This is a common question I am often asked at my class although I'm not sure about historical facts here are some of the theories stories passed to me from other dancers or from what I've read. Myths legends history?
At several points in history dancers from Middle Eastern Countries often performed in the street as a way of earning an honest living. It has been said that street performers where poor people who used their skills and talents to accumulate money. A wealthy educated women wouldn't be busking for money and often family wouldn't be happy for their daughters to become belly dancers. However many did as a way of survival. These days the art of belly dance is often practiced by working classes as well as middle class and academics.
Belly dancers like to exentuate hip movements by tieing a fabric scarf around them, often embellished tassels beads or coins
While street dancers showcased their talents paying veiwers dropped coins onto the floor near their feet or into a basket type container, similar to the way we drop money into a buskers guitar case. Even today it is common place in middle eastern culture for veiwers and guests to shower a belly dancer with money, usually notes and lots of them, money is given as a token of appreciation and cultured celebration. Every gig I have been to where the party guests are Turkish or Arab I have had some of the best tips... Some double the price of what a professional belly dancers rate for the gig.
So why do belly dancers wear coin belts?
Maybe the easiest way for a dancer to collect and keep an eye on her hard earned cash was to sew it into their hip scarves.
Dancing For Dowry?
This is based in word of mouth stories and passing information.
Dowry was different in Greece as it was in The Middle East and north African countries. Coins where said to be used as a dowry which the dancer accumulated in order to attract a good husband. Once she accumulated enough she would more than likely would have given up dancing to get married settle down and have Children.
Greek Tradition or Myth?
In Greek history the bride's father would accumulate possessions land and money and pass it on to the bride's husband once married to ensure the financial safety of the bride and her children. I am not sure if this stands up in Arab people's history and culture due to the tradition of the to be husband being the sole provider and passing on possession and money etc to the to be bride's father. As a protection that the marriage would go ahead.
"Don't quote me on this"
A Little Theory Of Mine
I also believe in the pyscology of business. The more successful and busy your business looks from a veiwers point of view the more people will want to pay for the product or buy into that brand. One of the first things taught on any business course is to ensure your buisness people in it or seen to be busy or popular...Even if it's friends and family posing as customers at first. Humans are sheep after all... Well the majority are. Maybe showcasing coins was a way of enticing more viewers to put their hands in their pockets.
What have you learned about this subject, what legends or historical facts have been passed to you?
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