Little Bellydancer
This poem was inspired by two wonderful ladies, Suhalia Salimpour, a famous second-generation bellydancer, and Lydia Dubai, a beautiful and gentle bellydancer from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The nineth through the thirteenth phrases, and the sixteenth phrase, in verses three and four, are quotes from Ms. Salimpour in an interview in the documentary, "American Bellydancer," produced by Miles Copeland. During her interview, Ms. Salimpour spoke of the negetive attitudes and misconceptions many people have towards bellydancing. Ms. Dubai has suffered from negetive treatment, because she is a professional bellydancer.
Unfortunately, bellydancing has been lumped together with the sex industry, and when many people think of the word "bellydance," they think of stripping, which bellydance is emphatically NOT. It is a cultural, folkloric dance, and a legitimate art form. I hope that everyone enjoys the following poem I have written; it is dedicated to Ms. Salimpour, to Lydia, and to all bellydancers struggling to validate bellydance as a beautiful expression of heart, mind, soul, and body:

You enter the stage on gossamer wings,
Unveiling like a flower in bloom,
Every eye is fastened upon you
As your presence electrifies the room.

Moving as though one with the music,
The audience is spellbound by your confident grace,
Though you give all to those who are watching,
You see veiled disapproval in almost every face.

"Bravo, little bellydancer,
Cute costume, pretty face,
BUT you are just the bellydancer,
So you'd better know your place."

"Bravo, little bellydancer!
We applaud you, well done;
Go, go, little bellydancer,
BUT don't ever think of marrying MY son."

I am a little bellydancer,
Yet I dance to please no man,
I dance for joy, for love of life,
Don't judge what you don't understand.

I am not some soulless, nameless face,
Nor am I a harlot for hire,
I'm indeed a lady, I KNOW my place,
I stand with dignity, and hope to inspire

others who suffer from small-minded views,
looked down upon for following their heart,
Struggling to educate those who don't realize
That what they are doing IS art.

I am a little bellydancer,
Yet I dance to please no man,
I dance for joy, for love of life,
Don't judge what you don't understand.

Diana Bristow (a.k.a. "Farasha Hanem")
11-8-07