Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing

I won't pretend that I've been dancing forever. I started 5 years ago. While I've been very passionate about learning and practicing this amazing dance, I had never bought a book on it. This one was recommended to me via Amazon, so I thought, "What the heck, I might as well."This book is exceptional insight into the mind of a Middle Eastern woman and what the dance meant socially to her. While her word is not law in the entire Middle East, this book does do a lot to evoke the important spiritual side to this form of dance. I think that it's extremely important for modern dancers to remember what the dance expresses. Too often I've seen dancers with flawless technique treat this art like a professional sport, forgetting its roots not just culturally, but emotionally. Here is where I believe the author makes her case. While her language isn't perfect (note that this IS translated, not from Arabic but from its original form in German), I felt like I could truly appreciate what she was trying to convey.If you've read any of the other reviews, then this will probably sound like a broken record: the first section is great. I loved reading about her, and I wish that she would just take that section and expand it into another book in itself. That would really make for an interesting story.The second section definitely lost my attention. The history is a little iffy when it comes to fact-checking and support. The author has a PhD in linguistics and Islamic sciences, teaches dance and obviously has a solid understanding of her own culture. However, I find it disappointing that this book had so few resources to support the very important claims on history she presented, especially when she used so many resources for the other sections of the book.I enjoyed the third and fourth sections equally because, as I said before, I enjoyed reading a little more about what the dance means to her and her culture. The whole point she's trying to make is that the body and the spirit are not separable in this dance, and so comprehending her understanding of the parts of the body is key. Obviously she's not a doctor or scientist in any regard to the human body, but it was nice to read about what meanings she attributed to the different parts of the body. It didn't take a lot of imagination to see where those thoughts tied in with the different "ritual" dances described in the fourth section.Upon reading the other reviews here, I personally think that those who believe this book is too "new-age" feel that way because the language is translated and because the thought process is just different than their own. I went in with an open mind to her culture, and I was not disappointed. I only felt like I was led on by the pseudo-history, but other than that I think this is a good read for anyone who wants to enrich their spiritual and/or emotional side whilst belly dancing.

This book is comforting as well as reminiscent. I get excited with every page town. I haven’t read it completely but it definitely brings joy to my heart. I’m grateful that it was written. I know a lot of my sister performers have this book as well. I don’t understand the negative reviews because there’s nothing wrong with it at all. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get in touch with their past as well enjoy living accounts from the authors history.

Beautifully written. I have been looking for a book that dives into the meaning of each movement, it's spiritual concepts, etc. Read over half of it the day I got it, couldn't put it down! Some of the pictures are not referenced correctly, but that is forgivable because of the content of the book. I was sooooooo glad to finally find what I have been looking for. I had a book that was similar in horse circles called the Tao of Equs. If you liked that book, you will like this one too. It is deep and heartfelt, and teaches the reader about the cultures it comes from. I was not paid to comment here, I am just thrilled.

Reading this Book helped me to make the decision that Belly Dancing is NOT right for me ....I had no idea that Belly Dancing was associated with so many Gods and Rituals !!!! to each it's own , however if you are trying to see if Belly Dancing is right for you this book will help you ...I give it 5 stars on how informative about the history it is and how it helped me to see it's not for me . I will be donating my copy to my local Library .

As one who has been making dance costumes for years and now (at 50) starting to learn the American Tribal Style of dance, I must say.....I found this book exceptional ... a nice doorway to what I have always felt. I feel that to say a new or beginner to this dance form would not get much out of it or would not understand what that the author is trying to get across...is not a truthful statement. I believe what the author is saying.....Dancing is in us....it is part of us......it is the doorway to finding who we are...and a way to feel the past.. present and future that lives in all of us. GREAT BOOK.

Entertaining and very informative

I enjoyed this book but felt that at times it ventured away from dancing and focused a but more on the culture and ritual history (as noted by the title). I would have liked for it to always make the tie back to dance. Nonetheless, a good read, I will recommend this book to friends.

This was exactly what I was looking for. Grandmother'sSecrets broke down a lot of history and meaning of the movements. The first section was a little slow for me but then the other sections dove into the dance and the spiritual connections.

I love this book. Bought this second hand. It makes me want to visit Iraq pre-war. It's written in an easy reading format. You can hear the women dancing, you can see the happiness, you can feel the movements of their hands. A must read to learn the insight of belly dancing.

Really wonderful book. I recommend to an Improver+ level dancer to read through. Beginners shouldn't follow the moves section without support from a qualified teacher as safety issues are not addressed.But love the stories and history on Arab culture and the section introducing you briefly to the world of Arabic Music was wonderful and inspired me to look further. Thanks Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi for this little Treasure X

Its a really good book if you are interested in a spiritual point of view of the bellydance. Very wise.