本研究乃針對肚皮舞文化發展之演變，對女性自我價值與身體行為影響之探討。肚皮舞由上古時期象徵對生殖崇拜的舞蹈，隨著時代的變遷，裸露的身體不再是聖潔的，女性身體的裸露形成是一種誘惑與性的象徵，進而演變成吸引觀光客觀賞的娛樂節目。此種吸引人目光的舞蹈後來受到西方人的喜愛，並因動作著重於腹部的特色命名為「肚皮舞」(Bellydance)。
而來到台灣不到十年的肚皮舞，成為現今流行的運動舞蹈之一，與之前肚皮舞文化發展背道而馳的是它不再是色情和為吸引觀光客而存在，反而像是台灣女性身體解放、自我解放、觀念解放的一種特殊舞蹈。本研究主要深入之主題，即在探討透過學習肚皮舞的台灣女性是否確實在身心上有所提升或改變，本研究採個案研究之方法，藉由對個案所蒐集的資料進行質性的分析。
本研究目的分別為探討:(1) 探討肚皮舞學習動機之因素。(2) 釐訂女性自信心的界定與主要面向。(3) 分析肚皮舞學習對自我價值與身體行為之影響。(4)探討肚皮舞學習對於女性成長歷程之影響。
This research is to investigate the influence of learning bellydance to the construction of self-esteem and behaviour of a woman living in Taiwan. Bellydance in the antiquity time was considered a kind of worship dance to symbolize human reproduction. However, in the modern times the exposed body is no longer considered sacred. The exposed feminine body is particularly regarded as a form of secular entertainment and sexual enticement. In this respect belly dance becomes an entertaining program to attract tourists.
In Taiwan the development of belly dance carry different significance, which is not sacred or sexual. The learning of bellydance becomes a kind of sports dance, which provide a means for the person to cultivate the body or the mind. In this respect, this research investigates the influence brought by learning bellydance, using a Taiwanese woman as the example, to the construction of self-esteem and behaviour.
