A Dance of Seduction?

This Valentine's Day has me thinking about some of the notions people have about belly dance. 

To the general public in the Western world, the words "belly dance" tend to conjure up thoughts of harems where half-naked concubines dance to seduce the sultan...

But did you know that's actually an incorrect stereotype? 

Belly dance originated from folkloric dances of the Middle East... dances that are regularly done informally at family and social gatherings, by children and adults alike, both female and male.

It is a dance of joy and celebration, with a rich history and culture behind it that is now studied and performed all around the world.

Reducing it to nothing but a "dance of seduction" is really a wild inaccuracy! 

Then again, it is also easy to see how this dance--which can indeed be very sensual--could actually be used for this purpose. After all, who can possibly think that a slinky undulation or precise controlled hip shimmy isn't attractive? Even if it's an inaccurate stereotype, there is still truth to the fact that belly dance can be a sensual and mesmerizing art form. 

Yet there are ways to use this quality without reducing the dance to something that is done solely for the pleasure of leering men. Because if there is one person you should definitely try to use belly dance to seduce... that person is you!

You can use it to see beauty in the diverse people who perform it, and in turn to see beauty in yourself.

You can use it to teach your body how to do new and amazing things that you will feel beautiful doing.

You can use it to express the music you love and the deepest feelings inside your soul. 

This Valentine's Day, do a little belly dancing, and fall in love with yourself!