Product Description

Newly updated and lavishly illustrated, this classic celebration of female dancers of the Arab world is available in an appealing new format. "Serpent of the Nile" traces the origins of this ancient art, which survived in the face of commercialism, religious disapproval and changing times. Wendy Buonaventura demonstrates how Arabic dance came to be influenced by Western ideas about art and entertainment. But the influence was two-way. In the heyday of Orientalism, Arabic dance captured the imagination of writers and artists such as Flaubert, David Roberts and Jean-Leon Gerome, and imitators Colette and Mata Hari. Often based on common fantasies about Middle-Eastern women, this obsession produced evocative images and inspired fashion, theatre and popular entertainment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77941 in Books
• Published on: 2010-06-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Wendy Buonaventura is an established dancer and choreographer. Her performance work was the subject of a television documentary, Making Mimi. She has written and presented programmes for BBC Radio 4, and has performed and lectured extensively throughout Europe and the USA. She is the author of I Put a Spell on You and Beauty in the East. Her website is www.buonaventura.com

Customer Reviews

Expensive, but comprehensive
"Serpent of the Nile" may on first glance seem expensive...but it is in fact a comprehensive history of the origins and meaning of bellydance. It is well illustrated with many photos beautiful photos that are helpful if you are making an authentic costume. A bellydancers bible, this book is well worth the cost.

Good visual reference for Arabic dance enthusiasts
'Serpents of the Nile' seeks to explain how female Arabic dance has evolved from its pagan origins and how it has influenced - and been influenced by - European culture. It also comments on how Arabic dance has been misinterpreted by Western society and, on how present-day dancers are trying to re-educate audiences and repair the dance to its rightful place as a sensual expression of life - not a lascivious cabaret act. The book contains a host of wonderful illustrations mostly drawn from a Western perspective, that convey the fascination Western culture has long held for the 'mystic' East and its seemingly exotic and unhibited dance forms. The illustrations - both paintings and photographs - also serve as good reference material for costuming purposes and, as such, are useful for students of the dance or theatrical costumiers.

Whilst there does seem to be a focus on the inherent sensuality of the dance and its effect on Western viewers, the publication does seek to restore the image of the dance to a respectable artform and, to help readers understand the ancient origins of a dance that never ceases to relinquish its hold on the imagination and psyche of both occidental and oriental audiences.

Best reference work on belly dancing
I first read this book many, many years ago, and it lead me to start dancing. I now give talks and demos, and find it invaluable as a reference work, and source of pictures.It has lovely illustrations. It is such an interesting subject, I am surprised there aren't more scholarly books on the subject.