Hathor

When I tell people what my hobby is, I get a variety of reactions. Most of them include one of these questions. My answers are based on my own personal experience, reading various books and articles, and participating in discussions on the MED list with dancers and scholars of our art with many years of study and life experience. I hope I have not misrepresented any of their wisdom below.

Q: Do you have to wear a jewel in your navel?

A: You can if you want to. Some dancers have pierced navels and like to wear something pretty there, which shows up as we often bare our midriffs to dance. However, the "jewel in the navel" thing was actually an invention of Hollywood, both to make dancers in films look more exotic, and to hide the navel itself, which was considered a bit risqué in the 1940s and 50s. Some dancers in the Middle East have been influenced by Hollywood and do wear a navel jewel - don't forget cultural influence goes in both directions. If you do wear a jewel in your navel, be prepared for some other dancers to tell you how unauthentic it is, and some may hold very strong views about the feminist implications of doing so. So, do what you feel comfortable with but don't go telling everyone it's an ancient Egyptian custom (unless you can find hitherto undiscovered evidence that it was!)

Q: Don't you have to be really fat to do it? Or "Well, you've got the belly for it!! Haw, haw!" - Usually followed by "Ow! So you also do karate?"

A: No, no, no!!! The point is you can still do it if you are, as they say where I come from, "Well-made.". Or old. Or thin. Or young. As long as you can stand up, you can do it!

Some movements are easier for large people to do. Some are easier for thin people. Of course, the fitter you are, the longer you will be able to dance, but quantity ain't always the same as quality, and fat doesn't always mean unfit. Take a "hall of fame" of wonderful MED dancers from around the world and you will find them ranging from very slim to very voluptuous, from teens to very senior indeed. The beauty of MED is that it does not require one specific body type to be able to do it.

Q: Don't you have to be slim, young and gorgeous to be a dancer?

A: See above.

Q: Do you have to wear a skimpy bra and belt thing, with a transparent skirt split up to the waistband ?

A: Only if you want to and it's appropriate to the type of dance you are doing and the venue. The cabaret "bra-and-belt" costume is called a "bedlah". It's the traditional garb of night club and cabaret dancers (notice, I don't say it's an ancient Egyptian custom :-) This sort of costume varies from what's described in the question, to a more covered look with a full (not split) skirt, or with harem pants worn under a sheerer skirt, sometimes with the midriff covered either with a body stocking, or with a more solid piece of fabric. Some of these costumes are very elaborate, beautiful and expensive.

You don't have to bare your midriff and a lot of dancers don't, but you may find it's cooler if you do, and that your movements show up better. Like me, you may find it rather liberating to show off the belly that never normally sees the light of day.

There is an enormous wealth of costuming you can wear to dance in. Many of the more "folksy" costumes mean you are very well-covered indeed. When women dance for each other in Arab countries, they dance in whatever they happen to be wearing at the time. You don't have to wear anything special: I've had a great time dancing in a shirt, jeans and Doc Martens (I got pretty hot though!)

Q: What do you wear to go to a class?

A: Funnily enough, many beginners turn up in tracksuit bottoms and tee shirts. Many of the larger ladies wear huge tents down to their knees. Throughout the dance term, it's interesting and rather pleasing to see them gradually move into full skirts, less voluminous tee shirts or crop-tops, with hip ties or scarves, as they become more relaxed about themselves and begin to feel more glamourous.

For most of the classes and workshops I've been to, people wear a skirt, leotard or tee shirt, and a hip tie of some kind. Many of us wear something that jingles 'cos we love the noise it makes when we shimmy! I'm told that some teachers may prefer you to wear something closer fitting, like leggings or leotards, so they can see your movements more clearly. There's probably something to be said for this, but if someone had insisted on that at the start, I would not have continued with classes. If someone pressures you to do something you're not comfortable with, you can always vote with your feet.

Talking of feet, most people dance barefoot, although many wear light footwear like ballet shoes. I find these invaluable for dodgy floors.

 

Text by Fiona.