I have been doing rak sharki (belly dance) for a year now. I actually had my first performance  on April 30th. Since  then, I have had two other performances. My second performance was at a Professor Griff fundraiser. He lost 90% of his belongings in a house fire, unfortunately. Next Sunday is another performance. There have been times when this dance has brought out my sorrows, others times it has allowed my bliss to shine through.  This is a sacred dance. I dance led by the womb. When our wombs have a lot of inhibitions we try to hide her physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  When doing belly dance, women and the womb flow freely. Unfortunately, in this society, the womb does not flow freely, leading to disease such as fibroids, tumors, cysts, endometriosis, sexual frigidness, vaginal dryness, lack of self worth, inability to give and receive love, difficult childbirth, so and so on. 

I notice in class that women are not ashamed of their wombs marked with their goddess stripes(stretch marks). Women are not worried about whether they have extra baggage. It's all womb love and we are here to heal.  There are days when women come to class exceptionally beautiful and you can clearly see the goddess embodying her. There have been times when I have dressed down an outfit. Afraid to look beautiful, thinking maybe it’s too much. Or simply doubting my beauty. I don't do that anymore. This dance has taught me that the womb, the goddess is beautiful. Don't be able afraid to adorn her. Don't be afraid to smile when you dance.  Moving the womb to make beautiful music, these are sounds that heal.

We live in a misogynistic society where even our own sistas have started to equate showing skin movement with being whore. Men have turned the goddess into a whore in many societies to remove her from her throne. Now, we can no longer see the beauty within each other.  Many people see this dance as a dance for the pleasure of men. But, it is actually a family dance. You can look at pyramid temples and see Nubian Africans with their bellies showing, doing womb dances. Fertility, dances to the goddess. The dance mimics the movements of sex and birth, LIFE!  When we learn to embrace life, we conquer death, and become immortal. I am dancing for immortality!

I just want thank all the goddesses that have touched my life. Especially my instructor for teaching me this dance.  Thank you for the beautiful goddess altars, 40 minutes of yoga, goddess teachings. It feels good to do this dance among Nubian women. This dance has been removed from Ancient Nubian history.  Thank you for the days that I walked out of class crying because my womb ached and I felt alone. But, you reminded that we were more than a class. But, a sisterhood.

 

 Many days I was the only Sister Queen in class who brought her son, feeling like I was the only one there without a support system. You told that my son was a part of our dance company and he was always welcome. You told me that we could go to river and release tears to the goddess. You told me I was never alone, because I have my ancestors. To think I almost gave up on this dance, because I didn't feel like I had support. The goddess had other plans. 

Raet

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