Yesterday evening we went to a “Global Party” held at the Cross in Moseley. This was a very nice affair with a good live band, the Late Arrivals (though unfortunately the sound system didn’t do them justice as it was so loud all definition appeared to be lost in a mush of noise). However, the main reason we went was to see our belly dance teacher Yasmine perform. She put on a sterling performance which had everyone looking on in admiration at her artistry in which she made the most difficult moves look relaxed and easy. Yasmine explains to us in our classes that belly dancing is an ancient North African folkloric dance and this is the emphasis she puts on it when teaching. The more modern cabaret version of the dance came about later.
Belly dancing has an emphasis on isolation of the muscles so that they move while the rest of the body is kept still, for example, in some moves you endeavour to keep the torso, neck and head still while the legs and the side abdominal muscles (the obliques I think these are called) do the work. This concept of isolating certain muscles seems similar to what is practiced in hip hop though of course the dances are very different.
One thing I have noticed is that belly dancing seems to bring out the exhibitionist in some people. At the end of Yasmine’s performance she started to invite people to dance with her and, while being flattered at the invitation, most of us will still let her take centre stage as even with a few lessons we know we’re going to look really rubbish beside her. However, a few people seemed to take this as an invitation to take over the stage, try to push Yasmine out of the limelight and make themselves the centre of attention. Yasmine, of course, handled the matter with grace and inclusiveness, showing tolerance and friendliness to the people concerned who were … shameless, is the word that springs to mind. This is not a judgment, merely an observation, and it can be very funny in a cringe making kind of way.
