August 12, 2025

Title: BELLY DANCE

Constructor: Adam Simpson

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• DEARLY BELOVED (20A: Opening words at many wedding ceremonies)
• LIBERTY BELL (34A: Philadelphia tourist attraction that was rung for the last time in 1846)
• SELL BY DATE (56A: Stamp on a grocery store item)

BELLY DANCE: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word BELLY: DEARLY BELOVED, LIBERTY BELL, and SELL BY DATE.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• DEE DEE (12D: Older sister in "Dexter's Laboratory") Dexter's Laboratory is an animated TV series that originally aired on the Cartoon Network from 1996-1998 and from 2001-2003. The title character, Dexter, is a boy-genius who has a secret lab hidden behind a bookcase in his bedroom. DEE DEE is Dexter's older sister, who frequently messes up his experiments, sometimes inadvertently. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• BASS (1A: Singer Lance, or his vocal part in *NSYNC) The pop boy band *NSYNC was active from 1995-2004 and is known for hit songs such as "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me."  *NSYNC's members were Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance BASS. I appreciated the "vocal part" hint in the clue, as I know *NSYNC, but would have had trouble coming up with the answer here without the hint.
• EIGHT (14A: Lucky number in Beijing) Beijing is the capital of China. In Chinese culture, the number EIGHT is considered the luckiest number. It is associated with wealth; the words for "EIGHT" and "wealth" sound similar.
• ADAM (31A: "Severance" star Scott) Two days ago when we saw GEMMA clued as [___ Scout ("Severance" role for Dichen Lachman)], I mentioned that on the TV series Severance, ADAM Scott portrays Mark Scout.
• LIBERTY BELL (34A: Philadelphia tourist attraction that was rung for the last time in 1846) The LIBERTY BELL was originally placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia in 1753. It is still in Philadelphia, but is now located in Independence National Historical Park. Although the rim of the LIBERTY BELL was cracked the first time the BELL was rung (requiring it to be recast), the distinctive large crack that runs up the side of the LIBERTY BELL didn't develop until later and is likely due to years of hard use. As the clue informs us, the LIBERTY BELL has not been rung since 1846.
• HE'S (37A: "___ Just Not That Into You") The 2009 movie, HE'S Just Not That Into You was based on a 2004 self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.
• COLE (42A: "This Will Be" singer Natalie) "This Will Be" was Natalie COLE's debut single, released in 1975. The song reached number one on Billboard's R&B/ Hot Soul Singles chart. "This will be an everlasting love / This will be the one I've waited for..."
• NEWT (47A: Small salamander) A NEWT is a type of salamander. NEWTs are amphibious, spending part of their time on land, and part of their time in the water. Because of their thin, sensitive skin, which is sensitive to subtle changes in pH, NEWTs serve as bioindicators. Their presence or absence can indicate the health of an environment.
• SHED (3D: Reacted to a hairy situation?) The question mark here alerts solvers that the "hairy situation" here isn't a risky, potentially dangerous situation. Rather, the hairy situation here is an animal that SHEDs excess fur or hair. I am familiar with animals that SHED. My cat, Willow, SHEDs a lot, and her fur seems to be everywhere in our house. It's a good thing she's an adorable goofball; that makes it worthwhile to battle the fur.

• HILL (6D: "Running Up That ___" (Kate Bush song)) "Running Up That HILL" is a 1985 song by Kate Bush, from her album, Hounds of Love. In 2022, "Running Up That HILL" was featured in the fourth season of the TV series Stranger Things.
• OLIVIA (10D: "good 4 u" singer Rodrigo) OLIVIA Rodrigo released the song "good 4 u" as the third single from her 2021 debut studio album, Sour. 
• ART (21D: The "A" of MOMA) MOMA is the Museum of Modern ART, located in New York City. 
• HALLE (25D: Oscar winner Berry) HALLE Berry won an Oscar (Academy Award) for Best Actress in 2001 for her role of Leticia Musgrove in Monster's Ball.
• ELSA (38D: "Into the Unknown" singer in "Frozen 2") In the 2019 movie, Frozen 2, ELSA sings "Into the Unknown" in response to hearing a call from The Voice. Idina Menzel, who voiced ELSA, sang the song, which featured Norwegian singer and songwriter Aurora as The Voice.
• ARBY'S (49D: Sandwich chain with "the meats") The fast food sandwich chain ARBY'S was founded in Ohio in 1964. The chain's current marketing slogan is "ARBY'S, We Have the Meats." 
• ELLA (54D: Composer and singer Fitzgerald) ELLA Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was known as the "First Lady of Song" and the "Queen of Jazz." She was particularly known for her scat singing skills (vocal improvisation with nonsense syllables or no words at all)
• AVA (57D: Director DuVernay) AVA DuVernay's directorial debut was the 2010 movie I Will Follow. Most recently, she directed the 2023 movie Origin.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• UGLY (7D: Like some Christmas sweaters)
• SHABBY (8D: "Not too ___!" ("Nice work!")
• EYEBALLS (36D: Estimates by sight alone)

Today we have a hidden anagram theme. The word "DANCE" in the title is the hint to look for letters dancing their way into new arrangements. The word BELLY managed to DANCE its way into the anagrams LY/BEL, Y/BELL, and ELL/BY. Thank you, Adam, for this enjoyable puzzle.