Customer Reviews

Belly Dance

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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).

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.

As an american bellydancer I am constantly explaining that the art I create comes from a vast history of diffrent cultures combined to form a fusion dance. This book gives written accounts in history from people who traveled the world and witnessed many raw forms of "belly dance". It was a very informative [historically] book & inspires women of all shapes & sizes to express themselves through dance.

A better title for this book would be, A Brief History of Religion, Music and Dance in and Around the Middle East. What information there is about belly dancing could fill only one chapter, the rest is interesting, but not really pertinent. There is a whole lot of information in this book. It would, no doubt, thrill cultural anthropologists, but is of little use to anyone interested in belly dancing. Easily read for all the facts. The last chapter gives written directions for movements in belly dancing. Really...., buy a DVD if you are interested in learing how to dance.