For most of my life I associated belly dancing with "Arab cultures" in the same hazy, xenophobic way I associated parrots with pirates and peace pipes with Indians. Moreover, thanks to the American film industry, I determined that belly dancing was a Middle Eastern variant on the strip tease - something the members of a harem would perform for the sultan. A vulgar, submissive folk art.
The Pawtucket Times - Ethnic dancing unveiled
This is a great article from the Pawtucket Times. After seeing how many people misunderstand belly dancing, this finally puts the record straight. It explains the misconceptions around belly dancing and then explains in layman's terms, exactly what it's all about. I can't see the name of the journalist who wrote the article, but I would love to send them my thanks for the article (shame it isn't in the New York Times or Washington Post ;-)
Lisa x
technorati tags:belly+dancing, bellydance, belly+dance, Belly+dancing+misconceptions, belly+dancing+origins
