Magical Art of Belly Dancing

The Masouda World Dance Ensemble

Photo courtesy of Sarah Skinner

Olivia Gillet, a senior at Plattsburgh State University, goes to Clinton Community College every Sunday to study what she considers fun, relaxing, and cool: the art of belly dancing. It is a joyful, creative, and empowering female art.

Like it's movements and costumes the belly dancers display, the history of belly dancing is complicated and colorful. Belly dance is the Western name which emphasizes the use of abdomen and hips. The Arabic name “Raks Sharqi” means "Oriental dance", and comes from the fact that belly dancing possesses the exotic influence of the Far East, especially Turkey and Egypt. Several other names for belly dancing are "Middle Eastern dance", "Egyptian dance" and "Turkish dance", depending on the specific style that one is trying to master.

There is a misconception that belly dancing is a form of sexual exposure, bringing the feeling of awkwardness for people who study this type of dance. According to Liesa Bassoi Pedersen, director of the Masouda World Dance Ensemble, the style of belly dancing evolves from ancient temple rituals.

The Masouda World Dance Ensemble is based in Plattsburgh, New York, and has performed at various festivals, celebrations and theatrical presentations. Recently, they performed in the Pendragon Theatre, Clinton Community College, Champlain Oratorio Society and Club Metronome.

The goals of belly dancing are to achieve physical well-being, as well as to receive a channel to spiritual expression. It is a beautiful, ancient art form and has no connection to sexual exposure, even though belly dancers usually wear colorful and sexy outfits.

The origin of belly dancing date back to the early civilizations of the Nile Valley in ancient Egypt. The priest and priestesses invented this type of dance as a way to establish a spiritual connection with the divine. These days, belly dancing is divided into two styles: Middle Eastern or Western. Middle Eastern dancers tend to focus on using the abdomen, while Western dancers focus on the chest.

Belly dancing was first introduced to the west in Paris, France at the World Exhibition in 1889, and in America at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. Pedersen says that the type of belly dancing in America is a mixture of Middle Eastern and Western dances. The American style of belly dancing uses both traditional and modern Arabic music. It is not only a channel for spiritual expression, but also a way for a woman to express feelings of joy, sorrow, romance and senuality.

Belly dancing is for everyone “ because ‘the journey of a thousand miles start with a single step,’ I think everyone could do it at some point,” Pedersen says. “ We can break the move into smaller pieces and start from a small step.”

A beginner should start belly dancing by learning the basic steps for slow and moderate tempos. The first step is called “undulation,” in which you have to make a smooth rolling move of the abdomen without using the chest. Another basic step for slow tempos is called “rolls,” in which you make a rounded movement of hips, shoulders, arms, chest, hands, and head, both clockwise and counterclockwise.

You tend to use the hips more often for faster tempos, according to Pedersen. Basic steps for faster tempos include hip slide, hip bump, and hip thrust.

The ability to interpret music on a very emotional level is a required skill for belly dancers. “You need a good ear for music,” Pedersen says. “ If the instrument plays something soft, you are going to dance soft. If the instrument plays something sharp, the move is faster.”

Pedersen is currently serving as an artistic advisor to the Minister of Culture in Egypt. Her own studio - “Liesa’s Place" - located at 5 White Street in Plattsburgh, is where she offers workshops and private classes.

"When you do belly dancing, you let go the intellectual," Pedersen concludes. "Let your soul and heart take over the natural feeling of being harmonized with the universe."

Are you interested in learning how to belly dance ? Let us know!