Belly Dance, Women’s Experiences, Stage and Dramaturgy: A Research Story / Oryantal Dans, Kadın Deneyimleri, Sahne ve Dramaturji: Bir Araştırma Hikâyesi

Abstract

In this study, I reflect upon my belly dance research that I have been conducting since the last three years in three different countries and five different cities, with women having various experiences. To be able to analyze the effect of this research on myself as a researcher, I construct a chronological narrative which first focuses on my corporeality and my relation with dance before this research. I continue to investigate my personal experiences as dancer-researcher, dramaturg, dance student etc. in the research process without creating dualities between artistic and scientific research or corporeal and intellectual experiences. My personal experiences constitute my primary resources in this study. I also discuss some secondary sources on feminist methodology and different women’s belly dance experiences. I make an analysis on the basis of some principles of feminist methodology like situated knowledge, self-reflexivity, the focus on women’s experiences, working with women for empowerment. I also reflect upon the effect of the research on myself as the researcher, especially the change in my corporeal expression in daily life and within performance contexts. To analyze my personal experience in a wider context, I relate this change in my corporeality with academic belly dance literature which discuss other women’s belly dance experiences in various historical and geographical contexts.

Keywords

• feminist methodology
• self-reflexivity
• gender
• belly dance
• oriental dance