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