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Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World
 
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Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World (Paperback)

by Wendy Buonaventura (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Saqi Books; New edition edition (14 Feb 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0863560733
  • ISBN-13: 978-0863560736
  • Product Dimensions: 28.8 x 24.2 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 454,670 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #33 in  Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Dance > Folk

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Product Description

Review

'A delight to browse through and just as interesting to read...sumptuously illustrated.' Time Out 'A lively and lavishly illustrated excursion into the history of the solo woman's dance.' The New York Times Book Review


Product Description

A celebration of the female dancers of the Arab world and their impact on the West, this book explains the origins of this ancient art, which has survived in the face of commercialism, religious disapproval and changing times. Focusing on the 19th- and early-20th centuries, the book shows how Arabic dance came to be influenced by Western ideas about art and entertainment. But the influence was two-way. In the heyday of Orientalism, Arabic dance exerted a powerful influence on the Western imagination - on such writers and artists as Flaubert, David Robers and Jean-Leon Gerome, and imitators Colette and Mata Hari. Their fascination was often based on common fantasies about the women of the Middle East. Yet, as the book's illustrations show, this obsession also produced evocative images. At the turn of the century, the genre also had an impact on fashion, theatre and popular entertainment.
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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Expensive, but comprehensive, 28 Mar 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World (Paperback)
"Serpent of the Nile" may on first glance seem expensive...but it is in fact a comprehensive history of the origins and meaning of bellydance. It is well illustrated with many photos beautiful photos that are helpful if you are making an authentic costume. A bellydancers bible, this book is well worth the cost.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good visual reference for Arabic dance enthusiasts, 5 May 2000
By b.poulter@mia.co.uk (Letchworth, England) - See all my reviews
'Serpents of the Nile' seeks to explain how female Arabic dance has evolved from its pagan origins and how it has influenced - and been influenced by - European culture. It also comments on how Arabic dance has been misinterpreted by Western society and, on how present-day dancers are trying to re-educate audiences and repair the dance to its rightful place as a sensual expression of life - not a lascivious cabaret act. The book contains a host of wonderful illustrations mostly drawn from a Western perspective, that convey the fascination Western culture has long held for the 'mystic' East and its seemingly exotic and unhibited dance forms. The illustrations - both paintings and photographs - also serve as good reference material for costuming purposes and, as such, are useful for students of the dance or theatrical costumiers.

Whilst there does seem to be a focus on the inherent sensuality of the dance and its effect on Western viewers, the publication does seek to restore the image of the dance to a respectable artform and, to help readers understand the ancient origins of a dance that never ceases to relinquish its hold on the imagination and psyche of both occidental and oriental audiences.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Best reference work on belly dancing, 20 May 2009
By J. B. Gerrard (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I first read this book many, many years ago, and it lead me to start dancing. I now give talks and demos, and find it invaluable as a reference work, and source of pictures.It has lovely illustrations. It is such an interesting subject, I am surprised there aren't more scholarly books on the subject.
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