Just a little rant for a Tuesday morning, on a subject that just keeps coming up... 😉 Westernised fusion dance is not "more modern" than Middle Eastern bellydance. But I often see it described as being so in the dance community - 'traditional' bellydance vs. 'modern' fusion - as if dance in the Middle East …
Why yes, I am a feminist
"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people." - Marie Shear I am a feminist. Now, I've heard it said that you should keep quiet about your politics when you are wearing your 'professional hat'. But I don't see this as politics. It's who I am. I'm a woman, working in a female-dominated industry …
Bellydance classes and self-esteem
How often have you seen dance and fitness classes advertised as 'empowering' for women? It's one of the biggest clichés of modern marketing - since the 'girl power' era of the 1990s, the idea of female empowerment has been used to sell just about every product imaginable, until it's become almost meaningless... But as dance …
A bellydancer’s best week of the year: JWAAD Summer School 2013
I'm aware that I've been a bit quiet for a while - sorry! I tend to have grandiose ideas for blog posts that end up more like massive essays, and then feel bad about posting anything else until I finish them. I'm still working on part 2 of my rather epic article on bellydance and …
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Bellydance vs. Ballet: Comparing Apples to Anteaters
Ballet. It's a comparison that inevitably comes up when discussing any issue in the bellydance world. For a lot of people in the West, "dance" is ballet, and it's the standard against which all other dances get compared. Unfortunately, in discussions on bellydance, I don't believe that this comparison is very useful, because the two …
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The Performer’s Paradox – It’s the Quiet Ones You Need to Watch
I am many things. A dancer, a teacher, a performer, a blogger, and in my 'other' life a geek, a feminist, an occasional goth... And an introvert. The idea of a shy or introverted performer doesn't make sense to most people. It doesn't seem natural for somebody who finds social interaction stressful or tiring to …
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Habits and posture – more bellydance musings
I'm reasonably sure that one of the secrets of being a great dancer (or for that matter, a great musician, artist, writer, or just about anything) is having good habits. When something becomes a habit, you don't have to think about it or make an effort anymore, it just happens. It's the path of least …
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In Love With Music
Recently, I've been thinking a lot about music, and how we relate to it emotionally. Since becoming a bellydancer, I've gradually begun to listen to more and more Arabic music, until it has become almost the only thing I ever listen to. I love the complex rhythms, the melodies that can soar majestically before diving …
Stealth Bellydance Practise – Part 1: Public Transport
As we (hopefully!) all know, the only way to become a better bellydancer is through regular, focused practise. But this can be a daunting prospect! When you have lots of time commitments already - work, study, family, and even just keeping yourself fed and clothed - it's hard to set aside a big chunk of …
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Bellydance Trophies – an update
The Bellydance Trophies 1st selection round has been and gone, and I've spent the last couple of weeks recovering - I'm mostly relieved that it's over, and it feels a bit like it was all a dream. Lots of people have been asking me how it went, so I'll do my best to tell you... …
Bellydance by Rachael 
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