Underappreciated
Undulations



Partial article taken from
The San Diego Union Tribune, August 22, 2000

UNDERAPPRECIATED UNDULATIONS
By John Wilkens, staff writer

After a minute or two, she knows. She can look out into the crowd and tell by their faces whether they get it, whether they understand that what she’s doing is a dance revered in certain parts of the world. Or whether they think she’s just some low-wattage skin show there to shake and shimmy, a diversion in between belts of beer.

An appreciative audience is a joy. They watch every part of the dance, the feet, the hands, the head, and, yes, the stomach. They recognize the skill and the training, the tradition and the culture. "You can tell right away," explained Dondi Dahlin. "They get this really profound and lovely look on their faces.

"She has seen that look, in places like Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. "There are a lot of misconceptions," Dondi said. "People think the belly dance is about sex, which it’s not. They think it’s a seduction."

Origins of the Dance

By most accounts, the dance has its origins in ancient fertility rituals. It was invented by women, for women as a kind of initiation into the movements of childbirth. Mothers passed it on to daughters. In some places in the Middle East it’s still a female-only thing, although in others it’s an essential part of celebrations large and small, from circumcisions to weddings.

Middle Eastern immigrants in California sometimes bring that part of their culture with them, and the dancers here who are serious about their craft can find work at private parties. Nightclubs and restaurants are a regular venue for dancing too, although that’s where performers are more likely to run into the misconceptions. Many Americans don’t see past the bare midriff. They hoot and holler. Some can’t keep their hands to themselves.

To hire me to perform at your event - email me @ *Miss Dondi*
Dondi Simone Dahlin - SAG Actress - Middle Eastern Dance - Award Winning Performer