Extra Credit #2: American Belly Dance Discussion

Do you consider American Style Belly Dance a Middle Eastern Dance form? Do you consider ATS a Middle Eastern Dance form? Why or why not? Use concepts learned in this class to back up your answer.

Extra Credit #2: American Belly Dance Discussion Answer 

I consider ATS as a Middle Eastern Dance form. For me, the movements may vary from American belly dance in that it made the dance a form of entertainment while Middle Easterners view belly dance as a symbol of women and of society. But viewing this in the perspective of dance as a movement, American belly dance continues to follow the tradition of movement, while manipulating or changing the way the dance is viewed by the audience. Overall, the similarity of these two dance forms all relies on how the performers feel about the dance.