It’s not surprising that many Americans have misunderstood the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern dance known as belly dancing. Often seen as a great way to exercise or depicted as an exotic pleasure, there’s more to belly dancing than most assume. There are theories about the history of the dance that link it to the Middle East and Africa. One website states that perhaps the Phoenicians first introduced it to the world. One thing is certain; it’s an ancient dance with evidence of its existence found in Egyptian tomb paintings. Another theory is that the Turks introduced the dance to Egypt.
Fascinated with Rimsky-Korsakov’s colorful and moving symphonic suite, “Scheherazade,” I wanted to know the stories behind the music. If that solo violin that was as hypnotic as a snake charmer’s melody was actually the voice of Scheherazade, then I wanted to know all of her stories. The compact disc cover, flaunting an exotic looking belly dancer, summed up the musical composition in its cover notes by simply stating that Scheherazade was the young bride of a Sultan who was determined to execute each new wife because one of his wives had cheated on him. Because Scheherazade knew so many fascinating stories, she was able to not only ward off her day of execution for 1001 nights, but made the Sultan spare all of his other wives.
Intrigued by the music and the blurb, I actually tracked down Sir Richard Burton’s account of the legendary Persian queen and the stories she supposedly told. They were indeed fascinating. So what does this have to do with belly dancing? The exotic flavor that I treasure in the musical composition and the stories of Scheherazade all come to mind when I think of belly dancing. It’s the exotic sound of the music, the entrancing movements of the dance that remind of Scheherazade’s stories. So I’m not surprised to learn that anthropologists traced belly dancing to primitive societies “living close to nature, the undulating movements of the pelvis and abdomen, involving muscular control, were symbolic enactments of both conception and birth and constituted an essential part of the dancers’ religion and way of life” (www.turcoman.btinternet.co.uk/turkish-bellydancing.htm).
Women in Africa and Polynesia would gyrate to heavy rhythmic beats as an erotic dance, while in India the dance was an art as well as an act of worship. In art history books, Hindu dancing girls are carved in stone on temple walls. In Egypt, the dancing girls performed in the courtyard of a house or in the street in front of a house. They were entertainers.
The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music have strong rhythmic patterns varying in tempo from slow to fast. The dance movements become more exhilarating as the music’s tempo increases. The belly dance of Turkish origin, which was introduced to Paris by the Turkish women, employed graceful steps, cymbals and scarves. It was and is an uplifting dance. It is a dance of love and life.
I was able to talk with Middle Eastern dancer and choreographer Riskallah Rivad (Dolores Matzen) who has performed and taught nationally for more than 35 years. She is considered a legend in her own time and is known for her “graceful yet crisp style, impeccable technique, and energetic teaching…” A quintessential professional, Middle Eastern Dance New England referred to her as a “stellar performer and teacher.” On her website I discovered that she is not only talented, but innovative and is credited with perfecting the double veil technique, which today’s dancers incorporate in their own dance.
“It’s all the culture,” she said. Indeed, she fuses together mystery, drama and reverence in her expression.”I am of Turkish heritage. I grew up in the culture and I thought to develop and elevate the dance professionally.” For certain, she is dedicated. With a studio in Danbury, she has taught many women the art of belly dancing. Trained in New York City with Serena Wilson and then with Ibrahim Farrah, she has a stellar reputation.
She also has a BS and MS degree in Education, has taught public school and has been a consultant to teachers. Her website also points out that she works with students of all levels, and conducts master classes and special workshops nationally. Some of her students perform at Jules Mediterranean Cuisine located on Main Street in Monroe, CT. The master dance teacher described Jules as a warm and welcoming place. “The most important thing about going to Jules is that the food is sensational and everyone has a great time,” she said. Not surprising Juliette Huribal, for whom the restaurant is named, said that she and her husband Nebil opened the Mediterranean restaurant last October in spite of the bad economy because they wanted to share the delicious and healthy foods and traditions of their rich culture. “We wanted the whole atmosphere to reflect our culture and we designed the restaurant to be as comfortable and welcoming as if it were our own home.” Belly dancers entertain the enthusiastic patrons a couple of times each month. Contact the restaurant for more specific information.
The history and culture of belly dancing is communicated to an audience even at a small restaurant in Monroe. The joy and beauty of womanhood is celebrated in belly dancing and some dancers even claim that the dance doesn’t start with the belly but with the soul.
Please see related story in Specialty of the House.