"So, my own personal view is that I enjoy aspects of ME culture (dress, music, food) but I do not feel an obligation to connect with the history or spiritual practices of the Middle East or any other location connected with bellydance (India/North Africa/Mediterranean).
However, if something catches my interest, I will read/study it just out of curiosity"

You know, I never thought of it that way. It makes more sense to me now.
I think maybe my vehemence in my earlier post comes from being a detail/context obsessed person, and I hope I haven't offended anyone.

Petra, clarification of my post--No, I dont study chinese culture before I eat chinese food. I'm referring to my own very heavy immersion in middle eastern culture--I spend a great deal of time/money on the trappings (clothes textiles jewelry music) and am so immersed in the dance that it is central to my identity. As a result of that deep immersion, I feel I need to also study the culture. In addition, **for me** this means being aware of the problems the women face in these countries (remember i wanna do international human rights someday). I see this study as a way of showing respect to a culture that has greatly enriched my life and from which I have taken much.

Also this studying blasted away a lot of my preconceived notions that *all* Muslim women are oppressed creatures who need us Western women to rip their headscarves off and liberate them.--just a side note

Petra,
Yes, culture and spirituality are different things.
I'd venture to guess most belly dancers consider themselves more *invested* in the dance than they do in ordering Chinese takeout. ;)
However I culture and spirituality as being intertwined and related, especially in those cultures that have such a deeply embedded spiritual grain.
Arab music (and the dance is of course related to the music) is a part of their culture and yet it also has roots that are tied to their spirituality www.turath.org/ProfilesMenu.htm It developed along with Islam. Their songs were related to the Koran. Sometimes their lyrics were based on spiritual poetry (another cultural art related to spirituality) In fact Om Koulsoum started out singing from the Koran and is (and likely forever will be) the most famous Arab woman ever. She passed away in the 70s and they STILL play her music nightly on Arab radio. Americans who don't listen to "old school" stuff likely have at least been exposed to her in the Said Mrad remakes.
There is a musical concept called Tarab, that can best be described as "ecstasy or trance" - spiritual in nature and an integral part of their music to this day... this is ALSO reflected in the good oriental dancers. So the cultural art of dance has spiritual ties. The audience-performing artist relationship ALSO has sort of a spiritual understanding in it- the artist is trying to MOVE the audience emotionally, and when this happens the audiences STILL react the same ways they used to when it was all spiritual based- by calling out things like Aiwa (let's go), Allah (God), and more.
Do you enjoy beautiful textiles, tiles and even henna with Arabesque patterns? That is an Islamic art related to their history. www.salaam.co.uk/themeofth..._index.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabesque
Historically speaking art received much of it's support from religions, and it in turn exemplified the ideals of that religion.
So, yes, culture and spirituality are different, but I believe learning about them as they intermingle and as they truly effect the people of the regions creates an understanding much more thorough, which in turn (in my experience) just makes me love it that much more.
We're talking about a culture that in every day life they say "God willing" multiple times a day to many different situations. Often multiple times in one conversation. Their spirituality (and I'm talking about the multiple spiritualities of the region) is a part of their society and culture. It shapes who they are and how they think, therefore it shapes how they express themselves in their art forms and how they react to art.
Then again, it's not my goal to dance for American audiences. My goal in understanding more helps me dance better for my intended audience. It has also taken me on a beautiful journey- getting to know some AMAZING people, learning about rather uh...interesting cultural differences, some subtle, some not so subtle, helping me see aspects of their society that make life very difficult over there and also make the transition over here a great challenge.
...and it's really great that the food kicks ass. :)