Aziyade-
Brilliant points! Yes, you're right, we could argue about it all day. Perhaps the point that the book was making (and I was attempting to make) was that the reason bellydance is associated with striptease is that after Little Egypt came around everyone just had to have one in their show...so because of all the competition the owners of some clubs started having them take clothes off to attract crowds, and that was where I was trying to make the point. I find it interesting because I do not deny that bellydance is sexual and sensual; in fact I have always believed that to be the purpose of the dance. However I do think there is a big difference between that and stripping.
Regarding the Goddess: again, there MAY be accurate historical evidence in support (though I don't put a lot of faith in it), but the problem I have is that EVERYTHING has to be mother-goddess based (bellydance, Scotland, Ireland, etc) and it's frustrating because I am so involved in all these things and know that there is no historical background for it. Especially when bellydance instructors encourage the myth...grrr.
-Brea Morgiane
Brilliant points! Yes, you're right, we could argue about it all day. Perhaps the point that the book was making (and I was attempting to make) was that the reason bellydance is associated with striptease is that after Little Egypt came around everyone just had to have one in their show...so because of all the competition the owners of some clubs started having them take clothes off to attract crowds, and that was where I was trying to make the point. I find it interesting because I do not deny that bellydance is sexual and sensual; in fact I have always believed that to be the purpose of the dance. However I do think there is a big difference between that and stripping.
Regarding the Goddess: again, there MAY be accurate historical evidence in support (though I don't put a lot of faith in it), but the problem I have is that EVERYTHING has to be mother-goddess based (bellydance, Scotland, Ireland, etc) and it's frustrating because I am so involved in all these things and know that there is no historical background for it. Especially when bellydance instructors encourage the myth...grrr.
-Brea Morgiane