Loading ...
The art-form of ‘belly dancing’ takes center stage at an event organized in aid of Diabetes.
Belly dancing? Here in Saint Lucia? For some the notion and the thought draw instant curiosity. For others, maybe a bit of a snicker, because at most cultural displays here, there is a bit of belly dancing, right? Well, not exactly. You see belly dancing is much more than casual gyrations or simulated exotic hip and waist movement.
“Belly dancing” I was informed on Tuesday by a local expert, who has studied the art-form in Miami, is actually a middle Eastern traditional dance in which the dancer utilizes lots of movement of the hips and abdomen. It is a Western term for a traditional Arab dance genre known as raqs sharqi (literally “oriental dance”) or sometimes raqs baladi (literally “dance of country”, and so “folk” dance).
Some say it is one of the oldest forms of dance predating biblical history and even finding its way into the lives of great men of the book. The dance is said to have roots in all ancient cultures from the orient to India to the mid-East. Contrary to the misconception, probably promoted again by Western culture and films, belly dancing was not created to entertain men. History will show that the dance was mainly a ritualized expression which has usually been performed for other women, generally during fertility rites or parties preparing a young woman for marriage.
So all of this to say what? Well as we started by saying Belly dancing is here in Saint Lucia and is being promoted by Jodi Lawrence who learnt the art-form while studying in Miami and is now a professional belly dancer. Upon returning to Saint Lucia Lawrence started teaching the art form and has her own group Sihan dance ensemble. Having maintained a network of dancers in the US, Lawrence contacted some friends about putting on a show here in Saint Lucia. She spoke to her dad about it and the event mushroomed into what it is today, a benefit for the Saint Lucia Diabetic and Hypertensive Association.
According to Gene Lawrence, who chairs a committee for the event after his daughter sold him on the idea, he quickly put a committee together. “It really is a pleasure to be involved in this event which is designed to raise some funds for the Saint Lucia Diabetic and Hypertensive Association. Through my daughter the dancers have agreed to come and perform for free, to assist with this project,” Lawrence said at a press conference at Cotton Bay Tuesday.
The event is being called “Un-belly-vable” and will be held this Saturday November 28 at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay. It will take the form of a buffet dinner, a fusion of Mediterranean and African Cuisine compliments the chefs of Cotton Bay and music by Gene Lawrence.
The show will feature Siham, International Belly Dancers and Laborde’s Esoteric Drumology. Then there is the after party with DJ music and an open bar.
Cotton Bay Village, through its CEO Michael Bryant is fully behind the project which he said is expected to be a wonderful event.
George Eugene, Executive Director of the SLDHA says he immediately jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the event, which is in aide of his organization.
“I am very pleased about this event, as you know the Saint Lucia Diabetic and Hypertensive Association is a non profit organization, we are struggling for financing and I am very excited about this event which hopefully will not be a one off event but an annual one,” Eugene says.
So far the response to Saturday’s event has
been overwhelming the organizers say, with several corporate tables of ten being sold.
“The dancers are coming from different parts of the US and they will be using lots of props; swords, wings, costumes,” Lawrence says. Belly dancing often utilizes sahidi music and melody as well as colorful costumes, flowing garments, finger cymbals and exotic jewelry. Saturday’s show will feature all of the above and then some, plus a chance to
win fabulous door
prizes including airline
tickets, stays at Cotton Bay and more. Sponsors include Star Publishing Company, American Airlines, Jet Blue, Scribble Design, Peter and Company Green Papaya, Brydens, Aqua Pur and Fancy Foods.
RSS
A good bit of entertainment…it will never take off in St.Lucia though.
I understand it is a Turkish tradition, used in resturants as a form of entertainment now, that was not mentioned in the article.
Like Flamenco dancing, it is a way that women used and were used to attract the opposite sex, as husband or as paying clientelle.
People need to know the truth behind certain practices before they start to promote them. Yoga is not just a form of exercize…find out where it originated from, and what it is used for.Is it Godly?? Be carefull.
Is this a way of sneakinly trying to make Muslim and Arabic practices acceptable on the island? Soon there will be folk fighting for the right to build a Mosque where ever they choose ….watch and see.
Awesome !! Also a great fringe benefit for the tourist to experience th eshows..Wonderful..!! Wishing you all the Best for such a great wanting cause as the Diabetic and Hypertension Association..People Helping People..
Sure St Lucia is ready for belly dancing, we have cabarets, so what is more there in an organised fund raising event ! We do love the opposing church, as a holy place, but it is not held there!!! Welcome to our shores Belly Dancers ! NTLT. says.
Ok, so what about belly dancing is newsworthy? My gosh!
why not we have daily murders….cockfighting doctors…..and thug police men …underground prostitution…….we selling every thing but the pitons and gimie..i see nothing wrong with a little entertainment…
Yea right, belly dancing now! I wonder what else we will bring to take focus off our real culture. Typical lucians, we never like what we have, I am not saying that we can’t chage our meals sometimes, but like I have always noticed, with our culture, we tend to enjoy other peoples culture more than ours. If I started belly dancing as a St. Lucian, people wouldn’t want to pay their money to come to my show, but a foreigner, will come and wipe out their purses and not even by a malt at hewanorra International Airport on their way out. It’s been happening all the time, our local calypsonians wouldn’t be givien the light of day,if they decide to have a show, but Oliver at large came to St. Lucia, with a bunch of crazy people talking some nonesense we couldn’t even understand and we give them our hard earned dollars to go back to jamaica. I looked at these people well when they arrived at the airport to return to Jamaica..They got to the Airport, went to the check in counter, after they all checked in, the sat in the lobby playing cards, when the announcement for their flight came on, they rushed to the departure door, went through screening, and headed straight to the departures gate, they didn’t spend a dime. That’s what we love, Foreigners coming to rip us off…and we ignore our beautiful culture for their crap. Yes I hear we having halloween parties as well. Is that our culture?
what culture?….the way we hate our own people….we big up rum and cig and turn our usa oversized weapons on rasts planting weed when the usa looking to make it legal…….medicinal ganja…….we treat our old people like shit…….dress like idiots in the heat and humidity……..we just like monkeys .every thing we see on tv we adopt….no wonder we killing each other…what culture you talking about …..roro and violence…….or the culture of beating our women thinking that we own them…what culture….welcome belly dancers
the dinner and show put on for the benefit of the St. Lucia Diabetic & Hypertensive Association was done free of charge. Sorry Phillys Wilson this dinner was done free of change they did not go out with any money. Get your facts right
Peti Mo
You said it all …such a beautiful, beautiful island.. Love the people but those bad minded ones are taking ur island down fast.
Why is it that our local dances, culture artform is not promoted but every other thing that comes along is given precedence. As a lucian it would be so encouraging to be able to dablle in our traditions, music you name it. If our people, government paid more attention to promoting local grown instead of trying to imprt everything foreign the island would be aliot better off.We’r slowly losing our identity
OMG Phylis Wilson, we’re glad you’re paying $20 for a malt while going through Hewanorra, keep up the good work help build the economy… Who cares what anyone does with their money… What are you doing to help promote your culture?
belly dance was originated in north Africa around Sudan, not the middle east.