Adult Women's Experience of Participaing in Belly Dance as a Leisure Activity: A Phenomenological Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics and essential meanings of adult women's belly dance participation as a leisure activity through Giorgi's(1985) research method based on phenomenology. To achieve this purpose, five adult women who enjoyed belly dance as hobby were selected as research participants, and data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, observation and performance log, and a literature review. As a result, 8 sub-components were derived from the three high-level concepts of 'change in appearance', 'inner meaning', and 'changed life'. In this study, it was proposed that belly dance brought positive effect to physical and mental health as well as improved physical strength consistent with the ideal of a modern woman. Based on the study, it can be used as a basic data to encourage and grow belly dance participation in Korea.