Belly Dance: The Dance of Mother Earth

I generally like history books that put things I am doing in some context, though I am far from a historian or expert on Belly Dance.I thought this was one that might be interesting to learn from. I am new to Belly Dance and cannot fully speak to whether some portions were accurate, though I took some of these things more as a discussion and description of possibilities as compared to being a definitive answer when looking at earlier parts of the history.Overall I found it to be a good general overview/primer of Belly Dance. So if you are looking for a general overview (as oppossed to a book with moves) it was good.

As an american bellydancer I am constantly explaining that the art I create comes from a vast history of diffrent cultures combined to form a fusion dance. This book gives written accounts in history from people who traveled the world and witnessed many raw forms of "belly dance". It was a very informative [historically] book & inspires women of all shapes & sizes to express themselves through dance.

I purchased this book some time ago hoping to learn specifically about the cultural origins of what is termed "belly dance" in the west, rather than as an instructional book. I agree with other reviews - it is more of an anthropological study on dance in general. It is a very "dry" read, which is ok if you get the information you are looking for, but I didn't! Because I am mad on both books and belly dance, I am glad to have it in my collection but heed the information in other reviews so you know what you are getting.

A better title for this book would be, A Brief History of Religion, Music and Dance in and Around the Middle East. What information there is about belly dancing could fill only one chapter, the rest is interesting, but not really pertinent. There is a whole lot of information in this book. It would, no doubt, thrill cultural anthropologists, but is of little use to anyone interested in belly dancing. Easily read for all the facts. The last chapter gives written directions for movements in belly dancing. Really...., buy a DVD if you are interested in learing how to dance.

I wish Tina Hobin had stuck to writing about the last few centuries of Middle Eastern dance, as she does this very well. Unfortunately, she also includes much material that seems to be trying to find the origins of modern belly dance in prehistoric times, something that can only be theorised not presented as fact as it is here. While I can understand people wanting to believe this myth of our dance's ancient orgins, the simple fact is WE DON'T KNOW and probably never will.If you want to learn belly dance moves, this book does not have any illustrations to help you. Instead, I recommend attending a class or buying a DVD (e.g.  Bellydance Basics and Beyond: Technique for a Solid Foundation , Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning with Ariellah , or many other valuable efforts).If you want an overview of belly dance, its history and some moves,  Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume  does it better.If you want to learn about the ancient cultures of the Middle East, there are many, many books which will be more use to you.If you want to learn about the more recent history of belly dance and modern Arab culture and can cope with skim reading, feel free to browse this book. Or you could check out Andrew Hammond's book  Popular Culture In The Arab World  or any number of other titles: for example,  Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism, And Harem Fantasy (Bibliotheca Iranica. Performing Arts Series) , Looking for Little Egypt , Dancing Fear and Desire: Race, Sexuality, and Imperial Politics in Middle Eastern Dance (Cultural Studies) .

well it arrived as the date advised but due to moving things around i cant find it but i did manage to save two of the outlined dances to practice.