Orientalism in motion: representations of “belly dance” in paintings and travel literature (19th century)

Authors

Keywords:

Belly Dance. Orientalism. Colonialism. Representation. Cultural History.

Abstract

This article analyses representations of “belly dance” in paintings and travel literature produced by Europeans in the 19th century. Locating this dance in time and space, describing characteristics and subjects that were important for the development of this practice, it analyses its deep relationship with the colonization process in Egypt. We conclude that the dances practiced by men and, above all, by women in the Egyptian territory in the 19th century underwent European filters and interpretations before consolidating in the West as “belly dancing”. This socio political context left visible marks in the way this body repertoire is performed, represented and reputed today.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Naiara Müssnich Rotta Gomes de Assunção, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Naiara M. R. G. de Assunção holds a master's degree in History, in the research line of Culture and Representations (UFRGS, 2018) and a master's degree in Anthropology of Dance (Choreomundus programme, Roehampton University, 2020). She coordinates the Hunna Collective: Historians Who Dance.

Nina Ingrid Caputo Paschoal, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo

Nina Ingrid Caputo Paschoal holds a master's degree in History, with emphasis in Social History (PUC SP, 2018), a bachelor's degree in History (PUC-SP, 2015). She is also a Technician in Museology (ETEC Pq. da Juventude). Since 2013 she works as an art educator in cultural institutions and museums.

Published

2021-12-27

How to Cite

Müssnich Rotta Gomes de Assunção, N., & Caputo Paschoal, N. I. (2021). Orientalism in motion: representations of “belly dance” in paintings and travel literature (19th century). Brazilian Journal on Presence Studies, 12(1), 1–32. Retrieved from https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/presenca/article/view/119200

Issue

Section

Dance: History and Historiography

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.