I. WHAT'S IN A NAME ?

The dance which is known to Americans as the "belly dance" has gone by many names and there is still no consensus on what to call it. It has always been a product of the time and place in which it has been performed. The French named it "dance du ventre", ⁽¹⁾ or dance of the stomach. It is known in Greece as the "cifte telli" (also the name of a Turkish rhythm), and in Turkey as "rakkase." In Egypt, and amongst many American dancers, the favored term is " raks sharki. ⁽²⁾ Arabs also call it "danse orientale" to distinguish it from the "balady", or country, dance. Amongst themselves, Egyptians will use "raks sharki" (oriental dance), "sharki", raks", "raks turkos" or "Turkos" (i.e. Turkish dance). Turkish speakers will use "oryantal dansi" (Oriental dance) or "arap dasi" (Arabic Dance).

Thanks to Sal Bloom, the promoter who brought dancers to the Chicago Exposition at the turn of the 20^th century, Americans discovered the dance, and the French name, "danse du ventre", was translated into the "belly dance". Arabs and others will use the term belly dance when talking to Americans because that's the name that Americans understand. I will use the term "oriental dance" or "raks sharki" to denote classical belly dance styling.

I will also discuss several types of dances which are not Oriental dance, but are related to it, in order to show the context in which it developed. This includes healing dances such as the Guedra, Zar, and Dervish dancing. I will also look at the history of dance in these countries so show what their attitudes were towards music, dance and dancers in the Near and Middle East. And, finally, I will show how the travels of the Gypsies may have helped spread oriental music and dance throughout Europe.

1. La Meri, "Learning the Danse du Ventre." Dance Perspectives #10. Spring 1961.

2. Buonaventura, Wendy. Belly Dancing; The Serpent and the Sphinx. London: Virago Press Ltd., 1983.