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Raqs Gothique

The Darker side of the Dance: An explanation and exploration of Gothic Belly Dance

What is Raqs Gothique?

In Arabic, raks al-sharqi or raqs sharqi is the name for belly dance (literally dance of the east). The short answer is Raks, or Raqs, stands for dance. Gothic, or Gothique, of course refers to the gothic subculture. Raqs Gothique is Gothic Belly Dance. A fusion dance, with the foundations in the Middle Eastern dance art we commonly call belly dance, (for example: Egyptian Beledi or Fallahi) with the darker, sensuous dance moves of the 1980's and beyond Gothic style of club dance.

The name “Raqs Gothique” came from a Yahoo! E-Group founded by a gothic belly dancer pioneer, known as Ma'isah Astarte, leader of a gothic belly dance troupe called Troupe Raqs Gothique, located in Melbourne Australia. The list began back in 2001 as a discussion group, however researching Ma'isah indicates she created and used the name prior to that privately. Her troupe was formed in 2005, but by then the Internet group made the name Raqs Gothique public on such a scale, that over the last few years as the movement has gained momentum, the name Raqs Gothique has been adopted by Goth belly dancers all over the world. It gives a perfect name to themselves, troupes, and events and overall to this growing subculture within a subculture.

So what IS Gothic Belly dance?

It is the eastern dance art performed with a dark, sensual, moody edge. Dramatic interpretations of musical styles that range from Gothic, World and Middle Eastern and so on; with the dance foundation of Egyptian Beledi, Turkish, American Tribal Style, Cabaret and Lebanese style belly dance. These are often fused with dark ambient dance music, electronica, metal fusion, world dance and other eclectic choices. Music for such is created, mixed or blended or simply taken from a genre and interpreted by the dancer, displaying a more internal performance rather than a outwardly shinny happy-happy cabaret performance style that was developed in the West, known commonly as cabaret belly dance. Gothic belly dance is one of many legitimate interpretations of the Middle Eastern dance art.

Now, it’s important to note a few things here before continuing. Egypt, the birthplace of Raks Sharki (belly dance) has evolved many forms of this dance and music to celebrate several stages of life in their culture. In fact dance styles such Saaidi and Fallahi are very joyous and celebratory folkloric dances of Upper Egypt and the Gulf regions. As the Middle East expanded and trade and travel expanded influences across the lands and eventually globally, this dance form has been adopted by countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, and eventually the Americas and Europe. Each of these incarnations encompassed an evolution of the dance, and to this day the dance continues to evolve.

In the West, the silver screen was responsible for the love affair with what was now called belly dance. (Possibly a miss-pronunciation or play on the word “Beledi”, and a reference to the belly being partially exposed). As the golden film era of Hollywood assimilated belly dance from the Middle East into their movies, and dance numbers were all the rage, they created a more stylised version of the dance that was the birth of modern-day cabaret belly dance. In turn, these fed back to the East, who in turn evolved the dance again. It was during this time that cabaret –style belly dance was born with the to and fro of these opposing cultures, and the colourful and highly stylised version of beledi, called cabaret, is one of the most recognised forms of the dance in the West today.

Fast forward to the 1990’s. Carolena Nericcio is credited with creating American Tribal Style Belly Dance, a hugely popular and successful evolution of belly dance today. Carolena was however a student of Tribal Style dance pioneers herself. It is true she created a form of Tribal that was to become to model of all that followed, and is right to be credited with pioneering a move to popularising Tribal Style belly dance. However it was instruction under teacher Masha Archer, who was herself a student of Jamila Salimpour's during the 1970s that provided the foundation of the now popular Tribal Style. It was in the late 1960s that Jamila first put together Bal-Anat with her hippified students. Draping them in assuit and ancient looking jewellery, painted tribal tattoos on their faces and kohl around their eyes, and plunked swords upon their heads, it was very beautiful and powerful and dramatic and kind of scary and took a firm hold in the SF Bay Area, the Mecca of Tribal Belly Dance today.

Around the same time (the 1990’s) Goths who were also drawn to belly dance were starting to express the dance in a style that was individual and more true to their leanings than pastel and happy shimmy until you cramp styles of dance. No fake smiles and pink chiffon for them, a new look was being birthed. So it was no surprise that with the more organic painted and darker look offered by Tribal style dancers that the two would eventually collide, at least stylistically. But that would simplify matters too much; it’s important to note that not all Gothic belly dancers are Tribal belly dancers. The defining difference between a Tribe and say, a Troupe, is that a Tribe has a leader and followers. A Troupe is a collective collaboration. Tribal dance is improvised (or partially rehearsed) by the leader and indicated with cues to the followers. Troupes often choreograph their dance, as cues are not always appropriate.

It also deserves note, that the gothic belly dance look encompasses influences that offered a more appealing option to the highly colourful, oft times pastel bedlahs (bra and hip-belt set) of the cabaret style belly dancer, but are wider in inspiration that Tribal style alone. Tribal influence is more assuredly among these influences, but so are more traditional costuming, such as a beledi dress, Goth club wear, silent movie actresses such as Theda Bara and Louise Brooks; icons much admired by the gothic subculture, and of corse the beauty and mystery of gothic pin-ups such as Betty Page, Vampira, Evvone De Carlo and even Elvira!

Gothic belly dance is a fusion that is as diverse as both the Gothic and the belly dance culture itself. A good foundation in belly dance is essential to be a good Gothic belly dancer. Excellent basics and experimentation, practice and creativity, linking with others who share a creative vision will encourage dancers to explore individuality, and dance is the ultimate expression of the self. You cannot hide your true self in dance. Raqs Gothique offers a deeper, more sensuous dance. Beyond that, the gothic belly dancer MUST ask herself (or indeed himself) what is your dance saying about you? What is your stage (strange) presence? What do you say with your dance?

I'll paraphrase an American dancer, Delilah, here: "Isadora Duncan, the pioneer of interpretive dance was once asked what her dance meant. She replied, "If I could tell you, I wouldn't need to dance" Indeed!!!!!

In summary, Raqs Gothique is dark, broody, passionate, emotional, sad, poignant, dangerous, camp, cheeky, sensual, silly and fun! The music is as diverse as classical Egyptian beledi to Rob Zombie’s - 'Living Dead Girl', with lots of VAST, Static X, The Tea Party, Fields of the Nephrism, Sisters of Mercy, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Unto Ashes, Creatures, Hossam Ramzy, Uncle Mafufo, Solace, Natascha Atlas, Black Tape for a Bloe Girl, Loreena McKennit...the list just goes on. There are many wonderful Gothic belly dancers all over the world and the name Raqs Gothique is perfect to describe this most unique fusion of dance and subculture. Gothic Belly Dancers of all different styles and all levels of experience share learn from and inspire each other. Notable Gothic dance pioneers are: Tempest, Rachel Brice, Troupe Raqs Gothique, Martiya Possession, Asharah, Ma’isah, Daughters of Lilith, and Chovexani to name only a very few.

As many people perceive the Goth subculture to be volatile and dangerous, it is pertinent to point out the flaw in this argument in conclusion; the Gothic subculture is a collection of people who share a particular inclination to music, books, flim and dress that expresses a deep longing for a deeper, oft times darker side of life. Purists of the belly dance art either love or hate the Goth dance fusionists, and some say the two do not mix at all. But that is a blanket statement born of ignorance. Goth is simply a spin-off of the old school punk scene, with more romantic and less violent leanings; it is more a backlash to the bright, sunny, happy-bunny-consumer-created side of life. Goths are not your mopey layabout freeloader types. The average Goth is typically creative, educated, informed and adult. The Gothic subculture itself is 15-20+ years old, and there are as many Goth parents and professionals as there are teens and 20-somethings. It is individuals who are capable of being dangerous, not an entire subculture.