Is Belly Dancing bad?

[healingisachoice]

hi all,

i have had an interest in trying belly dancing for a while....but recently (having just re-established my relationship with God) i am starting to wonder if that is even something that God would O.K.? it seems somewhat provocative, doesn't it? that type of dancing, i mean? i don't know.....just looking for some input.

thanks!!!

 

[Ainuhina]

Belly dancing originally is a way of "flirting".

But it depends on the way you see it....

I was on the Christian Artists Seminar in the Netherlands this summer and did a belly dancing course there. It was amazing - from all the dancing courses I took it was the one that had most to do with God. Theteacher had a special way of having a verse from the Bible for each movement and when she was doing the moves it was like praying for her. She thaught us in the same way and I really loved that course.

So belly dancing is not always "bad" but it depends on the way it is thaught and on the way you dance it.

 

[healingisachoice]

Ainuhina,

That's very interesting! Thank you for sharing that with me! I wish I could find a course like that around here...(I live in Mass., USA). I have looked around a little and one woman, who seems quite reputable around here, has her own website, but it seems by the look of her poses in a lot of her photographs that she is trying to look provocative.....not the way I want to go. Hmmm... I'll just have to keep looking!

Thanks so much for replying!

 

[Tsarina]

I dont think there should be a problem with Belly-Dancing if its not for the amusment of men.

If your doing it on your own or with a group of 'girls', i wouldnt worry too much. I agree with Ainuhina that its not "bad" but it depends on the way it is thaught.

 

[deornie]

Hey sister

Go for it! Belly dancing is lots and lots of fun! I was teaching myself at first with DVD and stuff but now I joined a class and been doing it for a month! YAY It makes me feel so happy and healthy!

The class I attend is really nice and the dance school I attend also gives ballroom and modern dancing, and I really would not see that what we are taught can be more provocative than modern or ballroom dancing for example...

Of course if the school also teaches strip dancing and stuff like that then probably they gonna teach it as a form of "flirting" so be careful choosing one....

It all depends on how you do it, I personally dont see anything indecent in it it just teaches grace and flexibility, but of course any dance can be provocative, have you ever seen profesional dancing tango? Well if it is NOT a provocative dance then I dont know what is...LOL

Belly dancing originally is a way of "flirting".

Allow me not to agree with that, belly dance didnt originate as a form of flirting.

"Since the rise of Islam, "belly dancing" among Muslim women has been mostly a social dance that was done in the company of other women. Just as we use social dancing as part of our celebration at wedding receptions and other happy occasions, so did people in the Middle East. In traditional Muslim households, women celebrated separately from men. For each special event, men had their party, and women had a separate one. Men danced with other men, and women danced with other women, all using the moves that today we think of as "belly dancing" moves."

Also for me belly dance is a way to discover what I can be, to develop grace and accept myself and my body as it is... And yes I would dance in front of anyone, as I would dance a rumba or cha-cha.... (though i dance like a bear ... )

Still I would advice you to go to one class and see for yourself, my teacher for example is really sweet, she is married and has 2 kids and she is graceful and smooth and even wearing dancing costumes does not look like any of those strip dancers or anything! Also trying one class(the best way would be if they allowed you to look at an advanced group)this way you would see the quality of teaching and what they aim at!

Best of luck,hope you find nice class,if you have any questions PM me!!

Lots of love and hugz,
deornie

 

[1cutemonki]

I used to have a strong interest in bellydancing but I don't. Do you sincerely think you can praise God that way. Do you see the outfit's women use to bellydance? They are all to provoke men to sin. That's not right. There's no way of justificating sin. I say that to myself and I hate hearing it but the truth does not always make our flesh feel better but it nourishes the spirit.

 

[1cutemonki]

It all depends on how you do it, I personally dont see anything indecent in it it just teaches grace and flexibility, but of course any dance can be provocative

Not every dance can be provocative. The dance that God inspires people to do is not provocative BTW

 

[firestar]

I've always wanted to learn this also

 

[Living Soul Dance]

I personally would not do it because of the strange words in the songs that they use.

I don't believe in any of those foreign gods that they are chanting too.

And, my husband would not want me to try and seduce him using that king of dancing.

So, I have no use for Belly Dancing.

Although people tell me it’s good abdominal exercise, I prefer Pilates instead.

 

[Nazneen]

Hi!
I'm new to this website. I hope you don't mind me jumping into this discussion. I am a 44 year old mother of 6 who has been bellydancing for 7 years. I am in the prossess of finding a place to teach. And YES. I am a Christian. I praise God in everything I do including my dancing. I was very blessed that my first teacher, who was Jewish, strongly stressed how important it was to dance like a lady. In no way is bellydancing stripping. Unfortunately, we have Hollywood to thank for the numerous misunderstandings, myths, etc.
The more correct term for this dance is Raqs Sharki, Oriental Dance, or Middle Eastern Dance. It is not a dance of seduction but a dance of celebration. Like Deornie said, men danced with the men and the women danced with the women.
And most of the lyrics aren't chanting to gods but are love songs. If you listen to middle eastern music, you will often hear the word "Habibi" which means "my love". I am very care to find out what the lyrics mean before I use the music. In 7 years I have only run across one artist who's songs were chanting to gods. She had taken some Indian chants/prayers and put them to music.
If anyone is more interested in the history of this dance, I have ALOT of helpful links. I am also the owner/moderator of a Yahoo Christian group that discusses this dance form. I don't know if posting links to other sites is allowed here. If not, just email me if you're interested. If it is ok just let me know and I'll post them here.
I hope this has been helpful.
God bless!
Nazneen

 

[PureGrace]

I love belly dancing. I have worked to develop the skill for a few years now...I dont do it in public just for fun and for my friends...

I think it depends what your motives of doing it are.

 

[deornie]

Hi!

I'm new to this website. I hope you don't mind me jumping into this discussion. I am a 44 year old mother of 6 who has been bellydancing for 7 years. I am in the prossess of finding a place to teach. And YES. I am a Christian. I praise God in everything I do including my dancing. I was very blessed that my first teacher, who was Jewish, strongly stressed how important it was to dance like a lady. In no way is bellydancing stripping. Unfortunately, we have Hollywood to thank for the numerous misunderstandings, myths, etc.

The more correct term for this dance is Raqs Sharki, Oriental Dance, or Middle Eastern Dance. It is not a dance of seduction but a dance of celebration. Like Deornie said, men danced with the men and the women danced with the women.

And most of the lyrics aren't chanting to gods but are love songs. If you listen to middle eastern music, you will often hear the word "Habibi" which means "my love". I am very care to find out what the lyrics mean before I use the music. In 7 years I have only run across one artist who's songs were chanting to gods. She had taken some Indian chants/prayers and put them to music.

If anyone is more interested in the history of this dance, I have ALOT of helpful links. I am also the owner/moderator of a Yahoo Christian group that discusses this dance form. I don't know if posting links to other sites is allowed here. If not, just email me if you're interested. If it is ok just let me know and I'll post them here.

I hope this has been helpful.

God bless!

Nazneen

Thank you so much for your post!!!

Do you see the outfit's women use to bellydance? They are all to provoke men to sin.

Oh well there is quite a variety of outfits...Like for example these

 

[sarahbug]

I'm a belly dancer, and I'm glad there are ladies on here that can dispel some of the myths about the dance! It's really not the "hoochie coochie" that people seem to think it is.

 

[deornie]

Hug to sarahbug keep on dancing sister!

 

[sarahbug]

Thanks deornie!

 

[iluvquotes]

yeah... keep doin it if you be likin it

 

[Merlin]

Belly Dance (Middle-Eastern dance) is not a sin.
If your purpose is the sexual arousal of a man you are not married to, then it can be a problem.

But there is much to the art form, as others have posted.
Have fun!

 

[Merlin]

>Do you sincerely think you can praise God that way.

Yes

> Do you see the outfit's women use to bellydance?

Some outfits comletely cover head-to-toe, leaving only the eyes exposed.

>They are all to provoke men to sin.

That is simply incorrect.

 

[deornie]

>Do you sincerely think you can praise God that way.

Yes

> Do you see the outfit's women use to bellydance?

Some outfits comletely cover head-to-toe, leaving only the eyes exposed.

>They are all to provoke men to sin.

That is simply incorrect.

 

[Daria]

I found this thread in my internet travels and had to register just so I could throw in my two cents! I hope I'm not repeating too much of what has already been said.

I am a Christian who has been studying Middle Eastern Dance for five years. I perform publicly and with no shame. I think the biggest misconception with this art form is that it is about seduction. That is simply not true; this is a dance of joy, one that has unfortunately had a lot of half-truths and stereotypes attached to it. In my experience, the most attentive audiences during the performances I've seen/participated in are not the men that many claim we have so enthralled. Rather, it's children and the elderly. I suppose people at the beginning or end of life's journey see things a little more clearly. They know when we're dancing, we're celebrating life, we're having simple fun. And that fact that we get to do so with sequins makes it that much better!

And as a quick note to the original poster (I'm sorry I don't remember your name!). I also live in Massachusetts and can say we have a wonderful dance community committed to performing in a self-respecting manner. There are always exceptions, but you will find some great teachers here.