A
lineage of women called the Awalim (sing, Almeh) are known today as
prostitutes and dancers, but were once highly respected in society for
their expertise in all the arts including poetry, literature, dancing,
music and the art of making love. It was their occupation to teach
these arts. In the Middle East today and abroad in Arab communities, it
is customary to perform the Wedding Procession or Zaffah at all
weddings. The Rakiseh or Bellydancer leads the wedding procession from
the church or mosque to the reception party. Along the way, she
encourages the couple to perform hip movements and to occasionally
kiss. Whether the family is Christian or Muslim, this tradition is so
strong that many mothers feel if the Bellydancer is not present at the
wedding, the couple may not produce babies and wealth. In small
villages, still today, the Bellydancer leads the newlyweds to the bridal
chamber to consummate the marriage rather than taking them to the
banquet hall. The rhythm for the wedding march or the Zaffah cannot be
found in other Arabic music. At one time this Bellydancer would have
been the temple priestess or perhaps even an Almeh.
After overcoming the stigma attached to this dance, all women love to
Bellydance. It is an expression of a woman enjoying her femininity,
sensuality and the power that the female body has an embodiment of
reproduction. A leading Bellydancer in the Middle East performs for an
hour and a-half to two hours straight, accompanied by her own 50 piece
orchestra. The show, which can be performed up to three times every
evening, is all about her personality, beauty and agility. It is about
one woman’s glorification of the fact that she is female.
The dance is for women of all ages, and in its natural form is performed
by women for women. Behind closed doors, women from 3 to 103 strut
their stuff for everyone’s appreciation. Once while performing at a
large Syrian/Armenian family gathering, that was a 50th
wedding Anniversary, I was brought to tears.
Often the Zaffah is performed at anniversaries as well as weddings, so
in the middle of my performance, I went over to the couple to pull them
up to dance. As I was approaching, the crowd stopped me with a big “NO”
because the wife could not walk, so I was not to embarrass her. But
before I could return to the dance floor, she grabbed my arm with a
strength to be reckoned with. She then firmly placed one hand on the
table and used the strength in both arms to help herself rise. Everyone
around protested. She gave them a scolding and got herself almost to a
standing position. Using all her strength to support herself on the
table and my arm, she proceeded to sway her hips from side to side,
while beaming a huge smile at me. The room was silent until she sat
down, then roared with appreciation as she looked proudly into her
husband’s wide and bedazzled eyes.
During twenty years of teaching Bellydancing to as many as 120 women a
week, I have come to realize that the reasons students take up the dance
are varied and that there is no “typical type” of woman. They come from
all walks of life. These women persist because Bellydancing enhances
self-esteem. Often one will tell how she found the courage to stand up
to a boss, an abusive husband or equally difficult situations. Eating
disorders have been alleviated, entrepreneurs born, and all have
experienced a new awareness of comfort with their bodies regardless of
shape and size. Coincidence? Maybe … but these women will tell you it
is because of Bellydancing.
In her book
Revolution From Within, Gloria Steinem points out
that although women can now vote and are paid better in more rewarding
positions, the real changes haven’t happened because women haven’t
changed how they feel about themselves. Deep down they still feel that
they are second-class citizens with no inherent self-worth, except that
which can be compared to a man. The most intimate part of themselves –
their sexuality – has been robbed, and again only expressed from a male
point of view. Bellydancing is both powerful and feminine at the same
time. This combination often inspires a subconscious fear in many
people, which feeds the stigma.
It is time for women to claim their natural heritage that has been
withheld from them for so long and to begin a healing process that
starts with an appreciation of their own bodies. Bellydancing is a
perfect vehicle for opening a new door on how to view the female body,
what can be expressed through it and the power that real feminine
sensuality holds.
