Belly dance is a famous dance practised in several regions of the Middle East and South Asia. Its origin is commonly attributed to ancient Egypt, between 7000 and 5000 BC, where it was seen as a kind of fertility ritual that would please the gods and as a technique for preparing women to become mothers, and especially for childbirth. It was a sacred ceremony, for women only, resembling to some extent the initiation rites in Mozambique. Women came together and taught one another body movements that helped in the process of discovering and understanding their feminine power. With the Arab invasion, the dance spread across the world and, because of its secrets of female empowerment, it was at one point banned and reduced to a dance for seducing men.
Lora Baúle always liked dancing and always wanted to be part of the National School of Dance, but as her mother’s dream was for her and her sister to have musical training, she entered the National School of Music. Her speciality was drums, until she formed a band and also became the band’s dancer. From then on, she focused on what was truly her passion.
Lora Baúle considers that the magic of her technique lies in dancing the small details of each piece of music
Continually perfecting her dancing is what Lora seeks. The creative process begins with the music, with the sounds of each instrument and what the music itself awakens. She considers that the magic of her technique lies in dancing the small details of each piece of music. When preparing each number she visualises what might surprise the audience and, in front of a mirror, puts into practice what she visualised, to see whether she can express and dance what she imagined. Inspiration often comes from music she hears for the first time, from creative videos by her idols or other dancers, and from her mood. For Lora, dance is a form of self-expression, which is why she bases it mainly on how she feels at certain stages of her life and on the feelings she wants to convey.
Lora Baúle has taken part in many events, but the one that marked her most was the first time she went on stage. During rehearsals and as the shows approach, there is great anxiety, nervousness and fear of making mistakes or failing to captivate the audience, because what they will think is always an unknown: “When you are on stage, it takes enormous effort to relax and stay in control, to try to draw attention and interact with the audience, to fill the stage or the space you have to perform in, to control the nerves and to get through the repertoire. When your number finally ends, the best part comes: the applause, the faces of joy and pride of those who watched and liked your work, and the feeling of gratification for having faced the fear and nervousness. Even after years and years, I always go through this process. The after-show is the best part.”
For the coming times, Lora’s goals include raising the status of belly dance to the point where it is seen as an art form in Mozambique, a beautiful dance to be performed at cultural and artistic events, rather than being associated only with seductive dancing confined to four walls. As for classes, the plan is, through dance, to help women feel good and happy with their own bodies, to get to know themselves better, to raise their self-esteem and to empower themselves.
To follow Lora Baúle’s work and keep up with her classes and shows, see her Instagram, Facebook and TikTok pages @dancing_with_dream.
