tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post305957353983797136..comments2023-10-25T05:30:54.507-04:00Comments on Oh Get A Grip!: Belly Dance and EmpowermentAshe Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390519279886657608noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-3567951848535210232009-03-26T09:25:00.000-04:002009-03-26T09:25:00.000-04:00Late as usual, but I really enjoyed your post, Jan...Late as usual, but I really enjoyed your post, Jane. <BR/><BR/>Belly dancing has always seemed to me to be one of those dances that is designed for women rather than girls :)Kim Darehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11086545242925686207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-84006604682643485562009-03-22T15:16:00.000-04:002009-03-22T15:16:00.000-04:00Jane,Lovely blog post! Thanks for sharing your tho...Jane,<BR/><BR/>Lovely blog post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the Grip this week. We enjoyed it and we appreciate it!<BR/><BR/>JamieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-77627591776180189072009-03-22T12:46:00.000-04:002009-03-22T12:46:00.000-04:00Many westerners think of belly dancing as one step...Many westerners think of belly dancing as one step away from stripping. They could not be more wrong. This is an ancient art, highly respected in the places where it had its routes, and closely tied to rituals of female initiation and childbirth. <BR/><BR/>I knew that Jane was a dancer from this tradition, and was delighted when she agree to post as our guest.<BR/><BR/>Thank you, Jane!<BR/><BR/>Warmly,<BR/>LisabetLisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-27513932259875916662009-03-22T11:31:00.000-04:002009-03-22T11:31:00.000-04:00Really interesting post. This part in particular ...Really interesting post. This part in particular stood out to me:<BR/><BR/>"The belly is the seat of our femininity. It’s not the hidden vagina, it’s the outward expression of our bellies, as they grow with children, shrink back with stretch marks, and we seem all to define ourselves by trying to make it disappear. We hold our stomachs in tightly until we can’t move…."<BR/><BR/>I never heard the belly indicated in that way before, as the seat of feminity. I'll be thinking baout that. I've been out of touch with ERA lately, and so haven't been so aware of you. Nice to be reminded of how interesting you are.<BR/><BR/>GarceGarceushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11160407485298015371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-53179965291369349222009-03-21T23:16:00.000-04:002009-03-21T23:16:00.000-04:00Teresa! that is exactly why most of us women danc...Teresa! that is exactly why most of us women dance. We are grounded in something very deep. It comes up from the earth to our feet, passes up of body into our loins, then our hearts and into...finally, the consciousness of HOW we express our womanhood. Our individuality, our Genius. <BR/><BR/>The music is so important. But try something other than belly dance music. I dance frequently to Tracy Chapman and Morrisette. There are so many ways to go on this...music is just the fuel for the movement. Try to allow yourself to go into a trance, too. It's called the Zar dance (trance) and once you develop the ability from the 'ayoub' beat, you can use this in many ways of life. I use it to write. It also replaces Prozac for me...LOL!<BR/><BR/>The companionship of other women is so vital to a dancer. I am now crone age, and I am teaching older women..even older than I am. It is such a privilege to learn their lives, their life experiences. <BR/><BR/>Keep moving! We are the Divine. We are not apart of this at all. It is the river of life inside.<BR/><BR/>And to Anny: that is the best news of all to me! Hatred of ourselves is so persuasive in our society. And our figures are the outward beckoning by many abusive people....both male and female. We beat ourselves up. <BR/><BR/>Your belly is the protection of your womb, and after 4 children! Honor it for what it is. It is a powerful token of your fecund femininity. It doesn't matter what shape it has become, it is a testament to your life and journey. Mine is fat, round and has a half moon from hip to hip! I hated it for so many years. Now I still think I can 'improve' on it's shape, but that is through dancing, the stretching of dance that allows me strength and some grace. <BR/><BR/>Get up and dance! Celebrate the divine and life- giving of your body. 4 children is marvelous!<BR/><BR/>Blessings to all you natural dancers!<BR/><BR/>JaneAsobimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15661326504398833746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-46364277387049613642009-03-21T20:16:00.000-04:002009-03-21T20:16:00.000-04:00Hmmm. Thank you for this post. I have HATED my bel...Hmmm. Thank you for this post. I have HATED my belly for quite a while. I, too, had four children. Thank you for helping me put it in perspective. And perhaps now I will get up and dance.Anny Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05305873753916213970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-44133330233849875402009-03-21T11:55:00.000-04:002009-03-21T11:55:00.000-04:00Nice post.I'm a dancer myself, among many other th...Nice post.<BR/>I'm a dancer myself, among many other things including a writer. Sometimes I let it slide, but I find it feeds my soul--the movement, the music, the companionship of other women. I came to it from a place of spiritual seeking, as a way to get in touch with my inner goddess and honor the divine. Sometimes I lose that perspective on it, but deep down it's a huge part of why I keep at it.TeresaNoelleRobertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542291750786128688noreply@blogger.com