thinking animal to be respected . Snakes look for solid , steady support ; nervous or sudden movement agitates them .
Did you know snakes can have stage fright ? On another occasion , Asia and I were performing for a large celebration and the show was going great — until she brought the snake basket forward and opened it . In rehearsal “ Don Juan ,” a seven foot boa constrictor , would come peeking out and be gently lifted into the dance . At this performance , however , Don Juan peeked out , looked quickly around at the considerable crowd , and then dropped back into the basket ! Asia tried lifting him out ; he expanded his coils to hold tight to the inside of that basket ! I had to hold the basket up so she could gently coax him out . He was shy .
Don Juan peeking
Did you know women have been dancing with snakes for a long , long time ? This limited article honors traditions of the very distant past and celebrates the prevailing fascination with Snake Dancing : an ancient tradition in modern performance .
Snakes have been a widespread mythological symbol in the ancient Near East . Thought to represent fertility , abundance , benevolence , the source of life , and the natural cycles of birth , death and regeneration , snake dancing has an archeological record going back to early human times . For example , this sculpture with snakes in her upraised arms is from the Minoan culture of ancient Crete , 1300-1200 BC . This is the Great Goddess or Original Mother , thought to represent creativity , protection and the embodiment of life itself .
Asia with two snakes
The Great Goddess / Original Mother
September 2022 � The Belly Dance Chronicles 33