ABSTRACT

This chapter explores body reflexivity and how dancers evaluate themselves depending on their audiences. It analyzes messages about the body that are typically shared within belly dance communities and those that are highly contested. The chapter considers how wider cultural expectations within the United States influence internal messages. The core movements of belly dance, such as isolating the hips and torso, differ from other dance forms, such as ballet or ballroom. Belly dance emphasizes parts of the body that many Westerners are not accustomed to moving. Learning new movements and how they fit together renders belly dance unique compared to other forms of exercise, such as running, going to the gym, or taking an aerobics class. Some belly dancers manage chronic physical and mental health conditions that prevent them from engaging in other forms of exercise. Belly dance helps both male and female dancers feel better about their bodies.