Belly Dance Jeopardy! reference

[teachermodel47]

On two occassions, Alex in the contestant interview time has found women who have tried belly dancing.

One on October 13, 2004:

DREAMS OF GENIE

Alex: Marielle Poss is from Brooklyn, New York. Those of us who are, or have been, married and have children have come at some point in our lives to the different solutions for the pain of childbirth. Sometimes it's an epidural, sometimes it's the Lamaze, some deep breathing for your wife and all that stuff. You selected a completely different approach.

Marielle: Yes. I chose belly dancing.

Alex: Of course.

Marielle: Yes, naturally. Well, belly dancing originated as a religious rite, worshipping motherhood and preparing the woman for the pains of childbirth, so it seemed like a natural decision.

Alex: So while you were pregnant, you started belly dancing.

Marielle: I had started about a year before, and I continued all through my pregnancy, and I think it really contributed to a relatively good experience.

Alex: Okay. I bet you it was a good experience for your husband watching you practice.


and Ellen Brown on June 16, 2009:

Alex: Talk about Dancing with the Stars--Ellen Brown recently took up belly dancing. Why?

Ellen: I have a very persuasive daughter. I was visiting her at college. She said, "Mom, I've got something new for us to try. I've signed us up for this."

Alex: Wait a minute. Your daughter signed both of you up for it?

Ellen: Yes. [Laughs]

Alex: Hello. Who's better at it?

Ellen: She is.

Alex: She is? Is she thinking of maybe pursuing it as a professional career?

Ellen: I don't think so.

Alex: What's her major in college?

Ellen: Um, psychology.

Alex: Psychology. She can understand why she made that decision. Okay. Good.

 

[Shanazel]

Yes, naturally. Well, belly dancing originated as a religious rite, worshipping motherhood and preparing the woman for the pains of childbirth, so it seemed like a natural decision.

Pppphhhhhtttttt.

 

[LadyLoba]

I think that's very interesting!

I have heard the same as the contestant heard about the origins of belly dance....but I didn't hear it stated as fact the way it sounds like she did...I heard that ancient childbirth rites and rituals may be one possible influence on the form we now know as "Belly Dance," but that the complete origins are unknown.

I think it would make a fascinating anthropological study...to trace all of the roots of belly dance back as far as one possibly could, and find out just how much validity is in the many claims people make about its origins.

The other theories I have heard include: it is a completely sexual dance, and the moves are based on ancient rites involving sex, it is not a sexy or a sexual dance at all, but a modern adaptation of ancient folk dances from Middle Eastern cultures, and it has no roots in any ancient culture but was "invented" in modern times.

Note: Those are just what I have HEARD. I'm not saying any of those are correct or incorrect, or even what I personally suspect to be true...those are just what I have heard others say, with most people saying "unknown."

But it is always interesting to hear about others who have studied it and find out which theories or combinations of theories or degree of doubt about its origins they were taught through their studies.