Ramadan to dance or not to dance....
Zara Dance shares her blog exploring this Islamic holy month and looks at it from a bellydancer's point of view!
What's Ramadan?
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month of the year. It goes by the luna month so it moves relative to our normal calendar each month by about 10 days and this year it is in JUNE. During this time Muslims will fast during daylight hours; this means no food, drink ( yes this includes water), sexual relations or lies. Also generally during the month a more reserved attitude is taken on – people “behaving themselvesâ€.
Why should bellydancers care?
So why am I writing this article?? Your bellydance has nothing to do with Ramadan, right? …. Hmmm well that could be right but it could also be wrong…
During Ramadan it is traditional, in Islamic countries such as Egypt, that bellydance performances in clubs and restaurants stop out of respect for the religious month. The acts are usually replaced with more “suitable†entertainment such as oud players and tanoura dancers.
Seek out workshop opportunities!
Western dancers who work in these countries often go home during Ramadan for a bit of a holiday and to teach workshops - SO EXPECT TO BE spoilt for choice this month - EXPLOIT IT and take the opportunity to train with some of the world's top dancers.
How does this effect us in the West - Does this mean less gigs?
Ramadan can have an effect on us bellydancers in the west...
Well, if you work in an Arab restaurant or another culturally Islamic restaurant you may be asked not to dance.
And, think about it, even if your bosses aren’t religious themselves and haven't taken much thought towards it; does where you work cater for a large population of Muslims who could find it very rude that you are performing bellydance, their native dance, to them at a time when they are fasting and at a time when traditionally dance performances stop? If this is the case maybe not perform. You may find you have a few less gigs during Ramadan.
NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL DANCERS! Could your troupe performances also be effected?
This doesn't just go for professional dancers - all the above applies to students and troupes too. Especially as this Ramadan is during summer it may coincide with many a summer fete .... ask yourselves and the organisers if there is likely to be lots of people from the Middle Eastern Muslim community present. Try to see it through others' eyes. How would they feel seeing the performance at this time? Could you change your approach to limit the risk of culturally upsetting people? Maybe choose to do choreographies in a less traditional style, something that those from the Middle East might not associate with so much, like Tribal or Fusion choreos ... Also think about the music, maybe pick alternatives to traditional Arabic music like a modern techno Arabic sounding song with no singing or a piece of Western music. Also, with costuming - why not consider a more Tribal or Romany look?
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