Ainda que escassa nos idiomas ocidentais, a literatura sobre dança do ventre tende à unanimidade ao tratar dessa prática artística como algo bastante antigo e de difícil acesso aos registros iniciais. O que é comum aos registros é a descrição da dança do ventre como uma espécie de ritual feminino em adoração às divindades e à celebração da prosperidade. No entanto, ainda quando a dança do ventre é considerada como prática corporal, com objetivos definidos para além da sua perspectiva artística, recai sobre ela uma visão preconceituosa sobre seus movimentos corporais e seu figurino, que não parece condizer com os objetivos ritualísticos e sagrados. Talvez isso se dê por uma tradução ou uso descontextualizado dessa prática, algo similar ao que pode ocorrer com as artes marciais ou mesmo com prática com origem também ritualística ou devocional, como diversas formas de meditação e o yoga. No caso da dança do ventre, como em outras artes, os registros e disseminação da prática foram feitos por homens que, neste caso, não dançam. Desta forma, todo registro passa por filtros do olhar e interpretação do masculino, o que pode alterar o modo como a prática é compreendida, vivida e projetada. Na tentativa de compreender a origem histórica dos sentidos da Dança do Ventre, e entender como os atravessamentos da cultura, da religião, de gênero e do pensamento capitalista foram transformando essa prática em um tipo de produto, foram entrevistadas quatro dançarinas profissionais de dança do ventre. A escolha destas mulheres foi o reflexo da preocupação em traduzir os valores mais ancestrais desta dança e, portanto, o convite à participarem da pesquisa foi pautado no conhecimento e trajetória delas com a dança, sendo o principal aspecto o seu comprometimento com os estudos e suas atuações profissionais. O método, qualitativo por excelência, foi operacionalizado por uma entrevista e análise compreensivas. Das conversas, diálogos mediados por um roteiro de conversação, surgiram temáticas como: a conexão e competição entre mulheres, a objetificação do corpo, o show de dança do ventre e os rituais e celebrações, que se constituíram eixos temáticos que organizam os capítulos do trabalhos. Todo conhecimento produzido é resultado da tessitura das falas das entrevistadas com as teorias nos campos dos estudos feministas e da dança do ventre. É evidenciado na pesquisa que a dança sofreu distorção na sua utilização, e como em outras várias manifestações de expressão e de fortalecimento do coletivo feminino, a desvalorização foi parte de um projeto maior de controle e organização da sociedade, que teve como resultado o controle do corpo e das relações sociais / Although scarce in western languages the literature on belly dance tends to unanimity in treating this artistic practice as something quite old and difficult to access to the initial records. What is common to records is the description of belly dance as a kind of female ritual in worshiping deities and celebrating prosperity. However, even when belly dancing is considered as bodily practice, with definite goals beyond its artistic perspective, a biased view of bodily movements and costume, which does not seem to conform to ritualistic and sacred goals, falls upon it. Perhaps this is due to a translation or decontextualized use of this practice, something similar to what can occur with the martial arts or even with practice also of ritualistic or devotional origin, such as various forms of meditation and yoga. In the case of belly dance this can also be attributed to the fact that the oldest records were constructed without portraying or transmitting essential values to their understanding. In addition, as in other arts, the records and dissemination of the practice were made by men, who in this case do not dance. In this way, every record passes through filters of the look and interpretation of the masculine, which can alter the way the practice is understood, experienced and projected. In an attempt to understand the historical origin of the Belly dance senses, and to understand how the crossings of culture, religion, gender and capitalist thought were transforming this practice into a type of product, four professional belly dancers were interviewed . The choice of these women was the reflection of their concern to translate the most ancient values of this dance and, therefore, the invitation to participate in the research was based on their knowledge and trajectory with dance, the main aspect being their commitment to studies and their professional performances. The method, qualitative par excellence, was operated by a comprehensive interview and analysis. From the conversations, dialogues mediated by a conversation script, topics such as: the connection and competition between women, the objectification of the body, the belly dance show and the rituals and celebrations, and are these thematic axes that organize the chapters of the works. All knowledge produced is a result of the seam of the speeches of those interviewed with the theories in the fields of feminist studies and belly dancing. It is evidenced in the research that the dance suffered distortion in its use, and as in other various manifestations of expression and strengthening of the female collective, the devaluation was part of a larger project of control and organization of society, which resulted in control of the body and social relations

O presente trabalho trata da percepção ocidental em relação à dança oriental a partir de relatos de seis viajantes inglesas que estiveram no Egito entre os anos de 1842 e 1876, período que abrange a dominação imperialista europeia no Oriente Médio. Têm-se como referenciais teóricos o conceito de “Orientalismo”, cunhado por Edward Said, e a crítica posterior realizada por feministas pós-coloniais e decoloniais. Assim, analiso estes relatos a partir de uma perspectiva interseccional, considerando-se os recortes de gênero, raça e classe que influenciaram as representações tecidas por mulheres europeias sobre homens e, sobretudo, mulheres egípcias. Examino de que modo estas representações impactaram tanto nas identidades inglesas quanto egípcias e de que maneira elas transformaram a dança que era praticada no Egito e que, a partir do contato dado no contexto colonial, se transnascionalizou e hoje é percebida como “Dança do Ventre” (em português), “Bellydance” (em inglês), “Danse du Ventre” (em francês) e “Raqs Sharqi” (em árabe). / This research investigates the Western perception of Eastern dance based on the study of the accounts of six British women who traveled to Egypt between 1842 and 1876, a period that encompasses European imperialist domination in the Middle East. The theoretical references include the concept of "Orientalism", coined by Edward Said, and the subsequent criticism by postcolonial and decolonial feminists. Thus, I analyze these reports from an intersectional perspective, considering the categories of gender, race and class that influenced the representations made by European women about men and, above all, Egyptian women. I examine how these representations impacted both English and Egyptian identities and how they transformed the dance that was practiced in Egypt, which, from the contact given in the colonial context, became transnational and is now perceived as “Dança do Ventre” (in Portuguese) “Bellydance” (in English), “Danse du Ventre” (in French) and “Raqs Sharqi” (in Arabic).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafaella Brito e Silva.pdf: 1520832 bytes, checksum: 8e85b14e377af7a9cc5261f236135b9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-15 / This thesis, which is the result of a personal and professional experience with dancing, as well as of an interest in studies and initiatives in the field of Psycho-oncology, consisted of a follow-up research study based on the theoretical framework of Gestalt Therapy. The aim of the study was to investigate how mastectomized women who underwent a group corporeal intervention, with belly dancing as a therapeutic means, perceived themselves in their corporeality three years after their experience. The importance of this study is related to the need to expand therapeutic strategies for health promotion during the breast cancer post-treatment of mastectomized women. It comprises a qualitative survey in which follow-up interviews were conducted in groups and individually. The analysis and discussion were based on the collaborators' reports, by employing the phenomenological method. It was possible to identify that belly dancing played an important role in copying with the disease and also in the participants' lives. Belly dancing helped to mobilize resources in order to deal with the changes resulting from the treatment, as well as changes in the maturing process. The dance, the music and the movement were perceptible as a trigger for the promotion of contact with femininity and sensuality in a pleasant and ludic way. The therapeutic group was significantly important as an outer support, providing a welcoming space for experiencing the body and for the exchange of experiences. It can be concluded that belly dancing is a potential therapeutic tool in the rehabilitation of mastectomized women in the long term too / Esta tese, fruto de uma experiência pessoal e profissional com dança e do interesse por estudos e ações na área da Psico-Oncologia, consistiu em uma pesquisa de acompanhamento baseada no referencial teórico da Gestalt-Terapia. O objetivo foi investigar como, mulheres mastectomizadas que passaram por uma intervenção corporal grupal com a dança do ventre como recurso terapêutico, se percebem na sua corporeidade três anos após a vivência. A importância desse estudo está relacionada à necessidade de ampliação de estratégias terapêuticas voltadas para a promoção da saúde no póstratamento do câncer de mama de mulheres que foram mastectomizadas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa na qual foram realizadas entrevistas de acompanhamento em grupo e individuais. A análise e discussão foram feitas com base no discurso das colaboradoras, pautada no método fenomenológico. Foi possível identificar que a dança do ventre teve um papel importante no enfrentamento da doença e posteriormente na vida das participantes. A dança ajudou a mobilizar recursos para lidar com as mudanças decorrente do tratamento, assim como com as mudanças no processo de amadurecimento. Pudemos perceber a dança, a música e o movimento como um estopim que promove contato com a feminilidade e sensualidade de forma prazerosa e lúdica. O grupo terapêutico foi bastante importante no papel de heterossuporte, propiciando um espaço acolhedor para a vivência do corpo e troca de experiências. Pode-se concluir que a dança do ventre é um possível recurso terapêutico na reabilitação de mulheres mastectomizadas também a longo prazo

Esta dissertação propõe investigar, de uma perspectiva etnográfica, os processos de produção e apreensão de noções de feminino nas diferentes práticas que compõem o campo da dança do ventre na cidade de São Paulo, mapeando e descrevendo os principais espaços relacionados à produção e circulação de performatividades de gênero. Tais noções englobam não somente os movimentos inerentes à dança, mas também as concepções de comportamentos e cuidado do corpo que ela circunscreve. Busca-se, assim, verificar quais signos corporais e comportamentais compõem as noções de femininos em circulação e quais agentes e espaços contribuem para sua produção. / This dissertation investigates, from an ethnographic perspective, the production and apprehension processes of notions of femininity in different practices concerning the field of belly dancing in the city of São Paulo. The main spaces related to the production and circulation of such performativity are mapped and described. Those specific notions of femininity include not only the movements inherent to the dance, but also conceptions of behavior and body care that it circumscribes. This research aims to verify which bodily and behavioral signs create the circulating notions of femininity and which agents and spaces contribute to their production.

Cultural authentication is a concept that was developed by Erekosima (1979), Erekosima and Eicher (1981), and Eicher and Erekosima (1980, 1995) to aid in the description of the transfer of artifacts from one culture to another. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the development of belly dance costume in the United States is an example of cultural authentication and, in so doing, further test and refine the concept of cultural authentication. Contemporary belly dance costume in the United States was described after conducting field research of the belly dance community over a period of ten months. The history of belly dance and its associated costume in America was explored through the review of previous historical research. Belly dance and its associated costume in the United States was then analyzed in terms of cultural authentication by addressing a series of seven questions. These seven questions were formulated to determine whether the four levels of cultural authentication (selection, characterization, incorporation, and transformation) occurred, and whether they occurred in that order. Contemporary belly dance costume in the United States was classified into two categories: replicated and creatively interpreted. The dancer who wears replicated costumes believes that he/she is imitating, to the best of his/her ability, a documented style of dress worn by a specific ethnic group, at a specific time, within the areas of the Near and Middle East. The dancer who wears creatively interpreted costumes believes that while he/she has been inspired by documented styles of dress worn by ethnic groups within the areas of the Near and Middle East, his/her costume is particularly reflective of his/her unique personality and aesthetic preferences. It was concluded that the concept of cultural authentication is exceedingly vague. As currently defined, the concept and its four levels are inadequate to describe how Americans have acquired and used belly dance and its associated costume, what kinds of meanings Americans have attached to belly dance and its associated costume, and how market forces, advanced communication and transportation technologies, and individual and cultural identity issues are continually prompting and facilitating innovations to belly dance and its associated costume. / Graduation date: 1999

The aim of the dissertation is to describe and analyze the practice and meaning of Middle Eastern dance through the study of a number of performers in Stockholm. In particular, this study emphasises the ways in which the performers seek, create and defend values such as femininity, authenticity, empowerment and respectability in and through their dancing. Data for this study consists of field notes from participant observation in dance classes, festivals and gatherings; in-depth interviews and written material, such as leaflets and Internet material. Field notes from a trip to Lebanon with a group of Swedish dancers are also included. The performance of Middle Eastern dance in Stockholm may be seen as a way for Swedish women to find new femininities. They strive to combine a glamorous hyper-femininity with strength and respectability. This is a difficult task. The dancers constantly have to maintain a balance. While enjoying the hyper-femininity of oriental dance they must avoid being too sexy and thereby running the risk of being reduced to the position of sexual objects. To avoid losing control of the situation performing in public the dancers use different tactics. Many try to make the performance a clearly bounded event and make distinctions between themselves as individuals and the personas they embody on stage. This gives the performers a chance to playfully embody hyper-femininity. Other dancers have changed the dance itself, removing all movements and costumes that could be perceived as sexually inviting or aiming to please.

The focus of this study was the exploration of belly dance as a form of female self care. The specific facet of self care explored was female health and well being as impacted on by belly dance. There is a limited amount of existing scholarly studies t hat focus on the value of belly dance in self care. Therefore this study followed a qualitative format which promoted exploration of th is under researched field. This study occurred in a context where women’s lives are busier than ever before as a result of their involvement in both the home and the workplace. Thus there is a need for them to engage in self care activities that effectively restore and replenish body, mind and soul in order to enable them to continue to meet their multiple responsibilities in a functional manner. Facets of self care explored were psychical, mental and social health and well being as impacted on by belly dancing. To achieve this, data collection tools of focus groups and interviews, following a semi-structured format were used. The results showed that belly dance plays a significant and positive role, not only in female self care but in enjoyment as well. Some specific aspects of belly dance found to be useful to female self ca re was its liberating use of the female form, its non-discriminatory aspect that unites all women in enjoyment of the dance, the absence of men, the supportive presence of women, the music, the feminine aspects, a secure environment and the opportunity that belly dance presents for women to pl ay a different role. Conclusions point to women viewing society as androcentric and providing little opportunity for feminine expression. A major conclusion is that women are non-verbally strong, relational beings who are predisposed to the language of dance and music. They are effectively revitalised by dance and music as presented by belly dance. This has implications for social work service delivery to women on multiple levels. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

O presente trabalho trata da percepção ocidental em relação à dança oriental a partir de relatos de seis viajantes inglesas que estiveram no Egito entre os anos de 1842 e 1876, período que abrange a dominação imperialista europeia no Oriente Médio. Têm-se como referenciais teóricos o conceito de “Orientalismo”, cunhado por Edward Said, e a crítica posterior realizada por feministas pós-coloniais e decoloniais. Assim, analiso estes relatos a partir de uma perspectiva interseccional, considerando-se os recortes de gênero, raça e classe que influenciaram as representações tecidas por mulheres europeias sobre homens e, sobretudo, mulheres egípcias. Examino de que modo estas representações impactaram tanto nas identidades inglesas quanto egípcias e de que maneira elas transformaram a dança que era praticada no Egito e que, a partir do contato dado no contexto colonial, se transnascionalizou e hoje é percebida como “Dança do Ventre” (em português), “Bellydance” (em inglês), “Danse du Ventre” (em francês) e “Raqs Sharqi” (em árabe). / This research investigates the Western perception of Eastern dance based on the study of the accounts of six British women who traveled to Egypt between 1842 and 1876, a period that encompasses European imperialist domination in the Middle East. The theoretical references include the concept of "Orientalism", coined by Edward Said, and the subsequent criticism by postcolonial and decolonial feminists. Thus, I analyze these reports from an intersectional perspective, considering the categories of gender, race and class that influenced the representations made by European women about men and, above all, Egyptian women. I examine how these representations impacted both English and Egyptian identities and how they transformed the dance that was practiced in Egypt, which, from the contact given in the colonial context, became transnational and is now perceived as “Dança do Ventre” (in Portuguese) “Bellydance” (in English), “Danse du Ventre” (in French) and “Raqs Sharqi” (in Arabic).

abstract: In this study, the researcher develops a documentary-driven methodology to understand the ways four women in the United States use their involvement in the belly dance phenomenon to shape their ongoing individual identity development. The filmmaking process itself and its efficacy as a process to promote self-understanding and identity growth among the participating belly dancers, are also investigated phenomenologically. Methodological steps taken in the documentary-driven methodology include: initial filmed interviews, co-produced filmed dance performances, editorial interviews to review footage with each dancer, documentary film production, dancer-led focus groups to screen the film, and exit interviews with each dancer. The project generates new understandings about the ways women use belly dance to shape their individual identities to include: finding community with other women in private women's spaces, embodying the music through the dance movements, and finding liberation from their everyday "selves" through costume and performance. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Anthropology 2012

O presente trabalho trata da percepção ocidental em relação à dança oriental a partir de relatos de seis viajantes inglesas que estiveram no Egito entre os anos de 1842 e 1876, período que abrange a dominação imperialista europeia no Oriente Médio. Têm-se como referenciais teóricos o conceito de “Orientalismo”, cunhado por Edward Said, e a crítica posterior realizada por feministas pós-coloniais e decoloniais. Assim, analiso estes relatos a partir de uma perspectiva interseccional, considerando-se os recortes de gênero, raça e classe que influenciaram as representações tecidas por mulheres europeias sobre homens e, sobretudo, mulheres egípcias. Examino de que modo estas representações impactaram tanto nas identidades inglesas quanto egípcias e de que maneira elas transformaram a dança que era praticada no Egito e que, a partir do contato dado no contexto colonial, se transnascionalizou e hoje é percebida como “Dança do Ventre” (em português), “Bellydance” (em inglês), “Danse du Ventre” (em francês) e “Raqs Sharqi” (em árabe). / This research investigates the Western perception of Eastern dance based on the study of the accounts of six British women who traveled to Egypt between 1842 and 1876, a period that encompasses European imperialist domination in the Middle East. The theoretical references include the concept of "Orientalism", coined by Edward Said, and the subsequent criticism by postcolonial and decolonial feminists. Thus, I analyze these reports from an intersectional perspective, considering the categories of gender, race and class that influenced the representations made by European women about men and, above all, Egyptian women. I examine how these representations impacted both English and Egyptian identities and how they transformed the dance that was practiced in Egypt, which, from the contact given in the colonial context, became transnational and is now perceived as “Dança do Ventre” (in Portuguese) “Bellydance” (in English), “Danse du Ventre” (in French) and “Raqs Sharqi” (in Arabic).