Dance of the Seven Veils

I'm glad I know the historical context of where it came from. Knowing this history helps me make informed decisions about what type of audience might respond well to a seven-veils dance versus which might find it weird. Thanks to learning about this history, I wouldn't do a seven-veils dance for an Arabic wedding, but I would consider doing one in a performing arts showcase.

For Further Information

There are several additional sources I would recommend if you'd like to learn more about the dance of the seven veils.

• The Illusive Veil. A manuscript written by Elizabeth "Artemis" Mourat which explores the history of veils, including the wearing of veils, the veiling of holy objects, and the veil in ritual dance (with a chapter on the dance of the seven veils). You can read a chapter from this manuscript titled "The Veil and Oriental Dance" on the web and get information on how to order a copy of the full manuscript for yourself.
• Oscar Wilde's Play Titled Salomé. It's a short play which took me about an hour and a half to read. See below for a link to a book that contains it, The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays By Oscar Wilde.
• The Opera Salomé. You may be able to borrow a video of the opera from your local library, or buy it from one of the online bookstores.
• Isn't That Like Stripping? An article I've written that explores in more depth the reasons why the American public links belly dancing with stripping and scandal.
• Public Perceptions: A Double Standard. An article I wrote that questions why it's okay for Broadway shows to feature sleazy dancing but not belly dancers.
• Veil Dancing. This article from the Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide provides an overall view of veils as used in Oriental dance, including a section on the dance of the seven veils.

This article is part of the Suite101 "Middle Eastern Dance" topic area. For the other Suite101 articles, discussion forums, and opinion polls related to Middle Eastern dance, music, and culture, see the Welcome page on Suite101. For other articles written by Shira about these topics, please see Shira's own popular web site at www.shira.net.

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