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[Versión Español]
Dance has existed throughout the history of humankind as it can be reflected from cloud movement, sunrise, moon changes, seasons, harvests, and praises to God or deities. A lot of people have related it to their bodies, experiences, and life cycles.
In ancient Egypt, ceremonial dances were instituted by the pharaohs, which represented death, reincarnation, live, and fertility, and were performed by people selected for these rituals. The woman was the main symbol of fertility and life in almost every ancient culture.
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Sacred dances were given in honor to deities, a god or goddess, and were performed by religious representatives and priestess of the temple, with the aim of praying for a favor to the deities being worshiped in the ritual. |
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Other rituals were practiced to get rid of bad spirits, and their performers who were only women dressed in white made almost spasmodic movements to go into a trance.
Secular or popular dances were held at palaces or houses for social celebrations, such as banquets and weddings, and were performed by dancers belonging to the Alcazar.
In the Arabic countries, this dance is known as Raks Sharki, which literally means "Oriental Dance." It is necessary to distinguish it from Raks Baladi, which means "Dance of the People." Raks Sharki is a more refined dance and an art form rich in movements because all the body is involved; although it is true that hip movements are predominant, the arms, hands, eyes, hair, and expression are very important. Raks Baladi is an elementary dance.
At present, Raks Sharki has Egyptian folk, classic and contemporary dance elements, including turns and wide displacements, for being performed many times in commercial stages or theaters. All women from Arabic countries dance Raks Baladi but not necessarily Raks Sharki.
In some groups from Northern Africa, this dance helped women in childbirth. The woman giving birth danced when the pains began and was surrounded by the other women who sang and danced to motivate the delivery and endure labor pains.
Oriental Dance induces each movement of all body parts to be isolated, that is shoulders and arms get to move in a different manner to waist, trunk, and chest. The abdomen and the pelvis play a different role. Particular movements make the pelvic area work, where one of the main centers of power or chakras is found: the "coiled snake" also referred to as Kundalini (yoga). Abdominal and pelvic movements unblock these areas, releasing the Kundalini. The coiled energy goes through all the body towards the upper part, thus calling the snake to awake.
 In spite of the years passed by and the influences exerted on the Oriental Dance, it has not lost its essence and mysticism. This dance bears the balance that everyone wants to have: joining the earthly plane (from the waist downwards we are connected to the earth and its center: fire) and the spiritual plane together (from the waist upwards we can reach the sky and heavenly bodies). And, the balance wanted is thus achieved: Body – Soul. This dance also makes us recognize our body and accept ourselves as we are when breaking the physical blocks that tie us down, and we are then able to make the most beautiful lines, undulations and unimaginable forms come out from our body. Any woman who performs this dance will never be the same.
At present, Oriental Dance can be traditional, modern, and contemporary with the style of each Middle Eastern, Persian and Mediterranean country. Moreover, there are fusions and combinations with other musical rhythms, such as pop, hip hop, Latin rhythms, rock, jazz, flamenco, among others.
It is amazing how the music and instruments from Middle East, India, and Africa has influenced today’s music and attracted singers, dancers, and artists in general. Indeed, Oriental Dance gets along better with flamenco because the latter originates from a mixture of cultures, mainly from Middle Eastern music and dance as a result of 800 years of Arabic domination in the Iberian Peninsula.
What matters is to feel free to express our feelings, regardless of which country or culture we come from. Showing emotions and feelings, through dance and music, is universal.
It is time to come out of the cocoon, inside which we will always be caterpillars. Let's break free of the cocoon to become butterflies and show off our beautiful colors, flap our wings and fly, appreciate the beauty around the world and show our beauty. Let our soul come out and stream inwardly and become a flame of light that will never be extinguished.
This brief story is for all my students whom I thank for sharing this experience with me, and to those who are interested but do not dare I say "we are looking forward to meet you."
With love,
Emily Mazzotti |
