- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Interlink Books; New Ed edition (30 Nov 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1566563267
- ISBN-13: 978-1566563260
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
323,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #25 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Dance > Folk
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First Sentence
"When I look back on my childhood, four characters catch my inner eye: my grandmother, my grandfather, and the two pillars of my childhood: Adiba and Amina." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
"When I look back on my childhood, four characters catch my inner eye: my grandmother, my grandfather, and the two pillars of my childhood: Adiba and Amina." Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book immensely. The first part is a brief, anecdotal account of the author's childhood in Baghdad, with emphasis on the women who raised her and the importance of dance (and bodily awareness in general) in their lives. The second part is a history of dance, from the feminist/revisionist perspective that's been presented more thoroughly in many other books, but she summarizes it succinctly and her conclusions are generally levelheaded. The best part of the book for me (as a student of belly dance) was the third part, where she presents exercises -- mental and physical -- to put the dancer in touch with the meaning of the various dance moves and techniques. Of course you can't learn to dance out of a book, but anyone who has a basic belly dance "vocabulary" will find these exercises extremely valuable in giving depth to your dance and helping you to integrate your mind and body more fully. For most Westerners, raised in religious traditions that divorce mind and body, this is the part of dancing (and physical movement in general) that's most difficult to grasp. Other writers have touched on the same subject (e.g., Gabrielle Roth from a more general dance perspective, and Moshe Feldenkrais and others from the world of "exercise"), but this is the best exposition of the subject I've seen that relates specifically to belly dance. I recommend the book highly, not only to aspiring dancers but to anyone who wants practical guidance for getting your mind and body back in sync. The illustrations are more decorative than useful -- aside from a few touching portraits, and the photo of the author's grandmother (who looks much gentler than her formidable reputation implies!), they could have been omitted without detracting from the book. The translation is admirable: the book is easy to read, and the author's poetic language comes across gracefully.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Delightful book discussing the history of the dance. Discusses why women performed this dance and the correlation to the earth and Goddesses. Gives a sense of empowerment to women and how men came to take a more dominant role over women's actions, beliefs and body. Great confidence booster for self image and womanhood.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Besides enlightening us about the art of belly dancing, this book takes us deeply into the sociological and cultural context that surrounds it, and explores all its ramifications. It's got a place on my "world music" book shelf alongside such classics as "The Brazilian Sound."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A delightful read
This is a really delightful book regarding the history of belly dance. The reason behind the dance and not the ' Hollywood' idea of it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by jayb
Fantastic on history and meaning of the Bellydance
Really wonderful book. I recommend to an Improver+ level dancer to read through. Beginners shouldn't follow the moves section without support from a qualified teacher as safety... Read more
Published 16 months ago by E. Livsey
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