My search for the divine dance of Andalusia continues…
In addition to Iris Stewart’s research, Wendy Buonaventura also chronicles the history of so-called “belly dancing,” noting that this style of dance travels from India into the Middle East and as far as Spain. This dance form was spread through the travels of “gypsies” where, in the case of Andalusia, the “belly” dance evolved into flamenco. Buonaventura aptly notes that the flamenco also “includes the manipulation of veils, thrusting hips and a rapid stamping close the ground, which again creates a subtle shimmy. In flamenco, though, the shimmy is hardly noticeable, for our attention is fixed on the dancer’s proud arms and dramatic stamping feet.”
According to Habiba Studios: Dances of the Near East, the Andalusian dancer is known as “jariya,” or slave girls who performed in the noble houses of Andalusian Spain and throughout the Arab world. Jariya is based on the classical music and dance that originated in Andalusian Spain and traveled to North Africa when the Arabs were expelled. The dance emphasizes the elegant arm and hand movements of the court dancer. Again, the serpentine arm movements are echoed, as in “belly” dance and flamenco.
Furthermore, though not in academic discourse, travel guides advertise flamenco as the dance of Andalusia. Bob Martin notes that flamenco blends influences, the earliest of which came from Hindu dances, the threnodies of Greek mourners and the mimes of Imperial Rome.
It is ostensible that the commonly known “belly” dance has sacred origins stemming from fertility, birthing, and goddess worship, illustrating the connections to sacred sexuality. It is also clear that “belly” dancing paved the way for flamenco in Andalusia, possibly incorporating some of these sacred gestures into the dance form. The question I now have is: Does flamenco have sacred ties today and how are these sacred origins manifested in the dances of Andalusia? Is the Andalusian dance viewed differently by Jews, Christians, and Muslims? Why or why not?
1 comment:
Rev. Ang: This is wonderful information. I look forward to more of your research and insights and maybe video!
Mary
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