How can Belly Dancing be seen as Performance Art?

Question: How can Belly Dancing be seen as Performance Art!?
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Personally, I see belly dancing as performance art when it is sensual and not erotic!. The difference is important to me - to dance sensually means to embrace the senses, to recognize your body's sexuality, and to not be ashamed of it!. To dance erotically is to dance with the sole intent of sexual arousal!. I don't know if that's how everyone else sees it, but that's my interpretation of the difference!.

I'm not a prude or anything - I think stripping can be art in its own right, for instance - but I feel that "performance art" is something that is meant to be public, and I feel that "erotic art" is something that should be limited to a more private audience!. Again, my opinion!.

Moving your hips is the heart of dancing, and dancing can be a very sensual activity!. Various forms of dance have titillated and outraged for centuries - the jitterbug, the charleston, swing, salsa, "freak dancing", etc have all raised eyebrows or had conservative types shaking their fingers and warning of imminent social disaster!.

Belly dancing, by virtue of it's focus on hip movement, is both fun to dance, fun to watch, and very affirming of both life and love - both of which, arguably, originate in the belly (think babies and food *grin*)!. It can range from a statement of culture and lifestyle to something that is very sexy - and that is enough to scandalize the conservative types right there!.

So, it's fun, it has historical significance, and it can even be really sexy!. A lot better performance art than post-modern interpretive dance, if you ask me!.

SaulWww@QuestionHome@Com

Belly dancing is a beautiful way of moving and manipulating the body!. Belly dancers can perform in a number of different ways!.!.!. at shows, or dance recitals/festivals!.!.!. and there's also dancing at restaurants and such, although that's not for everyone!.

Dance in general is a performance art!. You can't enjoy it unless you perform it, and there's no doubt that it's an art form!.

So, there you have it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because it IS a performance art! It's dance! all dance is performance art!.Www@QuestionHome@Com