Belly Dance [Paperback]

Tina Hobin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Tina Hobin has written a book outlining the roots of dance in myth and religious practices around the globe. She takes the evolution of the belly dance as a representation of the rites of passage from Ancient Greece to modern times, focusing on different forms of belly dancing and its place at the core of fertility rites and marriage ceremonies in Middle Eastern societies.

Myths, including those of Isis and Osiris, and the role of the Shaman or Witch doctor in African tribes, are explained. The belly dance, with its roots in the birth dance of Saudi Arabia, is described through accounts of present day native societies. The book also contains examples of belly dance movements and exercises for enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A performer, teacher and scholar, Hobin is a British authority on the art of belly dancing, and her new volume is a work of serious dance history, not of titillation or instruction (though one chapter on basic belly dancing movements is included). Hobin traces belly dancing back to its roots in the "fertility dances of the mother goddess cult" and gives a detailed discussion of ancient Egypt, where, she says, "dance was an expression of joy and an integral part of magic, religious rituals and funeral rites." Belly dancing also has had influences from outside the Middle East, however. According to Hobin, contemporary Moroccan belly dancing has roots in Berber folk dances, and one of her chapters looks at the influence of Gypsies. Students of popular dance forms around the world will find this volume to be an unusual addition to their library.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714530913
• ISBN-13: 978-0714530918
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,839,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not factual, and not a good how-to manual, June 5, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Belly Dance (Paperback)

This book is interesting for serious dance collectors, but for the average person, it is both too detailed, and too inaccurate.
Several of the author's assertions are patently untrue: for example, linking the Dance of the Seven Veils to the myth of Ishtar, the Babylonian Goddess. It is also never advisable to learn anything physical solely from written instructions (The end of the book contains instructions for performing certain dance moves). A far better basic book is "The Belly Dance Book" edited by Taz Richards.

2.0 out of 5 stars Feeding the belly dance myth, June 7, 2011

By 

Verdant (Wellington, NZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Belly Dance (Paperback)

I wish Tina Hobin had stuck to writing about the last few centuries of Middle Eastern dance, as she does this very well. Unfortunately, she also includes much material that seems to be trying to find the origins of modern belly dance in prehistoric times, something that can only be theorised not presented as fact as it is here. While I can understand people wanting to believe this myth of our dance's ancient orgins, the simple fact is WE DON'T KNOW and probably never will.
If you want to learn belly dance moves, this book does not have any illustrations to help you. Instead, I recommend attending a class or buying a DVD (e.g. Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation, Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning with Ariellah, or many other valuable efforts).
If you want an overview of belly dance, its history and some moves, Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume does it better.
If you want to learn about the ancient cultures of the Middle East, there are many, many books which will be more use to you.
If you want to learn about the more recent history of belly dance and modern Arab culture and can cope with skim reading, feel free to browse this book. Or you could check out Andrew Hammond's book Popular Culture In The Arab World or any number of other titles: for example, Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism, And Harem Fantasy (Bibliotheca Iranica. Performing Arts Series), Looking for Little Egypt, Dancing Fear and Desire: Race, Sexuality, and Imperial Politics in Middle Eastern Dance (Cultural Studies).

3.0 out of 5 stars Yes, the title is misleading!, January 31, 2010

By 

Jane "Jane" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Belly Dance (Paperback)

I purchased this book some time ago hoping to learn specifically about the cultural origins of what is termed "belly dance" in the west, rather than as an instructional book. I agree with other reviews - it is more of an anthropological study on dance in general. It is a very "dry" read, which is ok if you get the information you are looking for, but I didn't! Because I am mad on both books and belly dance, I am glad to have it in my collection but heed the information in other reviews so you know what you are getting.