OUR SACRED BODY :: ayshe

Recently there was a series about the development of art throughout history. With regards to ancient Greece, the discussion was about how the Greeks were obsessed with the naked human body and strove to perfect its representation in art. The reason for this was that their gods had human forms and therefore the naked human form was considered sacred and 'close to godliness'. Because of this they desired to represent the naked body as perfectly as possible. Hmmm, how very different from our Judeo/Christian/Islamic heritage, where the body and sexuality are considered profane. (In this latter case, modesty and covering the body are what would constitute closer to godliness.)

When I was young my Greek relatives, who were EXTREMELY proud of their ancient Greek culture, would take me to the Metropolitan Museum to admire the amazing Greek statues. I think this is where I must have first gotten the idea of the human body as being something special and beautiful. Somehow the modesty condoned by my church got superimposed upon by this contradictory concept of the body free & beautiful, and then got sublimated in my developing unconscious, where it proceeded to have a very profound (albeit, to my family, very strange) impact on my world views and life choices. For myself, I want and need physical awareness and physical pursuits in my life — not to feel ashamed of my body or feel it holds some intrinsic malevolent power.

I know as bellydancers we can be seen in a negative light by those who take the position that the body ought to be properly covered. Even if not directly pronounced, I have often felt that subtle sense of embarrassment or exposure when appearing in costume. I notice that as a dancer who is using my body as a tool of expression, I feel sensitive that my presentation not be mistaken for vanity, or showing off, or
enticement, beyond the fantasy of my onstage performance. In other words, when I finish my show and am in contact with my audience, I have switched gears and wish nothing more then to be professional and
understated.

Also, I find it physically unhealthy to feel the need to hide one's body, feel shy about it and not learn about it. Young girls that shyly hunch their shoulders because they are developing breasts, need to feel
good about themselves and stand up straight. A small thing like this can cause terrible back and neck pains in adulthood. Feeling comfortable and aware of your body can help you know when something is not right in terms of your health. Also, awareness will lead to more sexual freedom and comfort. I think this desire for more self-awareness of the 'body sacred' is one of the main reasons for the surge of bellydance popularity. Women worldwide want to shed the feelings of bodily shame that different cultures and religions have placed on them. I think without knowing it my love of bellydance came from this exact desire to know my body and feel physically and emotionally free from shame — free from the 'bad', 'dirty girl' syndrome that the eyes of 'decent' society can cast upon women.

Photo: "APHRODITE OF RHODES" Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Rhodes, Greece