Descripción
Raqs sharqi, the Egyptian dance form also known as belly dance, has for generations captured imaginations around the globe. Yet its origins have been obscured by misinformation and conjecture, rooted in Orientalist attitudes about the Middle East--a widely accepted narrative suggests the dance was created in response to Western influences and desires. Drawing on an array of primary sources, the author traces the early development of raqs sharqi in the context of contemporary trends in Egyptian arts and entertainment. The dance is revealed to be a hybrid cultural expression, emerging with the formation of Egyptian national identity at the end of the 19th century, when Egypt was occupied by the British.
Author: Heather D. Ward
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Published: 01/25/2018
Pages: 220
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.90w x 0.60d
ISBN13: 9781476666747
ISBN10: 1476666741
BISAC Categories:
- Performing Arts | Dance | Regional & Ethnic
About the Author
Heather D. Ward is a Middle Eastern dance instructor, performer and researcher based in St. Louis, Missouri. She specializes in Egyptian belly dance, and has conducted in-depth research into primary textual, photographic and pictorial evidence as well as on-site investigations in Cairo of this fascinating dance form.