Belly Dance: The Dance of Mother Earth

by Tina Hobin

Overview

Tina Hobin - acknowledged expert and practitioner of belly dance, with many years experience of teaching and dancing throughout the world - introduces us to the history of this ancient and mystical dance in an accessible style, both enjoyable and easy to read. Tracing the evolution of belly dance from prehistoric fertility rites, the cult of the shaman and temple dances of Ancient Egypt, she explores how the music and motion of the belly dance featured in the rise and fall of entire empires. Looking also at modern belly dance and its growth across the Western world, Tina Hobin combines the history of dance with an explanation of the health benefits of dance, and a step-by-step guide to modern dance movements. Hobin also asks that we dismiss the commercial exploitation of dance, which is in danger of hiding the art behind this oldest of art forms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780714520001
Publisher:	Boyars, Marion Publishers, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Tina Hobin is a pioneer of Middle Eastern dance in the UK with over 20 years experience, and is one of belly dancing's greatest exponents. Acknowledged as the authority on the subject through performing, writing and teaching, and for promoting the dance's considerable health benefits, her previous books include Belly Dancing for Health and Relaxation. Tina Hobin lives in Worcestershire, UK.

Editorial Reviews

Hobin (Belly Dancing for Health and Relaxation) dedicates the first half of this book to a review of the origins of dance. She reviews sacred dances of different cultures and analyzes how the characteristics of these dances evolved into the belly dance, a type of movement linked to fertility rites practiced throughout Middle Eastern societies. The latter half of the book is focused specifically on belly dancing, with one chapter that describes the relationship between gypsy dance and belly dance and another on belly dance in the harem. Her historical recap is factual, with many bibliographic references. However, lacking significant interpretation of the historical and critical texts she cites, her text is disjointed and somewhat dull. Hobin veers away from the strictly factual in the book's concluding chapters, when she enthusiastically advocates belly dance for good health, providing readers with a step-by-step guide to basic moves and suggested routines. Her combination of general history and how-to results in a hybrid book that will leave both dance historian and practitioner wanting more. Recommended for large dance collections.-Joan Stahl, Univ. of Maryland Lib., College Park Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal