Building Bridges: Why Cultural Context Matters in Movement
Published: July 2025 | 5 min read
Samia Gamal (1924-1994), one of the most prominent Egyptian belly dancers in the golden era of Egyptian Cinema.
After three years of studying belly dance in Cairo, the most valuable lesson I learned wasn't a movement; it was the importance of understanding the culture behind the dance.
As someone who bridges Eastern and Western practices, I've seen how movement traditions can either build bridges or inadvertently cause harm. Today, I want to share why cultural context matters and how we can practice with respect.
More Than Just Movements
Every movement tradition carries stories, history, and meaning. When we extract movements from their context (taking only what looks pretty or feels good—we risk reducing rich traditions to mere exercise.
This applies to yoga, belly dance, martial arts, and countless other practices that have traveled across cultures.
Why Context Enriches Practice
Understanding cultural background:
Deepens your connection to the movement
Helps you practice with respect, not appropriation
Reveals layers of meaning you might miss
Connects you to generations of practitioners
For example, when you understand that certain belly dance movements were originally social dances shared between women, or that specific rhythms have cultural significance, your practice becomes richer.
Practicing with Respect
Here's how to honor the traditions you're learning:
Learn the History Take time to understand where practices come from. Read, watch documentaries, listen to practitioners from that culture.
Use Proper Terminology Learn the real names of movements, not just Western translations. Language carries respect.
Support Cultural Teachers When possible, learn from teachers who have cultural connection to the practice.
Share Credit Always acknowledge the origins of what you're practicing and teaching.
Stay Humble Accept that as an outsider, there will always be depths you don't fully understand—and that's okay.
Building Bridges, Not Taking Pieces
My Egyptian teachers taught me that belly dance is meant to be shared—but shared with understanding, not just imitation. The same goes for yoga and other practices.
When we approach movement traditions with curiosity, respect, and commitment to understanding, we build bridges between cultures. We create opportunities for genuine exchange and mutual enrichment.
In Practice
This is why in my classes, I:
Share the cultural context of movements
Translate music so you understand the stories
Explain the "why" behind traditions
Invite questions and discussion
Movement is a universal language, but like any language, it's richer when we understand its grammar, history, and poetry.
Interested in exploring movement with cultural context? Join our monthly cultural sessions where we dive deeper into the traditions behind the movements.