ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates how friendships within belly dance are formed and maintained. Within subcultures, friendship is partially accomplished through participants spending a great deal of time together. Many women develop friendships in belly dance, and they think about these relationships as a sisterhood. Female friendships offer a wide range of benefits, including a positive effect on their well-being, feelings of connection, self-esteem, happiness, increased life expectancy, and a buffer against stress and anxiety. Belly dance provides a script that guides dancers on how they perform and interact with other dancers and audience members. When they follow the guidelines, dancers who consider themselves 'shy' or 'introverted' play a more social and extroverted role. Being more outgoing and social is conducive to building both friendships and community. Another aspect of belly dance that is conducive to forming friendships is the variety of people that one meets through the activity.
