Rhea’s Story. Part 7.

“I wouldn’t say I fit into any rigid category of dance style. I dance an old-time style, Turkish-Lebanese style, the way people danced in the states (55) years ago.

American cabaret-style belly dancing is a conglomeration of styles. There is no five-part routine in Turkey or Egypt. Coming out veiled and dancing fast, dancing slow with the veil, doing a Turkish drop with floor work, perhaps balancing a tray or candles, this is an American presentation of the dance. And America is uniquely equipped to do this, being the melting pot that it is. All the Arabic clubs that I danced in had musicians and customers from all over the Middle East.

(In the 60s) My teacher Jamila didn’t talk about this or that style, she talked about being a good dancer, about having good technique. We were supposed to uphold a high, pure standard of belly dance as opposed to bawdy belly dance. We were not supposed to sink to the level of prurient interest.“