Belly dancing and its possible Roma roots

Dance and music are means of communication that can reveal the origins and the story of a nation. The story of the Roma began in India, in the regions of Punjab and Rajasthan and has covered thousands of miles over the centuries until it settled in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. In all the regions that they have crossed, the Roma have influenced the local traditions and have interacted with local populations, for the most part in music and dance.

Belly dancing is brought to Europe by the Roma. Holding its origins in ancient fertility sects, it is believed to have been danced in ancient temples of India. Known as Chochek (Beledi), belly dance is found primarily in the Balkans and the Middle East, although its popularization has spread it throughout the Western world. In the Chochek, the Roma use the core moves of classic belly dance (staccato hip moves, rolling hip moves, ribcage circles and basic arm, shoulder, and head moves variations) and they embellish them with their own folkloric steps. Although there are numerous authentic belly dance movements, the core moves around which the core belly dance techniques evolve are twelve. Most of the classic belly dance movements involve isolating hips, shoulders and stomach, while focusing on the hips and pelvic area. Shimmy, the shimmering vibration of the hips, is possibly the most famous movement of belly dance, and is produced by moving the knees or the glutes past each other at high speed.

Besides, in the Chochek, finger cymbals (manjira) are used like in Tera Tali, the ritual dance of Kamar tribe from Rajasthan. The hand movements have striking similarities to those of the Kathak, the Indian classical dance. To portray fertility, belly dancers sit on the ground and balance various pots on their head using the finger cymbals for rhythm, while they shift and slide their bodies and move their arms in a complex motion.

The music that accompanies Chochek is pure, traditional Romani music that blends elements from Arabic, Turkish and Eastern European folk. Violins, guitars, tambourines, kanoun, zurna, duduk and oud are the most commonly used instruments in the Romani belly dance music.

Romani belly dancing is highly misunderstood in regards to its eroticism and sexuality. Eroticism in Chochek has nothing to do with the vulgar, playful perception about sexuality as this exists in the non-Roma societies. Although it is often interpreted as such, still Chochek does not reflect sexual overtones. Romani belly dance represents the culture of an ethnic group and the history of a long tradition that is expressed very individualistically. The emotional power that comes from within echoes the soul of the belly dancer as he narrates his ancient origins through passionate dance movements. Romani belly dance and music are, in effect, a way of life, instruments through which the Roma can express their existence and spiritual freedom.