{"id":1725,"date":"2019-01-04T21:59:13","date_gmt":"2019-01-05T05:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/?page_id=1725"},"modified":"2025-08-23T01:44:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T08:44:23","slug":"i-tahitian-dancing-vs-belly-dancing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.palomar.edu\/mcastillo\/i-tahitian-dancing-vs-belly-dancing\/","title":{"rendered":"I – Belly dancing in Turkey vs Tahitian dancing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tell us what you think about the story.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Comparing belly dancing and Tahitian dancing<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(lesson – learning how to compare – I level)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For AI assistance – click on Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dancing is an integral part of people\u2019s lives and the culture they represent.  In many cultures dancing often occurs in weddings, festivals and special occasions like birthdays, baptisms, and religious events.  Dancing is also a means by which people express their joy, have fun, and socialize with family members and friends.  For certain cultures like the Russian, American and Mexican, dancing is a way to identify a specialized dance of their country like ballet, hip hop, and Mariachi dancing.  Thus, dancing has and will always be an integral part of one\u2019s culture. There are two diverse cultures, the Tahitian and Middle Easterners, that demonstrate very interesting similarities and differences in their cultural dance worth learning and understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grass skirt outfit of a Tahitian dancer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A belly dancer wearing revealing skirt,
a decorated arm glove, belt, and bra.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

First, in the modern version of both<\/span> of these dances, the arms, hands, fingers, hips, legs, and the stomach of the dancers are used to attract and entice the onlookers and to demonstrate provocative movements that catch the attention of the audience and to stimulate their imagination. These parts of the body define the dance, and the women dancers use them to attract and allure people into looking at them in admiration or awe.   Like<\/span> in Tahitian dance where women use their hips to execute rapid hip movements in sequence to Tahitian percussion drums, so too<\/span> in belly dancing where women dancers use their hips to perform rapid hip movements to similar percussion instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, similar to<\/span> Tahitian dancers who wear very little clothing like a long plant fiber or “grass” skirts around their waist accentuated by tassels to enhance their hip-motion, the belly dancers wear a beaded skirt, belt, and decorated bra. Another costume type is the beledi dress, which is designed with a long, floor-length dress made with natural materials.  In both<\/span> dances the woman\u2019s belly or stomach, the arms, shoulders and legs are exposed to entice and allure the onlookers. Also, just as Tahitian dancers are barefooted while dancing so too are belly dancers to give them sure footing, balance, and stability while executing their dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, because of their provocative movements and the skimpy outfits worn by these dancers, the dance was prohibited or forbidden in both cultures.  The missionaries who came to Tahiti in the 1800s to spread Christianity were very appalled by the skimpy outfits worn by the women dancers and the provocative movements in the dance which were against their religion. So they passed a law outlawing the Tahitian dance for over a decade.  Just as<\/span> Tahitian dance was outlawed by the missionaries for a period of time, so too<\/span> was belly dancing.  During the 1950s, belly dancing was declared illegal in Egypt due to religious extremism, which began in Cairo.  Perhaps the Arab men were afraid of the tremendous power belly dancing women would have on the men and society.  In time and due to the demand by tourists and foreign visitors for the two dances, both dances have been allowed in their perspective countries as a means to preserve a cultural heritage of the country.  In both<\/span> culture the dances are now more accepted and has attracted more tourists and foreign visitors to observe these ancient art of dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Children learn Tahitian dance as toddlers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite their similarities, the Tahitian dance and belly dance also show clear differences.  Tahitian dance originated from the island of Tahiti.  It was a dance used in all different aspects of life: to attract a lover, to challenge an enemy, to worship a god, and even for prayer. Tahitian dance was unique, and it was a way of life for Tahitian people.  In time the dance evolved and became a part of ceremonies throughout the French Polynesian islands for thousands of years.  Tahitian dance was so important to the people that children learn it and trained to do the long and arduous movements as toddlers.  So children grew up being proud of the daily routine and it has been a part of the Tahitian people for thousands of years. On the other hand<\/span>, in ancient times in the Middle East, belly dancing began as a ritual for childbirth preparation.  Its origin was Lebanon and later passed on to Spain then to Egypt and the Middle East before Islam and Christianity began.  At that time belly dancing was a means to prepare women to childbearing.  During that time, many Arabic societies were matriarchal, and belly dancing was performed by women for women in hopes of encouraging women to bely dance to exercise and  strengthen their bodies in preparation for childbirth.  It was never a sexual display performed for men like many people believe. Traditionally, belly dancing was performed during fertility and pre-marriage ceremonies. Women would get together and celebrate each other\u2019s beauty, femininity, and stage in their life, such as entering womanhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"An
In Tahitian dance men can accompany the
women in the dance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In belly dancing only one female dancer
performs the dance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A very clear difference<\/span> between belly dancing and Tahitian dancing is the number of dancers performing.  In belly dancing usually one female dancer performs the dance accompanied by musicians to play the music for the dance.  However<\/span>, in Tahitian dance a group of dancers perform the dance.  That group could be made of four to ten dancers.  Thus, belly dancing is mainly danced by one female dancer whereas Tahitian dancing is performed in by a group of dancers.  Also, unlike<\/span> belly dancing where a man or men do not accompany a female dancer , in Tahitian dance women can be accompanied by a group of men in the dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another difference<\/span> is the musical instruments used.  In traditional Tahitian dance, the main instruments are the two stringed instruments, the ukulele and the guitar, and the percussion instruments called the to\u2019ere (drums), one called the pahu with two skins and beaten with a stick and the other called a pahu tupa\u2019i rima, with one skin, that is played with the hands.  In belly dancing the instruments are the kanun which is a 4-string instrument, the harmonium which is a free-standing keyboard, the dumbek which is a goblet-shaped drum, and the ney flute, a wind instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"An
A young toddler learns the Tahitian
dance from her parents, grandparents
or other members of the family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Three percussion players of the Tahitian
dance. They play the to\u2019ere drums
consisting of the pahu and the
pahu tupa\u2019i rima.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Last, for many dancers, belly dancing isn\u2019t just a hobby or form of exercise. It is a spiritual experience and a form of meditation. Belly dancing helps reduce stress and concerns through the music and movements. In Morocco, the Guedra, a type of belly dance, is performed as a blessing ritual. This dance is performed by a dancer who tells a story of the four natural elements\u2014earth, wind, fire, and water. The dancer blesses these elements and sends out good wishes to the audience with her finger motions. In other cultures belly dancing is a form of exercise rather than a ritual. The rapid movements of the hips target the abdominal muscles helping women  to strengthen their muscles in preparation for pregnancy and childbirth.  However<\/span>, in Tahiti dancing has always been a significant part of the Tahitian people’s history. Originally, it was used in all different aspects of life: to entice a lover, to challenge an enemy, to worship a god, and even for prayer. Each dance was unique.  To the people Tahitian dance will always be part of their way of life. It is very much engrained in the culture as children are taught the dance as toddlers, and they grow up with being part of their daily routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toddlers learn Tahitian dance at an early age<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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