Malaysian belly dancers shake up controversy

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- To the hypnotic strains of Middle Eastern drums and flutes, Nancy Bakhshy shouts instructions to nine students who shimmy, shake and undulate in fluid movements.\nSnaking its way into popular urban culture, belly dancing is becoming a popular activity among middle-class Malaysians, despite a general perception that the dance is too provocative for this conservative, mainly Muslim country.\n"It's not that common in Malaysia to have this type of dance as part of the culture," said Bakhshy, an Azerbaijani dancer and the most sought-after teacher. "In the beginning, they thought belly dancing is something like lap dancing -- something too sexy, for seduction. So it was like, 'No, no.'"\nBakhshy, who has lived in Malaysia for 13 years, pioneered belly dancing classes in the country, starting three years ago after being urged on by her Malaysian friends.\nToday, belly dancing schools have mushroomed all over Kuala Lumpur. Bakhshy said it is difficult to estimate the number of schools or students but points out that even fitness centers and gyms offer classes, attesting to the growing demand.\n"It's the most happening thing at the moment thanks to pop stars like Beyonce, Britney Spears, Shakira who incorporate a lot of belly dancing moves into their routines," said Foong Yuh Ling, 35, an ethnic Chinese who also teaches belly dance.\nCalled "Raqs Sharqi" in Arabic, the dance has been part of oral tradition in Iran, Egypt and other parts of Middle East since pre-Islamic times. Both men and women practiced it, but the sexes danced separately.\nBakhshy says she started off teaching the elite and members of the country's royalty, but more students now come from humbler backgrounds, even from conservative Muslims, who are not comfortable with Western dances because it involves having a male partner. That means, "they have to touch other guys and they're not going to do that," she said.\nBakhshy believes the dance would be better understood if taught in the context of Middle Eastern culture, and has been organizing haflas, or Arabian parties, meant especially for women. She's introduced the women to Arabian cuisine and music.\nNow "they like it more and they accept it," Bakhshy says. "They don't look at just belly dancing and think: 'No! No! No!'"\nStill, belly dancing is far from being universally accepted.\nHarussani Zakaria, a prominent Malaysian cleric, said belly dancing is "haram," or forbidden by Islam.\n"Firstly, because they show their belly and tempt and arouse people who are watching and secondly they wear transparent or too little clothes," he said.