Belly dancing jewellery has often been held under a stigma of flashiness and other aesthetic values that have created problems for belly dancers. The symbol of a jewel in the stomach of a belly dancer has long been associated with belly dancing. From this symbolism, the belly dancing jewellery has become associated with the rich and the prosperous of society that have the money to adorn themselves in such a way. This, however, is a rarity in the world of belly dancing and it is only because of our Westernized viewpoint that we think this way about belly dancing.

Belly dancing jewellery, in terms of a jewel in the navel, was actually invented by Hollywood as a way of censorship. A censorship guideline in Hollywood, known as the Hayes Code, was the first to introduce a belly button jewel to the navel because it felt that the belly was not to be shown on public television or film screens. From there, the belly jewel began to be associated with belly dancing despite having no actual root in Middle Eastern culture. The usage of the belly jewel is rare in terms of an actual trained belly dancer but it may be present with some amateurs or with those that do not know the facts.

Other Forms Of Jewellery

The widest variety of belly dancing attire is based around the swirling of cloth and other simple yet colourful fabrics. These are involved with belly dancing as a part of the art form because they enable the body to move certain ways. The clothing should be free flowing and easy to move on, and the addition of a lot of extra belly dancing jewellery would actually hinder a lot of the movement required to perform effectively. Tradition tells us that a lot of the earlier belly dancers did not wear a lot of adornments or belly dancing jewellery at all because it basically had no significance.

The most important thing to remember in terms of belly dancing jewellery is that if you are going to wear some, make sure that it creates something special for you. Do not wear it to be flashy or gaudy or proud, as belly dancing is about drawing to your body not to your adornments. It is about expression and the soul, not the physicality of what you are wearing on your body as jewellery.

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