Belly Dance

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.