Jenna & Friends

The article below is based on a post in the NYC pro bellydancers' discussion group, The Star Alliance ("BellydancePro"); Jenna responds to a suggestion to avoid use of the term "bellydance," as this term ignores the cultural origins of our dance form.

Although I completely respect & appreciate the reasoning & efforts of those who prefer not to use the term 'bellydance', and in fact, share the ultimate goal of achieving respect for what we do, I prefer to take a different route.

I feel that the name is simply a bunch of letters that people use to describe a concept, and it's the concept that needs changing, rather than the bunch of letters. I take my cue from some members of the gay community, which has experienced much progress in their public perception of late. Many have publicly embraced terms such as 'gay' and 'queer' (formerly derogatory & loaded with negative connotations) and taken them as their own.

This is my preferred method - I'd rather go out into the world calling myself a bellydancer (with pride!) and change how some might THINK about that title by presenting myself professionally & with self-respect; instead of changing the title.

There are plenty of dancers out there with the lofty, self-descriptions such as "Middle Eastern Dance Artist" and the like, who do NOT put on the kind of performance we would consider as an appropriate representation of our dance, to say the least; and who do NOT educate themselves on the roots & cultures of the Middle East, Mediterranean & North Africa (the fact that our dance pulls from traditions from many regions is another reason I'm not crazy about 'middle-eastern dance' as a term for what we do). Now, what if the audience sees said overly-sexualized 'middle-eastern' dancer, and associates THAT with the cultures/people of the middle-east?? Yikes!

Of course, there are plenty who use such terms and DO represent us positively, and, again, their contributions are VITAL!

Not everyone recognizes this term, however, and I would rather get the 17-year old who is enthusiastic about 'bellydancing' after seeing the latest culturally-confused hip-hop video into my class & share my technical & cultural knowledge with her than have her walk by my 'Middle-Eastern Dance' class, unaware of what she has passed up.

A rose by any other name still smells as sweet ...