| Since ancient times, dancing has served as an | | | | Dance is like language; the conversations we |
| informal method of helping people cope with | | | | have vary from the mundane to the deeply |
| life's challenges and crises. In modern | | | | meaningful conversations. A conversation or a |
| times, there is a branch of psychology called | | | | dance can unexpectedly turn into something |
| Dance and Movement Therapy. Viewing a | | | | profound. |
| performance can also be a healing experience. | | | | |
| Dancing is a complex art capable of | | | | After modern dance pioneer Martha Graham's |
| expressing feelings that are beyond the | | | | interpretive dance Lamentation, a woman from |
| limits of language. | | | | the audience told Martha, "You will never |
| | | | know what you have done for me tonight. Thank |
| There is a profound link between body | | | | you." The woman had been unable to vent her |
| movements, facial expressions, and emotions. | | | | grief from a recent family tragedy. Seeing |
| In the mid-1800's, elocution expert Francois | | | | Lamentation was therapeutic for her; when the |
| Delsarte said that "motion creates emotion" | | | | woman saw Martha on stage, she saw her own |
| and 50 years later the psychologist William | | | | feelings being expressed, and this gave her |
| James said that if you make movements | | | | relief from the emotions that she had been |
| expressive of joy, then you will feel joyous | | | | holding inside and unable to express on her |
| (the opposite is true as well). Dancers | | | | own. Some belly dancers (also called Oriental |
| express a range of emotions during | | | | dancers) have reported similar conversations |
| performances, and audiences watching the | | | | with audience members after their |
| dances feel the emotions too. Dances with a | | | | performances. Both modern dance and Oriental |
| happy or comic theme generally make the | | | | dance are capable of expressing deeply |
| audience smile and feel uplifted too. | | | | personal emotions. |
| | | | |
| Most of the time, watching a performance is | | | | Martha Graham said, "What I learned that |
| simply entertainment, but occasionally it | | | | night is that there is always one person in |
| goes beyond entertainment by expressing a | | | | the audience to whom you speak. One." |
| deep emotion that we cannot put into words. | | | | |
| Without being aware of it, dancers sometimes | | | | The Ancient and Modern Art of Belly Dancing |
| help viewers in the audience express emotions | | | | |
| that they cannot give vent to by themselves. | | | | Belly dancing is rooted in ancient history, |
| | | | but is continually evolving. It incorporates |
| The Zar Ritual | | | | traditional folkloric dance movements along |
| | | | with some aspects of dances which evolved |
| The Zar ritual from Africa is an example of | | | | later, such as ballet. However, belly dancing |
| an ancient dance therapy tradition enduring | | | | retains its classical emphasis on expressing |
| into modern times. The Zar is a traditional | | | | joy and happiness; belly dancing is a |
| way of releasing a djinni (genie), or spirits | | | | traditional part of Near Eastern wedding |
| who are believed to cause distress, | | | | celebrations and parties. All age groups, |
| negativity and depression, especially to | | | | from children to senior citizens, enjoy belly |
| women. The Zar traditionally consists of a | | | | dancing. |
| group of women friends and relatives of the | | | | |
| "patient," along with musicians and a female | | | | In addition to its entertainment value, belly |
| leader of the ritual. The ritual consists of | | | | dancing is also known for its ability to |
| specific percussive rhythms and dance | | | | express deeply serious emotions. Women of |
| movements. The patient is guided through the | | | | middle age or older are appreciated as mature |
| hadra ritual by the leader, with the support | | | | artists of the dance form; although youthful |
| of her friends, until exhausted. The | | | | dancers are lovely, emotional maturity |
| community of participating women also | | | | contributes the dancer's power on the stage, |
| alleviate their own stress through the | | | | and requires time to develop. |
| dancing. | | | | |
| | | | Internationally-renowned Oriental dancer |
| Scientists believe that the swinging | | | | Nadia Gamal once said, "Do you know why I |
| movements of the body used in the Zar create | | | | dance the way I do? Because I have suffered. |
| chemical reactions in the body which | | | | I have gone through divorce, death, a lot of |
| alleviate depression. In any case, the | | | | heartache...that's the art. You can show |
| movements of the Zar influence emotions and | | | | anyone a step, but not a soul." |
| feelings; dancers report feeling extremely | | | | |
| relaxed afterwards. Dance choreographer | | | | Professional belly dancers can be powerful |
| Ibrahim Farrah called the Zar "the exorcism | | | | performers into their 70's, whereas |
| of a bad day." Besides its traditional | | | | ballerinas and other dancers retire from |
| context, the Zar has also been staged as a | | | | performing decades earlier. Although |
| performance piece. | | | | technical expertise is stressed in belly |
| | | | dance classes, emotional expression continues |
| Training from a qualified instructor is | | | | to be a crucial aspect of this dance. |
| required to learn this dance, in order to | | | | |
| reduce the risk of injury. Caution is also | | | | Belly dancing unites the science of body |
| required; even professional dancers have | | | | movement with the soulful beauty of art, |
| sustained injuries from performing the Zar. | | | | helping an individual express their unique |
| | | | feelings and emotions. Dance classes are a |
| Modern Dance | | | | wonderful way to exercise, alleviate stress, |
| | | | and make new friends. |