Introduction

Belly dance is a largely misunderstood form of movement, highly stereotyped as a derogatory and exploitive display of the female body. However, as a product of eclectic cultural histories, belly dance represents an amalgamation of dance genres that have been practised for millennia across the Middle East and North Africa. Its origins can be traced back several thousands of years, with contemporary iterations of the dance representing only a fraction of the means with which it has been utilized within public and private life. The global West, including various European nations and the US, has had a palpable influence on public perceptions of belly dance (Shay and Sellers-Young, 2005).

Interestingly, a vibrant subculture of belly dancers has developed in recent years, particularly in the US. This chapter examines how US belly dancers view the practice as a spiritual endeavour, particularly in light of the negative perceptions surrounding it. I discuss findings from a decade-long ethnographic study (2003–13) involving several data collection methods: observations, journal entries, online statements and qualitative interviews. The long-term and multi-method approach of this work was necessary due to the lack of research on this topic and the complexity involved in understanding it.

Findings suggest that belly dance holds much potential as an embodied spiritual practice, particularly when premised on holistic health (integration of body, mind and spirit). As such, the chapter contributes to this critical examination of women's spirituality within contemporary contexts. I take an interdisciplinary approach, bridging sociology of the body, religion, and holistic health, in examining how women construct their identities, carve out spiritual space, and reclaim their ability to control and cultivate spiritual practices through a dance form that remains adaptive and relatively uncodified. I begin with an introduction to belly dance, followed by a literature review on holistic health and spirituality. I then review the methods used in this research and discuss my findings along four themes: spiritual practice, creative connection, energy flow, and groundedness. I conclude with a summary of findings and contributions to existing scholarship on belly dance as spiritual embodiment.