Belly dancing (an art form that is sensual by nature and erotic at times) and other performances that are associated with erotic dancing\u00a0(such as stripping or lap dance). Some of the proponents of those dances would like their dances to be recognized as an art and may be used as equivalents of Belly dancing itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It would be demeaning to speak of Belly dancing as only an erotic, \u201cprovocative\u201d dance, because the Belly dancer doesn’t look for a sexual effect with her dance, and she doesn’t aim at turning on her spectators, or encouraging them to act on their desires, turning a fantasy into a physical act. This is not the intention of art but pornography, and I think it should be left that way; we should recognize the intent<\/em> or objective of the performer when we see a Belly dancing\u00a0 performance. <\/p>\n As a true artist, a Belly dancer conveys her inner life through movement, breath, use of lights and choreography, pauses and with this discovers all the aspects that make up the human being and sexuality as a creative energy of life. This is the energy that makes the world go round and has allowed us all to come into existence. This energy that is so important to life is expressed through its dance, Belly dancing . I don\u2019t like to deny the sexual aspect of Belly dancing. To deny sexuality is to deny Life, but Life itself could never be expressed merely through a provocative dance!\u00a0 It is not related only to the sexual act or sexual desire because the audience is raised above that desire.<\/p>\n It’s doesn’t exclude sexual energy; art just goes above and beyond. It\u2019s symbolic.<\/p>\n The archaic, cultural aspect of Belly dancing\u00a0recalls a life philosophy that is different from our western roots in regards to sexuality. During the time preceding the monotheist religions, the activities concerning the body, such as sexuality and fertility, were considered holy. There was an infinite series of relationships that weren’t limited to the physical outlet, but were interlocked in a complex figuration of life. Gender, sex, and eroticism have the potential to completely transcend the biological sphere. For the ancient religions, sexuality was something infinitely more complex than the one instinctive outlet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n \n