Department of Anthropology

Belly dancing is not a form of dance usually associated with Brazil, a country more often identified with African-inspired artistic and physical expressions like samba and capoeira. But beginning with a 2002 prime time soap opera about a Brazilian-Moroccan family, belly dancing became popular in many parts of Brazil. This presentation will explore four aspects of the Brazilian belly dancing phenomenon. First, it will describe how a belly dancing scene and market developed in São Paulo. It will then explore the musical perception that dancers develop through their bodies, before moving to a closer look at issues surrounding gender. Finally, it will reflect on the implications of using visual ethnography as a means of developing and expressing ethnomusicological knowledge.

Please refer to flyer for more information