Preserving the classical belly dance form

GRYCS in Jubilee Hills was filled with the rhythmic sound of shimmies at the 7day beginner’s belly dance certification course in the city recently. Sanjay MJ, A well-known Salsa and Hip hop instructor, who is also an actor and stood Runners up at the All Asian Latin Championship last year, organised this first of its kind belly dance workshop by the renowned belly dance expert Meher Malik.

Meher Malik’s sensational belly dance moves in reality shows like India’s got talent, just dance and Dance plus left everyone amazed and brought her into the limelight. Students from different states took part in this workshop. In 7 days they learnt about various belly dance techniques along with Bollywood fusion and shimmy layering techniques and drills. Over 100 people took part in this workshop.

Talking about the belly dance scene in the country, organiser Sanjay MJ said, “Belly dance may be a new dance form to India but it is slowly and surely picking up in cities like Goa, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. Meher Malik is the foremost exponent of this traditional Egyptian art form in India.

She has spent more than 15 years learning, training, mastering and now teaching and evolving the dance form through her ‘Banjara School of Dance’. Known for her strong performances, Meher mixes Egyptian belly dancing with Bollywood moves and songs to whip up a heady concoction.”

Talking about the origins of belly dance Meher went on to add that since belly dance is as old as the Egyptian civilization, there isn’t adequate theoretical information about the real origin of the dance form. Theorists believe belly dance has its roots in India (Rajasthan) and that it originated among the gypsy community who travelled through the Silk Route.

The belly dancing expert, speaking about what belly dancing was to her said, “Belly dance has the ability to put together all the elements. There is fluid soft motion like the water, there is aggressive muscular movement like fire and there’s an earthy base to it too. I don’t believe a lot of dance forms have all these elements together.

Traditional belly dance retains its cultural aspect as compared to many other dancing styles today. It has the ability to empower like no other dance can. I’ve experimented with various styles before belly dance and have found true solace only with this style.”