Belly Dance, Pilgrimage and Identity

This book examines the globalization of belly dance and the distinct dancing communities that have evolved from it. The history of belly dance has taken place within the global flow of sojourners, immigrants, entrepreneurs, and tourists from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. In some cases, the dance is transferred to new communities within the gender normative structure of its original location in North Africa and the Middle East. Belly dance also has become part of popular culture's Orientalist infused discourse. The consequence of this discourse has been a global revision of the solo dances of North Africa and the Middle East into new genres that are still part of the larger belly dance community but are distinct in form and meaning from the dance as practiced within communities in North Africa and the Middle East.

Presents the latest approaches to and understanding of belly dance in a lively and accessible style Provides a comprehensive analysis of the field, ranging from its origins to contemporary performances Uses first hand accounts and stories to bring to life the often misunderstood and misrepresented world of belly dance

Autorentext
Barbara Sellers-Young is a Professor in the Dance Department at York University, Canada. She is past president of the Congress on Research in Dance and has taught at institutions in United States, Australia, China and England. Her publications include two single authored and four co-edited volumes including The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Ethnicity.

Zusammenfassung
The consequence of this discourse has been a global revision of the solo dances of North Africa and the Middle East into new genres that are still part of the larger belly dance community but are distinct in form and meaning from the dance as practiced within communities in North Africa and the Middle East.

Inhalt
Introduction. Belly Dance.- Chapter 1. Egypt.- Chapter 2. Dancing the Goddess in Popular Culture.- Chapter 3. San Francisco and American Tribal Style.- Chapter 4. Fusion, Dark Fusion and Raqs Gothique.- Chapter 5. Belly Dance, Gender and Identity.- Chapter 6. Belly Dance and the Stage.