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