Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Philip Crowson Members of the TAMU Belly Dance Association pose during practice Sunday in G. Rollie White Coliseum. The troupe performs at various events around the Bryan-College Station area. [Click to enlarge]

Raqs sharqi, the Arabic term for "oriental dance," was brought onto the Western frontier at the 1893 World's Fair. Fatima, a dancer popularly labeled Little Egypt, stole the show with her performance with The Egyptian Theater of the Street in Cairo.

Her style of dance evolved into such Westernized moves as the "Hootchy-Kootchy," or the shimmy and shake. More than 100 years later, the dance is still being celebrated and explored in cultures worldwide, including right here in Aggieland.

Founded in 2003 by a group of students in the College of Veterinary Sciences, the TAMU Belly Dance Association provides a supportive atmosphere for students, faculty, staff and the community with an interest in this form of dance to expand and share their knowledge.

"No experience is needed, which makes it a great club to get involved in," Victoria Skipper, senior communication major and president of the organization, said. "We teach all skill levels from beginner to advanced."

She said that the organization welcomes people with all types of interests.

"[T]he club is open to men and women. Even if you don't dance, we have people involved in photography and musicians that drum at our performances."

Skipper is the main dance instructor. She has been practicing tribal and American cabaret for four and a half years and teaching American cabrera for two years. Skipper had belly dancing experience prior to her arrival at Texas A&M. After seeing a performance by the association at the MSC Open House, she decided to join.

"Before Texas A&M, I had no real connection whatsoever with belly dancing." vice president for the organization and senior recreation, park and tourism sciences major Mariela Fernandez said. "I had seen dancers in movies mostly."

Fernandez, like Skipper, also decided to join based on the group's performance at Open House. This is her third year with the organization. This year, she will also be teaching the tribal part of belly dancing at a local recreation center.

"I think I've made a commitment for life actually," Fernandez said. "I know that belly dancing has a bit of a risqué reputation, but to me it has always been about feeling powerful within, as a woman. It takes a special type of girl to wear that costume and enjoy it while people gaze. I think most of the dancers within any troupe would agree."

The TAMU Belly Dance Association participates in various student-run activities both on and off campus.

"We have performed at many different charity and awareness events," Skipper said. "At these events, we helped raise money or awareness for different causes such as Relay for Life, World Hunger Awareness and Support of Women in Third World Countries."

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