Aniseteph
New member
I agree with Adiemus - I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the self-help therapy and goddess side reflects belly dance being reclaimed from the cheesy "entertain your sultan" image in the '70's. I can see why people would want to do that, but it's quite weird - throwing out one version of "belly dance" for another.
I wonder though if it is partly to do with when belly dance started getting to be a popular activity; what were the resources at the time? How many teachers were from the ME, were others able to travel/study easily? It's easy for the gaps to get filled in with myths if you are several removes from the source, so to speak, and then it all builds on itself (until people don't realise it has anything to do with the ME... ... and then get all chippy if you suggest it really has. ).
You wouldn't really dare with flamenco, would you? Maybe it is to do with people appreciating the cultural aspects more and so having a bit more respect.Cathy said:I am tempted to speculate that this has to do with the greater degree to which colonizers looked down upon and tried to reformulate ME culture(s) according to their own preferences, as compared to Andalusian Spanish culture (assuming I have it right that this is where Flamenco originated)
I wonder though if it is partly to do with when belly dance started getting to be a popular activity; what were the resources at the time? How many teachers were from the ME, were others able to travel/study easily? It's easy for the gaps to get filled in with myths if you are several removes from the source, so to speak, and then it all builds on itself (until people don't realise it has anything to do with the ME... ... and then get all chippy if you suggest it really has. ).