Representations of Dancers in the Russian Dance Journal "Oriental"

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2026-3/338-357

Authors

Keywords:

Arabism, Orientalism, colonialism, feminism, dance anthropology, oriental dance, belly dance

Abstract

This study analyzes the image of the oriental dancer (belly dancer) based on materials from the dance journal Oriental. The article examines a dance common in the Middle East and North Africa, which incorporates the folk traditions of the peoples living in this region and transfers them to the stage. The 2000s saw the peak of popularity of this dance form in Russia, with the emergence of the Russian Dance Organization and the Oriental Dance Professionals League. The "Oriental" journal became a valuable source for researching dance and its context in the 2000s–2010s. It published articles containing information such as descriptions of training with dance accessories (sword, tambourine, or shawl), tips for learning Middle Eastern languages (Arabic and Turkish), techniques for performing elements of various styles, reviews of belly dance textbooks, legal commentary on plagiarism in dance, choosing music for performances, aspects of working with percussionists, organizing a concert, independently choreographing a dance, classical choreography, and issues related to recording dance on camera. Our study focused on the image of an oriental dance performer in publications aimed at Russian female readers. The methodology is based on a qualitative content analysis of 22 issues of the journal (2009–2014) using a gender approach and methods for studying women's everyday life. The results are relevant for the study of the history of dance in Russia and can be used for further analysis of women's everyday life and the development of oriental dance in our country.

Author Biography

  • Tatyana Samarina, the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology

    Samarina, Tatyana N. — Junior Researcher, the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology (Moscow, Russian Federation). E-mail: Fareeda-j@yandex.ru ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5138-3580

    For citation: Samarina, T. N. 2026. Representations of Dancers in the Russian Dance Journal "Oriental". Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik Antropologii) 3: 338—357.

    Funding: The study was carried out as a part of the research plan of the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology.

    References

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Published

21.09.2026

Issue

No. 3 (2026): Vestnik antropologii (Herald of Anthropology)

Section

Anthropological Mosaic: Young Scholars' Perspectives