The Art of Turks & the Oriental Dance

Homeland of the Turks around two thousands BC was Central Asia. In general, they were living a nomadic life in tribes. Dance concept for them was dancing by moving their feet from right to left creating a harmonic rhythm in a lively manner by forming a circle with a mixed group of men and women around a fire in ceremonies of divine services or with great enthusiasm celebrating a happy event or after a war for the purpose of sharing pleasure and mirth. With the establishment of the Great Seljuk state, Turks began to migrate to the Arabian countries. Seljuks maintained their sovereignty in Iran for a long period. They adopted the profound culture of the East during the long time they lived in these lands. Turks became acquainted with oriental dance in these lands. Turks were greatly impressed and influenced with this type of dance and the oriental dance became one of the most popular and fundamental entertainments of the Seljuk palace life. In Arabian and Moroccan culture woman performing oriental dance was called raqs sharqi (oriental dancer). Raqs Sharqi belly dancing consist of movements that are initiated by the feet and executed throughout the body. The focus of the dance is the pelvic and hip area. It is fundamentally, a solo improvisational dance with its own unique dance vocabulary that is fluidly integrated with the music’s rhythm. Raqs Sharqi dance expresses the sensuality and power of being a mature woman and her fertility. In Arabian and Moroccan culture raks sharqi also meant woman who sings and plays a musical instrument before performing oriental dance. Turks called this musical instrument çeng (harp which goes back to primitive times, however it was very popular among Turks) and the woman who played cenk and danced was called çengi (public dancing girl).

Writing from http://www.bellydanceacademyturkey.com/eng_grs.html

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