Tina Hobin has written a book outlining the roots of dance in myth and religious practices around the globe. She takes the evolution of the belly dance as a representation of the rites of passage from Ancient Greece to modern times, focusing on different forms of belly dancing and its place at the core of fertility rites and marriage ceremonies in Middle Eastern societies.
Myths, including those of Isis and Osiris, and the role of the Shaman or Witch doctor in African tribes, are explained. The belly dance, with its roots in the birth dance of Saudi Arabia, is described through accounts of present day native societies. The book also contains examples of belly dance movements and exercises for enthusiasts.