Bellydancer turned actress, Lucy, prepares for a scene in an Egyptian soap opera
"My jobis not against religion, so I will not quit," said celebrated Egyptianbelly dancer Lucy.
"Egyptcan prosper like Turkey - where an Islamist party reached power without banningentertainment and tourism, which are key sources of the national income,"she said in remarks published in independent daily Al Shorouq.
TheIslamists have made big gains in the first round of Egypt's parliamentaryelections, triggering fears that they will restrict freedoms and entertainment.
Bellydancing, popular for decades in the Middle East, is branded by the Islamists asimmoral and un-Islamic.
"Thisis our job, which we will not give up," Al Shorouq quoted Safwa andSamara, two other Egyptian belly dancers, as saying.
"Bellydancing is an art like any other form of art," they added.
Recentstatements by ultra-conservative Salafists have raised worries among Egyptianentertainers, some of whom have said they were considering leaving the country.
Famous Egyptian dancer Tahia Carioca
I found that ivory image there
Dancing with her chosen youth,
But when he wound her coal-black hair
As though to strangle her, no scream
Or bodily movement did I dare,
Eyes under eyelids did so gleam;
Love is like the lion's tooth.
When She, and though some said she played
I said that she had danced heart's truth,
Drew a knife to strike him dead,
I could but leave him to his fate;
For no matter what is said
They had all that had their hate;
Love is like the lion's tooth.
Did he die or did she die?
Seemed to die or died they both?
God be with the times when I
Cared not a thraneen for what chanced
So that I had the limbs to try
Such a dance as there was danced -
Love is like the lion's tooth.
Dancing with her chosen youth,
But when he wound her coal-black hair
As though to strangle her, no scream
Or bodily movement did I dare,
Eyes under eyelids did so gleam;
Love is like the lion's tooth.
When She, and though some said she played
I said that she had danced heart's truth,
Drew a knife to strike him dead,
I could but leave him to his fate;
For no matter what is said
They had all that had their hate;
Love is like the lion's tooth.
Did he die or did she die?
Seemed to die or died they both?
God be with the times when I
Cared not a thraneen for what chanced
So that I had the limbs to try
Such a dance as there was danced -
Love is like the lion's tooth.
Crazy Jane Grown Old Looks At The Dancers
by William Butler Yeats (written March 2, 1929)
Egyptian belly dancers vowed Wednesday not to retire ifIslamists take over in the predominantly Muslim country.
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