Difference between revisions of "Belly dance" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Bauchtanz Chryssanthi Sahar.jpg|thumb|Raqs Sharqi dancer Chryssanthi Sahar Scharf, Heidelberg.]]
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{{redirect|Oriental dance|other forms of dance from the Middle East|Middle Eastern dance}}
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[[File:Dancing Girl, Harem Girl, Belly Dancer, Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946).png|thumb|300px|''Belly Dancer'', Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946)]]
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'''Belly dance''' is a Western term for a traditional [[Middle Eastern]] [[dance]] form. Some American devotees refer to it simply as  "Middle Eastern Dance."
 
  
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In the [[Arabic]] language it is known as '''raqs sharqi''' ('''رقص شرقي'''; literally "oriental dance") or sometimes '''raqs baladi''' ('''رقص بلدي'''; literally "national" or "[[folk]]" dance). The term "raqs sharqi" may have originated in [[Egypt]]. In Greece and the Balkans, belly dance is called [[tsiftetelli]] (τσιφτετέλι).
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'''Belly dance''' ({{lang-ar|رقص شرقي|Raqs sharqi|oriental dance}}) is a [[Middle East]]ern [[dance]] which features movements of the hips and torso. The Egyptian styles and costumes are the most recognized worldwide as several dancers rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian [[film]] industry. However, belly dance has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style.  
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{{toc}}
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Today, belly dancing in its various styles and forms is popular worldwide, and practiced in many schools around the globe. Its popularity is not limited to the entertainment value of the dance, but also because the style of movement has a number of health benefits. As a low-impact, weight-bearing exercise, belly dance is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.  
  
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The term ''belly-dance'' is a creation of [[Orientalism]], and is first attested in English in 1899, translating French ''danse du ventre''.<ref>Danse du Ventre is a colonial term given to women's dances of North Africa and the Middle East. Carlton, Donna. Looking For Little Egypt. Bloomington Indiana: IDD Books (1994): ix.   </ref>
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==Names and terminology==
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[[File:Jean-Léon Gérôme 011.jpg|thumb|400px|''The Dance of the Almeh'' (The Dance of the Almeh) by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1863]]
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"Belly dance" is a translation of the [[French (language)|French]] term ''danse du ventre''. The name first appeared in 1864 in a review of the [[Orientalism|Orientalist]] painting ''La danse de l'almée'' (The Dance of the Almeh).<ref>Ainsley Hawthorn, [https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/drs.2019.0250?journalCode=drs Middle Eastern Dance and What We Call It] ''Dance Research'' 37(1) (May 2019):1-17. Retrieved April 19, 2024.</ref>
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However, it is not translated from any Middle Eastern term: "belly dance" is known as "Oriental" or "Eastern" dance in Arabic and Turkish (''raqs sharqi'' and ''Oryantal dans'', respectively).<ref>Teri Williams, [https://euppublishingblog.com/2019/05/23/middle-eastern-dance-belly-dance/ Why do we call Middle Eastern dance "belly dance"?] ''Edinburgh University Press Blog'', May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2024.</ref>  
  
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==General==
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The first known use of the term "belly dance" in English is found in Charles James Wills, ''In the land of the lion and sun: or, Modern Persia'' (1883).<ref>[https://www.oed.com/dictionary/belly-dance_n?tl=true Belly Dance, Noun] ''Oxford English Dictionary''. Retrieved April 19, 2024.</ref>
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{{Confusing|date=July 2007}}
 
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Native to North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, belly dancing is based on one of the oldest social dances in world history.  Much of the support for this theory stems from the similarities between poses in ancient Egyptian artwork and the modern dance.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
 
  
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There are two forms of belly dancing. The first is called '''raqs baladi''', a social dance performed by people of all ages and by both sexes, during festive occasions- such as weddings- and other social gatherings for fun and celebration. The second form- the more theatrical version- is called '''raqs sharqi,''' and it is this type that is most popular in America today.  Like raks baladi, raks sharqi is performed by both male and female dancers.
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===Movements found in belly dance===
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Belly dance is primarily a [[torso]]-driven dance, with an emphasis on articulations of the hips.<ref>C. Varga Dinicu (Morocco), ''You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi'' (Hypatia-Rose Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0983069041).</ref> Unlike many Western [[dance]] forms, the focus of the dance is on isolations of the torso muscles, rather than on movements of the limbs through space. Although some of these isolations appear similar to those used in jazz ballet, they are sometimes driven differently and have a different feeling or emphasis.
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[[File:Randa Kamel Egyptian Bellydancer 2007 1.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Belly dancer Randa Kamel performing in Cairo, 2007]]
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In common with most [[folk dance]]s, there is no universal naming scheme for belly dance movements. Many dancers and dance schools have developed their own naming schemes, but none of these is universally recognized. The following attempt at categorization reflects the most common naming conventions:<ref name=Wise>Josephine Wise, ''The JWAAD Book of Belly Dance'' (JWAAD, 2012, ISBN 978-0957310506).</ref>
  
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Where belly dancing is a native dance, boys and girls learn it from an early age. As with many social dances, children learn it informally, by observing and imitating their elders during family and community celebrations, as well as during informal gatherings with friends.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}  Today, these ancient dances are taught in classes offered throughout the world, and skilled dancers are able to share their knowledge that has been passed down from the indigenous peoples who created them.
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* '''Percussive''': Staccato movements, most commonly of the hips, used to punctuate the music or accent a beat. Lifts or drops of the hips, chest or rib cage, shoulder accents, hip rocks, hits, and twists.  
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===Origins===
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* '''Fluid''': Flowing, sinuous movements in which the body is in continuous motion, used to interpret melodic lines and lyrical sections in the music, or modulated to express complex instrumental improvisations. These movements require a great deal of abdominal muscle control. Typical movements include horizontal and vertical figures of 8 or infinity loops with the hips, horizontal or tilting hip circles, and undulations of the hips and abdomen. These basic shapes may be varied, combined, and embellished to create an infinite variety of complex, textured movements.
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The exact origin of this dance form is actively debated among dance enthusiasts, especially given the limited academic research on the topic. Much of the research in this area has been done by dancers attempting to understand their dance's origins.  However, the often overlooked fact that most dancing in the Middle East occurs in the social context rather than the more visible and glamorous context of the professional nightclub dancers,{{Fact|date=July 2007}} has led to an overall misunderstanding of the dance's true nature and has given rise to many conflicting theories about its origins.  Because this dance is a fusion of many dance styles, it undoubtedly has many different origins – many of them in ethnic folk dances.
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* '''Shimmies, shivers, and vibrations''': Small, fast, continuous movements of the hips or ribcage, which create an impression of texture and depth of movement. Shimmies are commonly layered over other movements, and are often used to interpret rolls on the [[tablah]] or [[riq]] or fast strumming of the [[oud]] or [[qanun (instrument)|qanun]]. There are many types of shimmy, varying in size and method of generation. Some common shimmies include relaxed, up and down hip shimmies, straight-legged knee-driven shimmies, fast, tiny hip vibrations, twisting hip shimmies, bouncing 'earthquake' shimmies, and relaxed shoulder or rib cage shimmies.
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Many dancers subscribe to one or another of a number of theories regarding the origins of the form. Some of these theories are that the dance form:
 
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* descended from indigenous dances of [[Ancient Egypt|ancient]] [[Upper Egypt]]  
 
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* descended from Greece, spreading with [[Alexander the Great]]
 
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* descended from a religious dance Temple Priestesses once practiced
 
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* had been a part of traditional birthing practices in the region(s) of origin
 
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* had spread from the migrations of the [[Romani people]] (also called "gypsies") and related groups, descended from the [[Banjara]] of [[Rajasthan]]{{Fact|date=December 2007}} in northwestern [[India]].
 
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* originated in [[Uzbekistan]], traveling to India through the slave trade.
 
  
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Of the theories, the first explanation is rarely invoked, even with such high-status proponents as the Egyptian Dancer Doctor Mo Geddawi [http://www.globaldancearts.com/article11.htm promoting it].  
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In addition to these torso movements, dancers in many styles will use level changes, traveling steps, turns, and spins. The arms are used to frame and accentuate movements of the hips, for dramatic gestures, and to create beautiful lines and shapes with the body. Other movements may be used as occasional accents, such as low kicks and arabesques, back bends, and head tosses.
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The most well-known theory is that it descended from a religious dance.  This idea is usually the one referred to in mainstream articles on the topic, and has enjoyed a large amount of publicity. 1960s [[United States|American]] singer/dancer [[Jamila Salimpour]] was one proponent.  It was also popularized in works such as ''Earth Dancing'' and ''Grandmother's Secrets''.
 
  
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The "birthing practices" theory covers a sub-set of dance movements in modern raqs sharqi.  Strongly publicized by the [http://www.casbahdance.org/ROOTS.htm research] of the dancer/layperson anthropologist Morocco (also known as Carolina Varga Dinicu), it involves the rework of movements traditionally utilized to demonstrate or ease childbirth.  Although lacking an "origin point", this theory does have the advantage of numerous oral historical references, and is backed by a commentary in the work [http://eres.geneseo.edu/farrellk/web/record.asp?id=53 The Dancer of Shamahka].
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==Costume==
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[[File:Tracy Rhaj Dancer.jpg|thumb||300px|Belly dancer in costume]]
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The costume most commonly associated with belly dance is the ''bedlah'' ({{lang-ar|بدلة}}; literally "suit") style, which typically includes a fitted top or bra, a fitted hip belt, and a full-length skirt or harem pants. The bra and belt may be richly decorated with beads, sequins, crystals, coins, beaded fringe, and embroidery. The belt may be a separate piece, or sewn into a skirt.  
  
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Two points suggest Roma dance as its origin. The [[Roma people|Roma]], and other related groups, are seen as either having brought the form over as they traveled, or picked it up along the way and spread it around.  Thanks to the conflation of Roma forms of dance into the raqs sharqi sphere in the West, these theories enjoy a vogue in the West that is not necessarily reflected in their original countries – although some of that may be due to strongly-held prejudices against the Roma. {{Fact|date=July 2007}}
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The bedlah has changed over the years, as has the dance itself.<ref>Leyla Amir, [http://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2013/03/28/leyla-amir-bedlah-not-from-hollywood/ Is the Bedlah from Hollywood? The Origin of Our Costume] ''Gilded Serpent'', March 28, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2024.</ref> For example, earlier costumes were made up of a full skirt, light chemise and tight cropped vest with heavy embellishments and jewelry.  
  
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Wherever it began, the dance has a long history in African and the Middle East. Despite the restrictions in [[Islam]] regarding portraying humans in paintings, there are several depictions of dancers throughout the pre-Islamic and Islamic world. Books such as ''The Art and Architecture of Islam 650-1250'' show images of dancers on palace walls, as do [[Persian Empire|Persian]] miniature paintings from the 12th and 13th centuries.
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As well as the two-piece bedlah costume, full-length dresses are sometimes worn, especially when dancing more earthy ''baladi'' styles. Dresses range from closely fitting, highly decorated gowns, which often feature heavy embellishments and mesh-covered cutouts, to simpler designs which are often based on traditional clothing.
  
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Outside of the Middle East, raqs sharqi dancing was popularized during the [[Romanticism|Romantic]] movement in the 18th and 19th centuries as [[Orientalist]] artists depicted their interpretations of harem life in the [[Ottoman Empire]].  Around this time, dancers from different Middle Eastern countries began to exhibit such dances at various World's Fairs; they often drew crowds that rivaled the technological exhibits. Some dancers were captured on early film; the short film ''Fatima's Dance'', was widely distributed in the [[nickelodeon movie theater]]s. It drew criticism for its "immodest" dancing, and was eventually censored due to public pressure.
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==Origins and history==
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[[File:شفيقة القبطية.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Egyptian belly dancer ''Shafiqa El qibtia'' (1851–1926) wearing the dancing suit]]
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Belly dancing is believed to have had a long history in the [[Middle East]].<ref>Andrea Deagon, [https://people.uncw.edu/deagona/raqs/origins.htm In Search of the Origins of Dance] ''Andrea Deagon's Raqs Sharqi''. Retrieved April 12, 2024.</ref> Several Greek and Roman sources including [[Juvenal]] and [[Martial]] describe dancers from Asia Minor and Spain using undulating movements, playing [[castanets]], and sinking to the floor with "quivering thighs," descriptions that are certainly suggestive of the movements that are today associated with belly dance.<ref>Wendy Buonaventura, ''Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World'' (Interlink Books, 2009, ISBN 978-1566567916).</ref> Later, particularly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European travelers in the Middle East such as [[Edward William Lane|Edward Lane]] and [[Flaubert]] wrote extensively of the dancers they saw there, including the [[Almah (Egyptian dancer)|Awalim]] and [[Ghawazi]] of Egypt.<ref> Kathleen W. Fraser, ''Before They Were Belly Dancers: European Accounts of Female Entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870'' (McFarland & Company, 2014, ISBN 978-0786494330).</ref>
  
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Some Western women began to learn from and imitate the dances of the Middle East, which at this time was subject to colonization by European countries. [[Mata Hari]] exemplifies the issues surrounding these activities; despite posing as a [[Java island|Javanese]] dancer, her mystique is linked not to Indonesian dance but to the Middle Eastern dance forms. The French author [[Colette]] and many other music hall performers engaged in "oriental" dances, sometimes passing off their own interpretations as authentic folkloric styles.  The great dancer [[Ruth St. Denis]] also engaged in Middle Eastern-inspired dancing, but her approach was to put "oriental" dancing on the stage in the context of ballet, her goal being to lift all dance to a respectable art form. (In the early 1900s, it was a common social assumption in America and Europe that dancers were women of loose morals.)
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In his book, Andrew Hammond agrees that belly dance was recognized during early times in Egyptian culture:
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<blockquote>The Greek historian Herodotus related the remarkable ability of Egyptians to create for themselves spontaneous fun, singing, clapping, and dancing in boats on the Nile during numerous religious festivals. It's from somewhere in this great, ancient tradition of gaiety that the belly dance emerged.<ref>Andrew Hammond, ''Popular Culture In The Arab World'' (The American University in Cairo Press, 2007, ISBN 978-9774160547).</ref></blockquote>
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The courtly pleasures of the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad]], [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] and [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid]] caliphs included belly dancing, soirée, and singing. Belly dancers and singers were sent from all parts of the vast empire to entertain.<ref>Muhammed Al Da'mi, ''Feminizing the West: Neo-Islam's Concepts of Renewal, War and the State'' (AuthorHouse, 2014, ISBN 978-1491865224).</ref>
  
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Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women.  Few depictions of mixed dancing exist.  This practice ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband, her close family, or her female friends. Sometimes a professional dancer would go to a women's gathering with several musicians and get the women up and dancing. Today, sex segregation is not as strictly practiced in many urban areas, and sometimes both men and women would get up and dance socially among close friends in a mixed function. However, while social dancing during acceptable circumstances such as family functions is accepted and even encouraged, there are many people in Middle Eastern and North African societies who regard the performances of professional dancers in revealing costumes, for mixed audiences as morally objectionable. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that such performances should be banned. {{Fact|date=July 2007}}
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==Middle East==
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Throughout the [[Middle East]] and the [[Arab diaspora]], belly dancing is closely associated with [[Arabic music]] that is modern classical (known as "al-jadid").<ref>Andrew R. Martin and Matthew Mihalka (eds.), ''Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia'' (ABC-CLIO, 2020, ISBN 978-1610694988). </ref>
  
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===Costume===
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The Egyptian styles and costumes are the most recognized worldwide.
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Because the most popular venue for the dance remains night clubs, (as well as the proliferation of video and DVD recordings of popular Egyptian dance celebrities), it is this version, rather than the folk or social versions of the dance that is most popular.  The costume now associated with this dance is called '''bedlah''' in Arabic (meaning "suit") and was adopted by dancers in Egypt in the 1930s, from where it spread to other countries in the region.  It owes its creation to the harem fantasy productions of [[vaudeville]], [[burlesque]] and [[Hollywood]] during the turn of the last century, rather than to actual authentic Middle Eastern dress.  An enterprising dancer, singer and night club owner in [[Cairo]] named '''Badia Masabni''' is credited with adopting this costume because this was the image that Western tourists came to expect, rather than the native costumes, caftans/kaftans, which covered and concealed the contours of the body, with only a scarf or belt tied around the hips to highlight the movements. However, the caftan is still used by performers to cover their costumes when not on stage.
 
  
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The mainstays of costuming for these styles include a fitted top or bra (usually with fringe of beads or coins), a fitted hip belt (again with a fringe of beads or coins), and skirt/s (straight, layered, circular, or paneled). In the western world a "veil" may also be used for an entire dance,  a three-and-a-half to four-yard piece of fabric, or in part of the dance to move about and frame movements for the dancer.
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[[File:20111110 Egypt 0421 Cairo dinner cruise (cropped).jpg|thumb|300px|Belly dancer on a [[Cairo]] dinner cruise]]
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===Egypt===
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In the 1940s [[King Farouk]] of Egypt employed Russian ballet instructor '''Ivanova''' to teach his daughters, and it was she who first taught the great dancer [[Samia Gamal]] to use the veil to improve her arm carriage.
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[[File:The_belly_dancer_Taheyya_Kariokka..jpg|thumb|300px|The belly dancer [[Taheyya Kariokka]]]]
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Most Egyptian dancers use the veil as an opening prop which they discard within the first few minutes of their routines.
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Belly dancing is part of [[Egypt]]ian culture, with tremendous influence on [[Arabic culture|Arabic]] culture as a whole. In Egypt belly dance has two distinct social contexts: as a folk or social dance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview of Belly Dance: Egyptian Folkloric style belly dancing |url=https://www.atlantabellydance.com/Overview/EgyptianFolkloric.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=www.atlantabellydance.com}}</ref>
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In Egypt, dancers will also wear full beaded dresses, to do the folkloric and baladi routines. These types of outfits are also used by American and European dancers when performing folk dances.
 
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These dresses in Egypt, however, are designed according to the dance and the tradition. Western dancers have more freedom and may choose freely according to taste and fantasy. Costuming often varies with the particular style of dance.
 
  
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===Techniques===
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''[[Raqs sharqi]]'' ({{lang-ar|رقص شرقي}}; literally "Eastern Dance" or "Dance of the Orient") is the classical Egyptian style of belly dance that developed during the first half of the twentieth century. It is a broad category of professional forms of the dance, including forms of belly dance popularly known today, such as Raqs Baladi, Sa'idi, Ghawazee, and Awalim. Belly dancers in Egypt have restrictions placed on their costume and movements. Most notably, no floor work is permitted and the dancer's midriff must be covered.  
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Most of the basic steps and techniques used in belly dance are circular motions isolated in one part of the body; for example, a circle parallel to the floor isolated in the hips or shoulders.  Accents using "[[Popping|pop]] and [[Locking (dance)|lock]]" where a dancer either [[Shimmy|shimmies]] or makes a striking motion in her shoulders or hips are common, as are feats of flexibility, rolling one's belly muscles, balancing various props like baskets, swords or canes, and dancing with chiffon or silk veils.
 
  
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==Raqs Sharqi==
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The informal, social form of the dance is known as ''[[Raqs Baladi]]'' ("Dance of the Country" or "Folk Dance") in Egyptian Arabic. As a social dance, belly dance is performed at celebrations and social gatherings by ordinary people (male and female, young and old), in their ordinary clothes.<ref name=Wise/> In more conservative or traditional societies, these events may be segregated, with men and women dancing separately.<ref> Rosina-Fawzia al-Rawi, ''Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing'' (Olive Branch Press, 2012, ISBN 978-1566563260).</ref>
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Raqs Sharqi belly dancing consists of movements that are executed throughout the body. The focus of the dance is the pelvic and hip area. It is, fundamentally, a solo improvisational dance with its own unique dance vocabulary that is fluidly integrated with the music’s rhythm.
 
  
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Raqs Sharqi dancers internalize and express the emotions evoked by the lyrics and the music.  Appropriately, the music is integral to the dance. The most admired Raqs Sharqi dancers are those who can best project their emotions through dance, even if their dance is made up of simple movements.  The dancer’s goal is to visually communicate to the audience the emotion and rhythm of the music.  
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Raqs sharqi was developed by [[Taheyya Kariokka]], [[Samia Gamal]], [[Naima Akef]], [[Zeinat Olwi]], and other dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the [[Egyptian film industry]]. These dancers had a great influence on the development of the Egyptian style, attracting the eyes of the world to the Egyptian belly dance. These dancers were famous not only for their role in Egyptian films, but also for their performances at the "Opera Casino" opened in 1925 by Lebanese-born actress and dancer [[Badia Masabni]]. <ref>[https://www.artemisyadancewear.com/the-golden-era-of-belly-dance/ The "Golden Era" of Belly Dance] ''Artemisya Dancewear'', March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024. </ref>
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Raqs Sharqi translates from Arabic as "dance of the Orient" or "Oriental Dance". This is the oldest dance in the world. Belly dance is a misnomer as the all parts of the body are involved in the dance, and the most important body part is the hips. The dancer’s goal is to visually communicate to the audience the emotion and rhythm of the music.
 
  
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Many see Raqs Sharqi as a woman's dance, celebrating the sensuality and power of being a mature woman. A common school of thought believes that young dancers have limited life experience to use as a catalyst for dance.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Sohair Zaki, [[Fifi Abdou]], Lucy, Nagwa Fouad, and [[Dina Belly Dancer|Dina]] are all popular [[Egypt]]ian dancers above the age of forty.
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The changes introduced by Badia Masabni to the oriental dance were aimed at adapting the intimate and improvised Egyptian folk dance into a crowded show and with the spirit of the variety theater or music hall. In order to achieve this Masabni aimed to fill the space, add visual dynamism and give a sensual air to the show. She pioneered theatrical dance tools such as group choreography, movement-extending props, the deliberate use of space on stage, and many more elements of modern entertainment.<ref>Farah Rafik, [https://egyptianstreets.com/2022/05/21/badia-masabani-the-force-behind-modern-belly-dance-in-egypt/ Badia Masabani: The Force Behind Modern Belly Dance in Egypt] ''Egyptian Streets'', May 21, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2024</ref> This venue was a popular place for influential musicians and choreographers from both the US and Europe, so many of the developments pioneered here can be considered new developments in the dance.  
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[[File:Layla Taj wikipedia article.jpg|thumb|400px|Layla Taj, Egyptian belly dancer, performing in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt]]
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Later dancers who were influenced by these artists are [[Soheir Zaki]], [[Nagwa Fouad]], [[Fifi Abdou]], and [[Dalilah (bellydancer)|Dalilah]]. All rose to fame between 1960 and 1980. Some of these later dancers were the first to choreograph and perform dances using a full orchestra and stage set-up.
  
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Despite the fame of female dancers, men often perform Raqs Sharqi as well, however, not in public in Arab countries.
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Professional belly dance in Cairo has not been exclusive to native Egyptians, although the country prohibited foreign-born dancers from obtaining licenses for solo work for much of 2004 out of concern that potentially inauthentic performances would dilute its culture. (Other genres of performing arts were not affected.) The ban was lifted in September 2004, but a culture of exclusivity and selectivity remained. The few non-native Egyptians permitted to perform in an authentic way invigorated the dance circuit and helped spread global awareness of the art form.<ref> Shannon Arvizu, "The Politics of Bellydancing in Cairo" ''The Arab Studies Journal'' 12/13(2/1) (2004):165.</ref> American-born [[Layla Taj]] is one example of a non-native Egyptian belly dancer who has performed extensively in Cairo and the Sinai resorts.<ref>[https://www.laylataj.com/home Bio] ''Layla Taj''. Retrieved April 23, 2024. </ref>
  
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'''Egyptian-style''' raqs sharqi is based on Baladi an later the work of belly dance legends [[Samia Gamal]], [[Tahiya Karioka]], [[Naima Akef]], and other dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry. Later dancers who based their styles partially on the dances of these artists are Sohair Zaki, [[Fifi Abdou]], and [[Nagwa Fouad]]. All rose to fame between 1960 and 1980, are still popular today, and have nearly risen to the same level of stardom and influence on the style.
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===Turkey===
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Belly dance is referred to in [[Turkey]] as "''Oryantal Dans''," or simply "''Oryantal''" literally meaning "[[orient]]." Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of [[Romani people|Romani]] heritage, and the Roma people of Turkey have had a strong influence on the Turkish style. In Turkey the style of belly dance is lively and playful, with a greater outward projection of energy than the more contained Egyptian style.<ref name=Enright>Maura Enright, [https://babayagamusic.com/Encyclopedic-Dictionary-Ethnic-Arts/turkish-oriental-belly-dance.htm Turkish Orientale Belly Dance] ''Baba Yaga Music''. Retrieved April 18, 2024.</ref>
  
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Though the basic movements of Raqs Sharqi have remained the same, the dance form continues to evolve. Nelly Mazloum and '''Mahmoud Reda''' are noted for incorporating elements of ballet into Raqs Sharqi and their influence can be seen in  modern Egyptian dancers who stand on relevé as they turn or travel through their dance space in a circle or figure eight.
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In Turkey dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even [[gymnastics|gymnastic]]) style, and their adept use of [[finger cymbals]], also known as [[zill|zils]], which are commonly used in Egyptian style and movies. Floorwork is also a part of Turkish belly dance. Another distinguishing element of Turkish style is the use of a 9/8 rhythm, divided into 2+2+2+3. This is often referred to as the [[Karsilama]] rhythm which is borrowed from the Karşilama folk dance.<ref name=Enright/>
  
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In Egypt, three main forms of the traditional dance are associated with belly dance: '''Baladi/Beledi''', '''Sha'abi''' and '''Sharqi'''.
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==Outside the Middle East==
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Belly dancing has become popular outside the [[Arab world]], and American, European, and Japanese women who have become professional belly dancers dance all over Europe and the Middle East.<ref>L.L. Wynn, ''Pyramids and Nightclubs: A Travel Ethnography of Arab and Western Imaginations of Egypt, from King Tut and a Colony of Atlantis to Rumors of Sex Orgies, Urban legends about a Marauding Prince, and Blonde Belly Dancers'' (University of Texas Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0292717022).</ref>
  
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Egyptian belly dance was among the first styles to be witnessed by Westerners. During Napoleon's invasion of Egypt (the campaign which yielded the [[Rosetta stone]], leading to the translation of Egyptian [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyphics]]), Napoleon's troops encountered the [[Ghawazee]] tribe. The Ghawazee made their living as professional entertainers and musicians. The women often engaged in prostitution on the side, and often had a street dedicated to their trade in the towns where they resided, though some were quasi-[[nomadic]]. At first the French were repelled by their heavy jewelry and hair, and found their dancing "barbaric", but were soon lured by the hypnotic nature of their movements{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.
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===North America===
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Although there were dancers of this type at the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia, it was not until the 1893 Chicago [[World's Fair]] that belly dancing gained national attention. The term "belly dancing" is often credited to [[Sol Bloom]], the Fair's entertainment director, but he referred to the dance as ''danse du ventre'', the name used by the French in Algeria:
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<blockquote>When the public learned that the literal translation was "belly dance," they delightedly concluded that it must be salacious and immoral ... I had a gold mine.<ref>Sol Bloom, ''The Autobiography of Sol Bloom'' (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948, ISBN 978-1125599662).</ref></blockquote>
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 +
Authentic dancers from several Middle Eastern and North African countries performed at the Fair, including Syria, Turkey, and Algeria—but it was the dancers in the Egyptian Theater of The Street in the Cairo exhibit who gained the most notoriety. The fact that the dancers were uncorseted and gyrated their hips was shocking to Victorian sensibilities. The popularity of these dancers subsequently spawned dozens of imitators, many of whom claimed to be from the original troupe. Belly dance drew men in droves to [[burlesque]] theaters. [[Victorian]] society continued to be affronted by the dance, and dancers were sometimes arrested and fined.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1893/12/07/archives/no-more-midway-dancing-three-of-the-egyptian-girls-finded-each.html No More Midway Dancing; Three of the Egyptian Girls Fined $50 Each] ''The New York Times'' (December 7, 1893). Retrieved April 21, 2024. </ref>
  
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The most important non-Egyptian forms of belly dance are the [[Syria]]n/[[Lebanon|Lebanese]] and the [[Turkey|Turkish]].
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[[File:Rachel Brice 1 DSC 0126.jpeg|thumb|300px|American tribal fusion dancer Rachel Brice]]
 +
[[Ruth St. Denis]] also used Middle Eastern-inspired dance in D. W. Griffith's silent film ''[[Intolerance (film)|Intolerance]]'', her goal being to lift dance to a respectable art form at a time when dancers were considered to be women of loose morals. Hollywood began producing films such as ''[[The Sheik (film)|The Sheik]]'', ''[[Cleopatra (1917 film)|Cleopatra]]'', and ''[[Salomé (1923 film)|Salomé]]'', to capitalize on Western fantasies of the orient.
  
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==Turkish forms==
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In 1987, a distinctively American style of group improvisational dance, [[American Tribal Style Belly Dance]], (ATS), was created, representing a major departure from the dance's cultural origins. A unique and wholly modern style, it makes use of steps from existing cultural dance styles, including those from India, the Middle East, and Africa.<ref> Kajira Djoumahna, ''The Tribal Bible, Exploring The Phenomenon That Is American Tribal Style Bellydance'' (BlackSheep BellyDance, 2003, ISBN 978-0972848602).</ref>
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Some mistakenly believe that [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]] oriental dancing is known as [[Chifteteli|Çiftetelli]] because this style of music has been incorporated into oriental dancing by Greeks and Roma, illustrated by the fact that the [[Greece|Greek]] belly dance is called [[Tsifteteli]]. However, Turkish Çiftetelli is more correctly a form of wedding folk music, the part that makes up the lively part of the dance at the wedding and is not connected with oriental dancing.
 
  
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Turkish belly dance today may have been influenced by Roma people as much as by the Egyptian and Syrian/Lebanese forms, having developed from the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] ''rakkas'' to the oriental dance known worldwide today. As Turkish law does not impose restrictions on Turkish dancers' movements and costuming as in Egypt, where dancers are prevented from performing floor work and certain pelvic movements, Turkish dancers are often more outwardly expressive than their Egyptian sisters. Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage as well. (However, it should be noted that people of Turkish Romani heritage also have a distinct dance style which is uniquely different from the Turkish Oriental style.)  Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and particularly, until the past few years, their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as [[zils]].  Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say that a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer.  Another distinguishing element of the Turkish style is the use of the [[Karsilama]] rhythm in a 9/8 time signature, counted as 12-34-56-789. Turkish belly dance costumes can be very revealing, with the belt sometimes worn high up on the waist and split skirts which expose the entire leg, although dancers today are costuming themselves more like Egyptian dancers and wearing more modest "mermaid"-style skirts. The Turkish style is emphasized further by the dancer wearing high heels and often platform shoes. Famous Turkish belly dancers include Tulay Karaca, Nesrin Topkapi and Birgul Berai.
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Many forms of [[Tribal Fusion (dance form)|"Tribal Fusion"]] belly dance have also developed, appropriating elements from many other dance and music styles including [[flamenco]], ballet, [[burlesque]], [[hula hoop]] and even [[hip hop]].<ref> Jasmine June, [https://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2010/11/03/jasmine-june-intro-tribal-fusion-belly-dance/#axzz2IHiCaBX7 An Intro to Tribal Fusion Belly Dance] ''Gilded Serpent'', October 28, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
  
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When immigrants from Turkey, [[Iran]], and the Arab states began to immigrate to New York in the 1930s and 1940s, dancers started to perform a mixture of these styles in the nightclubs and restaurants.  Often called "Classic Cabaret" or "American Cabaret" belly dance, these dancers are the grandmothers and great-grandmothers of some of today's most accomplished performers, such as Anahid Sofian and Artemis Mourat.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
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===Australia===
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The first wave of interest in belly dancing in Australia was during the late 1970s to 1980s with the influx of migrants and refugees escaping troubles in the [[Middle East]], including Lebanese [[Jamal Zraika]]. These immigrants created a social scene including numerous Lebanese and Turkish restaurants, providing employment for belly dancers. [[Rozeta Ahalyea]] is widely regarded as the "mother" of Australian belly dance, training early dance pioneers such as [[Amera Eid]] and [[Terezka Drnzik]].<ref>Natalie O'Brien, [https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-night-in-the-life-of-a-bellydancer-georgette-bowden-shimmers-across-sydney-20141011-113fw0.html A night in the life of a bellydancer: Georgette Bowden shimmers across Sydney] ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (October 12, 2014). Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
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==Belly dancing in the Western world==
 
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[[Image:bellydancer costume.jpg|thumb|Fantasy-inspired non-historical Belly dancing costume, with coin bra, face veil, and beaded hip belt over skirt.]]
 
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The term "belly dancing" (believed by some to be a mis-transliteration of the term for the dance style [[Beledi]] or Baladi) is generally credited to [[Sol Bloom]], entertainment director of the 1893 [[World's fair|World's Fair]], the [[World Columbian Exposition]] in [[Chicago]].  Although there were dancers of this type present at the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia, it was not until the 1893 fair that it gained national attention. There were authentic dancers from several Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Syria, Turkey and Algeria, but it was the dancers in the Egyptian Theater of The Street in Cairo exhibit who gained the most notoriety.  The rapid hip movements and the fact that the dancers were uncorseted, was considered shocking to the Victorian sensibilities of the day. In fact, there were attempts by many, most notably [[Anthony Comstock]], head of the [[New York Society for the Suppression of Vice]], to have the Egyptian theater closed.
 
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Although it is popularly believed that a dancer named  "Fatima", also known as [[Little Egypt (dancer)|Little Egypt]], stole the show, and continued to popularize this form of dancing, there is in fact no evidence to support this claim.<ref name="Carlton">Donna Carlton (1995). ''Looking for Little Egypt''. Bloomington, Indiana: International Dance Discovery Books. ISBN 0-9623998-1-7.</ref>  Neither photographs, nor reviews of the Egyptian Theater mention any such person.  The truth is that photographs as well as accounts of the entertainments, show that there was not one solo dancer, but an entire troupe who performed in the Egyptian Theater.  The popularity of these dancers spawned dozens of imitators after the Fair, many of whom claimed to have been dancers at the Chicago Fair.  The most well known being Farida Mazar Spyropoulos, who it was said stayed in the States after the Fair and married a Greek man named Spyropoulos. Oddly enough she was neither Egyptian nor Algerian, but Syrian.  Although she was Middle Eastern, there is no evidence that she was one of the dancers in the Egyptian theater.
 
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The dance performed by the many dancers calling themselves "Little Egypt" was nicknamed the "[[Hootchy-Kootchy]]" or "[[Hoochee-Coochee]]", or the shimmy and shake. Due to cultural misunderstanding about the nature of the dance and misrepresentations by the many imitators in Burlesque halls and carnival sideshows, the western world considered it risqué, leading to the stereotype of an erotic suggestive dance.  Another name for the dance is ''"danse du ventre"'', which in French literally means "dance of the stomach." 
 
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Because this dance style created such a craze, [[Thomas Edison]] made several [[film]]s of dancers in the 1890s. Included in these are the [http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/varsmp/1347.mpg Turkish dance, Ella Lola, 1898] and [http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/varsmp/1143.mpg Crissie Sheridan in 1897] both available for on-line viewing through the [[Library of Congress]].  Another in this collection is [http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/varsmp/1821.mpg Princess Rajah dance from 1904] which features a dancer playing [[Zil]]s (finger cymbals), doing "floor work", and balancing a chair in her teeth.
 
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In addition, the sensational stories about the pseudo-Javanese dancer [[Mata Hari]], who was convicted in 1917 by the French for being a German spy during [[World War I]], and the fact that belly dancing could be seen only at [[vaudeville]] and in [[burlesque]] shows gave belly dancing a questionable reputation in polite society.  Hollywood did not help the reputation by only having three roles for a belly dancer (those of slave to be saved, a background dancer while the main characters talk, or a deceitful woman who uses her wiles to trick the main character), which created stereotypes of belly dancers that many dancers and instructors today are working hard to overcome. It is due to these stereotypes that many practitioners refer to the art as "Middle Eastern Dance".
 
  
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While the beautiful classical Raqs Sharqi is still popular in the West, many dancers have created fusion forms such as [[American Tribal Style Belly Dance|American Tribal Style]] inspired by the folkloric dance styles of India, the Middle East and North Africa and even flamenco. Dancers in the United States, while respecting the origins of belly dance, are also exploring and creating within the dance form to address their own needs. Many women today in the U.S. and Europe approach belly dance as a tool for empowerment and strengthening of the body, mind, and spirit. Issues of body-image, self-esteem, healing from sexual violation, sisterhood, and self-authentication are regularly addressed in belly dance classes everywhere.
+
Belly dance has now spread across the country, with belly dance communities in every capital city and many regional centers, brought together annually for the Australian Belly Dance Convention.<ref>[https://bellydanceconvention.com.au/ Australian Belly Dance Convention]. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
  
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===United States===
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===Spain===
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[[Image:BellyDancer1.jpg|thumbnail|right|Tribal-style belly dancers.]]
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[[File:Dalilah bailando danza oriental en la Esfinge.jpg|thumb|300px|alt=Spaniard Dalilah, 1957|Spaniard [[Dalilah (bellydancer)|Dalilah (''Adelaida Angulo'')]] in front of the [[Great Sphinx of Giza]], 1957]]
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With its emergence at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, the last four decades of the 20th century moved belly dance in the U.S. more into the mainstream.  The current interest in the dance can be traced back to the 1950s and '60s.  It was in the ethnic nightclubs in major cities like New York, that most Americans first became acquainted with the dance.  These clubs were owned, operated and patronized by members of the ethnic communities of Mediterranean countries like Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria.  At the time, most of the dancers were Greek or Turkish, but in time their ranks would grow to include Americans as well.  One example of this is the dancer "Morocco" of New York, who started her career in the night clubs of Greek Town on 8th Avenue.  These American dancers learned the dance by watching and imitating their Greek and Turkish sisters, as well as the patrons.
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In [[Spain]] and the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the idea of exotic dancing existed throughout the [[Islamic]] era and sometimes included [[slavery]]. When the Arab [[Umayyads]] conquered Spain, they sent [[Basque]] singers and dancers to Damascus and Egypt for training in the Middle Eastern style. These dancers came to be known as Al-Andalusian dancers. It has been suggested that the fusion of the Al-Andalus style with the dances of the [[Romani people]] led to the creation of [[flamenco]]. Many moves in modern Flamenco are very similar to belly dance.<ref>Stacy R. Webb, [https://parrotsgrl.wordpress.com/my-red-bones/roma-gypsy/belly-dance-flamenco/ Belly Dance & Flamenco] Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
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In the late 1960s and early '70s many of these dancers began offering dance classes.  With increasing exploration of the East in the late 1960s, many people became interested in everything Eastern, including dance.  Many touring Middle Eastern or Eastern bands took dancers with them as they toured to provide a visual representation of their music, which helped to spark interest in the dance.  This had the effect of creating many beautiful dancers who have generated greater interest in belly dancing.  The increased interest in belly dancing created diverse names for the same simple movements and the need to have a "style" as each teacher tried to distinguish differences in their way of teaching from other teachers. This has hampered belly dance from acceptance with the more established dance forms because there is no nationally recognized choreography terminology that can be used to create repeatable dances.
 
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A recent movement in the U.S. called [[American Tribal Style Belly Dance]], or ATS, represents everything from folklore-inspired dances to the fusion of ancient dance techniques from North India, the Middle East, and Africa. Created in the early 1990s by Carolena Nericcio, founder of FatChanceBellydance in San Francisco, ATS has a format consisting of a vocabulary of steps that are designed to be performed improvisationally in a lead-follow manner.  Pure ATS is performed in a group, typically with a chorus of dancers using ''zills'', or finger cymbals, as accompaniment. The music can be folkloric or modern, and the costume is heavily layered, evoking traditions of any or all of its fusion of cultural influences.
 
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Multicultural trends that have shaped Western and U.S. belly dance are still at work. Ever evolving, this versatile dance keeps absorbing a  blend of influences; modern fashion, film and television imagery, the world of rock and hip hop, underground subcultures, and many other contemporary influences. The umbrella term used to describe these hybrid forms of belly dance is "belly dance fusion", including "tribal fusion". One of the newest belly dance fusion trends is [[Gothic bellydance|gothic belly dance]] that incorporates many belly dance styles and motifs and seeks to express the darkness of the unknown that has inspired the music, philosophies, and lifestyles of the [[Goth subculture]]. [http://www.gothicbellydance.com/gothicbellydance/]
 
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Every year in the U.S. more fusion and personal styles added into Belly Dance. From ballet, Urban Tribal, Techno Tribal, Afrocuban Tribal, World Fusion, Popping Fusions, Hip Hop Fusions, Jazz, contemporary, Indian, Asian gymnastics, fire dancing, stilt walking, hoop twirling and the reintroduction of burlesque type movements,{{Fact|date=July 2007}} With dancers seeking out education in more than one dance form in order to incorporate something new into their Belly Dance choreographies; it has become one of the most diverse dance forms within the U.S. to date.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
 
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===Canada===
 
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Canada has a thriving belly dance community much like the United States with many different styles ranging from Raqs Sharqi to  Gypsy style. Many schools offer belly dance classes and Canada has produced some of the finest belly dancers in the world including Master teacher Yasmina Ramzy, Hadia, and the internationally renowned Badia Star.
 
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Ramzy is the driving force behind the [http://www.bellydanceconference.com International Bellydance Conference of Canada] which is Canada's largest Bellydance conference, with workshops, panel discussions and speeches.
 
  
 
===United Kingdom===
 
===United Kingdom===
 +
Belly dance has been in evidence in the UK since the early 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a thriving Arabic club scene in London, with live Arabic music and belly dancing a regular feature,<ref>Asmahan, [http://www.gildedserpent.com/cms/2012/01/15/asmahan-arabic-nightclubs-london-part1/ The Golden Era of the Arabic Nightclubs in London] ''Gilded Serpent'', January 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2024. </ref> Several prominent members of the British belly dance community began their dance careers working in these clubs.
  
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With its growing popularity in the western world, belly dance classes are thriving throughout the UK, though the belly dance culture has been evidenced since the early 1960s, with many styles being taught including traditional, modern, tribal, Persian, Oriental, Turkish, Greek, Egyptian, American Tribal.  
+
Today, there are fewer traditional venues for Arabic dance in the UK; however, there is a large amateur belly dance community. Several international belly dance festivals are now held in Britain such as The International Bellydance Congress, The London Belly Dance Festival, and Majma Dance Festival.<ref>[https://www.worldbellydance.com/uk-congress/ The Annual UK Belly Dance Congress] ''World Belly Dance''. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref> In addition, there are a growing number of competitions, which have increased in popularity in recent years.
  
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Many festivals and workshops are held over the various regions, with two of the most popular being the Annual Glastonbury Majma. [http://www.majmadance.org.uk/] and Raqs Britannia [http://www.raqsbritannia.co.uk/]
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==Health==
 +
Belly dance is a low-impact, weight-bearing exercise and is thus suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.<ref>Tamalyn Dallal, ''Belly Dancing For Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit'' (Ulysses Press, 2004, ISBN 978-1569754108).</ref> Many of the moves involve isolations, which improves flexibility of the torso. Belly dance moves are beneficial to the spine, as the full-body undulation moves lengthen (decompress) and strengthen the entire column of spinal and [[Rectus abdominis muscle|abdominal muscles]] in a gentle way.
  
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September 2007 sees the first Annual International Bellydance Congress being held in the UK. [http://www.bellydancecongress.com/index.htm]
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Dancing with a veil can help build strength in the upper body, arm, and shoulders. Playing the finger cymbals ([[zill|sagat/zill]]s) trains fingers to work independently and builds strength. The legs and long muscles of the back are strengthened by hip movements.<ref> Pina Coluccia, Anette Paffrath, and Jean Pütz, ''Belly Dancing: The Sensual Art of Energy and Spirit'' (Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1594770210).</ref>
  
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===Australia===
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==In popular culture==
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The first wave of interest for belly dancing in Australia was during the late 70s to 80s with the influx of migrants and refugees escaping troubles in the Middle East, particularly the war in Lebanon. This was also the period that marked the increase in Middle Eastern musicians escaping the tensions in the region.
+
===In films===
 +
Egyptian belly dancer and film actress [[Samia Gamal]] is credited with bringing belly dancing from Egypt to [[Hollywood]] and from there to the schools of Europe. In 1954, she famously starred as a belly dancer in the American [[Eastmancolor]] [[adventure film]], [[Valley of the Kings (film)|''Valley of the Kings'']], and the French film [[Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1954 film)|''Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'']].<ref>[https://www.artemisyadancewear.com/samia-gamal-the-barefoot-dancer/ Samia Gamal, "The Barefoot Dancer"] ''Artemisya Dancewear'', March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
  
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There were notable performers during this period. These included [[Amera Eid]] who started the first belly dance boutique in Australia, Amera’s Palace, and [[Terezka Drnzik]] who established the first full time belly dance school in Sydney, The Akademi of Danse Orientale. Both of these experienced dancers and teachers have pedigrees linked back to [[Rozeta Ahalyea]] whose career spanned four decades.
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In [[British cinema]], belly dancing features prominently in several [[James Bond movies]], such as the 1963 movie [[From Russia With Love (film)|''From Russia With Love'']], the 1974 movie [[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|''The Man with the Golden Gun'']], and the 1977 movie [[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|''The Spy Who Loved Me'']].<ref>Steven Jay Rubin, [https://spymovienavigator.com/spydata/belly-dancers/ Belly Dancers] ''Spy Movie Navigator''. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
  
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The biggest belly dancing event is the annual Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival which started out in 1990 as a Bellydance-a-thon to raise money for charity.
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Belly dancing has been shown in many [[Bollywood]] films, and is often accompanied with Bollywood songs and dance sequences instead of the traditional Arabic style. While Bollywood choreographies are based on classical Indian dances, it evolved from a combination of classical Indian dance and folk dancing such as Bhangra, and was merged with Latino and Arabic/belly dance style moves.<ref>[https://www.atlantabellydance.com/Classes/Dances/CountryBollywood.html Bollywood Belly Dance] ''Atlanta Belly Dance''. Retrieved April 21, 2024.</ref>
  
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Tribal style belly dance in Australia is gaining popularity as well. The most notable figure in this scene is Devi Mamak, the first Australian to have been accepted as a certified Fat Chance Bellydance teacher under the guidance of Carolena Nerricio. New Fat Chance moves developed in Australia by Devi Mamak and her troupe, Ghawazi Caravan, will be added to the official list of repertoire in the 8th video. The new moves are Arabic with a turn, triangle and the crazy camel.
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=== In pop music ===
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Belly dance today is a dance used by various artists, including [[Rihanna]], [[Beyoncé]], and [[Fergie (singer)|Fergie]]. However, the greatest representative of this dance is the [[Colombia]]n singer [[Shakira]], whose songs "Whenever Wherever" and "[[Hips Don't Lie]]" made her dance skills famous worldwide, popularizing belly dancing in a large part of Latin America and later taking it to the United States. Over time Shakira began mixing this dance with Latin dances, like [[Salsa (dance)|Salsa]]<ref>Shanice Davis, [https://www.vibe.com/features/viva/shakira-drops-salsa-version-of-chantaje-484628/ Shakira Drops Salsa Version Of "Chantaje" Just In Time For Her Birthday] ''Vibe'', February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2024.</ref>
  
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==Male belly dancing==
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==Notes==
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[[Image:MaleBellyDance.jpg|thumb|right|Male belly dancer in Istanbul Turkey.]]
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<references/>
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There is much debate over where and when men became part of the belly dance world. Many believe that men have no place in this art form, {{Fact|date=July 2007}} which is frequently and erroneously believed to be historically female. However, dancers such as Morocco (Carolina Varga-Dinicu), Tariq Sultan, Jasmin Jahal, and [[Laurel Victoria Gray]] have produced ample evidence to the contrary.<ref>Laurel Victoria Gray, "Dancing Boys," ''Arabesque'' magazine, Vol. 12 (May-June 1986). Gray discusses historical examples of male dancers, including those from the early centuries after the establishment of Islam, as well as the famous [[Bacchá|baccha]]s of Central Asia.</ref>
 
  
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Pictorial evidence in the form of Turkish miniatures made during the [[Ottoman Empire]] show public performances being done by young men and boys called ''köçeks''. These dancers were widely popular; in fact, the Sultan employed a troupe of these male dancers in addition to a troupe of female dancers, (Metin And: A pictorial history of Turkish Dance). It has long been assumed that these dancers were female impersonators, because they performed in wide flamboyant skirts. A comparison with the female dancers however, shows that this was merely a costume worn for the dramatic effect caused by the swirling fabric. The female dancers did not wear specialized costumes at this time, but the ordinary dress of all women, which consisted of a pair of "harem pants", a long shirt, tight fitting vest covered by a flowing robe tied at the waist by a belt or shawl. Nevertheless, some of these male dancers did at times impersonate women. This was because they were not simply dancers but musicians and actors as well. As was the case in Shakespearean times, all dramatic roles were played by males since women were not allowed to entertain in public.
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==References==
 +
* Al Da'mi, Muhammed. ''Feminizing the West: Neo-Islam's Concepts of Renewal, War and the State''. AuthorHouse, 2014. ISBN 978-1491865224
 +
* Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia. ''Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing''. Olive Branch Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1566563260
 +
* Bloom, Sol. ''The Autobiography of Sol Bloom''. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948. ISBN 978-1125599662
 +
* Buonaventura, Wendy. ''Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World''. Interlink Books, 2009. ISBN 978-1566567916
 +
* Coluccia, Pina, Anette Paffrath, and Jean Pütz. ''Belly Dancing: The Sensual Art of Energy and Spirit''. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 2005. ISBN 978-1594770210
 +
* Dallal, Tamalyn. ''Belly Dancing For Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit''. Ulysses Press, 2004. ISBN 978-1569754108.
 +
* Dinicu, C. Varga (Morocco). ''You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi''. Hypatia-Rose Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0983069041
 +
* Djoumahna, Kajira. ''The Tribal Bible, Exploring The Phenomenon That Is American Tribal Style Bellydance''. BlackSheep BellyDance, 2003. ISBN 978-0972848602
 +
* Fraser, ‎Kathleen W. ''Before They Were Belly Dancers: European Accounts of Female Entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870''. McFarland & Company, 2014. ISBN 978-0786494330
 +
* Hammond, Andrew. ''Popular Culture In The Arab World''. The American University in Cairo Press, 2007. ISBN 978-9774160547
 +
* Martin, Andrew R., and Matthew Mihalka (eds.). ''Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO, 2020. ISBN 978-1610694988
 +
* Wise, Josephine. ''The JWAAD Book of Belly Dance''. JWAAD, 2012. ISBN 978-0957310506
 +
* Wynn, L.L. ''Pyramids and Nightclubs: A Travel Ethnography of Arab and Western Imaginations of Egypt, from King Tut and a Colony of Atlantis to Rumors of Sex Orgies, Urban legends about a Marauding Prince, and Blonde Belly Dancers''. University of Texas Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0292717022
  
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These dancers were so popular that fights often broke out over which troupe was considered the best. {{Fact|date=July 2007}}These upheavals were so frequent that they resulted in such performances being banned for a period of time during the 1830s.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Eventually the ban was lifted, but the decline of the Ottoman Empire, together with a push for modernization and the adoption of western tastes led to the eventual decline of such performances in Istanbul as well as other countries of the Empire such as Egypt.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Eventually, due to tourist demand, their place was taken by female entertainers.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Köçek dancers can still be found in the rural communities of Turkey, most notably in the region of [[Kastamonu]]. They have even begun appearing on television variety shows and on DVDs throughout Turkey.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
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== External links ==
 +
All links retrieved April 23, 2024.
  
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The current professional version of raqs sharqi, developed in Egypt in the 1930s, was deliberately designed to display an idealized notion of feminine grace beauty and glamor. Even so men continued to play a ''behind the scenes'' role in its development. Many of the most renowned choreographers and coaches are in fact men, such as Ibrahim Akef (cousin of the dance star Naima Akef) and Mahmoud Reda (founder of the renowned Reda Ensemble, the first theater dance troupe of Egypt).
+
* [https://www.danceus.org/belly-dance/what-is-belly-dance/ What is Belly dance?] ''Dance US''
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* [https://www.worldbellydance.com/myths-and-misconceptions/ 10 Myths about Belly Dance] ''World Belly Dance''
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The current trend of male performers of this dance form started in the '60s and 70s in the United States by such performers and teachers as Ibrahim Farrah (an American of Lebanese descent from Pennsylvania), Roman "Bert" Balladine and John Compton to name a few. Today male belly dancers are becoming more visible, not only in the United States, but around the world.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} These modern performers have even began to resurface in the Middle East in Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt. Most male dancers face artistic as well as social challenges. Such issues as whether there are or should be differences in costuming, attitude, and the dynamics of choreography between male and female belly dancing is a subject of debate among both male and female dancers.
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* [https://www.city-academy.com/news/5-benefits-belly-dance/ 5 Benefits of Belly Dance] ''City Academy''
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* [https://www.worldbellydance.com/health-benefits-belly-dance/ Health Benefits of Belly Dance] ''World Belly Dance''
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Given the recent boom in interest regarding belly dance, a new generation of male dancers has embraced the form. Although still small in number compared to their female counterparts, their numbers have grown dramatically in the past 20 years.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}.
 
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Well-known male dancers in the U.S. and Latin America from the 1970s onward include Bert Balladine, John Compton, Sergio, Horacio Cifuentes, Kasim of Boston,famous Zill player on George Abdo's albums, Amir of Boston, Adam Basma, Ibrahim Farrah, Yousry Sharif, Aziz, Kamaal, Amir Thalib, Mark Balahadia, Francisco Carranza (Mr. Bellydance U.S. 1989) Canadian dancer Valizan, Jim Boz, and Tarik Sultan. Some of these dancers are American-born, others were immigrants from the Middle East and Europe. Basma was born in Lebanon. Sharif (who comes from Egypt and relocated to the U.S. in the early 1990s) was a member of the Reda Ensemble, the first national dance troupe in Egypt. Directed by Mahmoud Reda, a former gymnast who represented Egypt in the Olympics, the Reda Ensemble has existed continuously for over four decades. Other male belly dancers across the globe have made an impact on this dance form, most notably Horacio Cifuentes, who now resides in Germany and who has infused his ballet background with various types of Middle Eastern dance to create an impact on both male and female belly-dance styles. Tarik Sultan of New York has made a great contribution in the documentation of the history of the male role in the dance. His article "Oriental Dance, it isn't just for women any more", is one of the most historically and culturally accurate article on the subject. Also, Dr. [[Anthony Shay]], the author of ''Choreophobia'', in his article "The Male Dancer",  tackles the myths that the dance is a strictly female form and that men who did perform it were only imitating women. He offers historical and cultural sources to show that men have always been present in Middle Eastern dance, not only on the social level, but in the professional arena as well. Many dancers are now fast gaining recognition around the world as a dancers of exceptional skill such as; Egyptian male dancer Tito Seif, who performs in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh; Syrian male Dancer Jamil and Shiva, renowned performers in Sydney, Australia; Israeli born Asi Haskal, who holds many concerts in Israel.
 
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Regardless of occasional opposition both within the dance community by those who see the dance as an expression of female power, or those who view professional performances of this dance as "a woman's job", the number of male dancers around the world is growing and enjoying more acceptance.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
 
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==Health and belly dancing==
 
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The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder, and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses.
 
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Belly dancing tones the arms, strengthens and tightens the abs and obliques, and improves flexibility. As a form of exercise, it can burn as many calories as jogging, swimming or riding a bike. Belly dance is less strenuous on the body than weight lifting and more entertaining than sitting on a bike at the gym. Most importantly, belly dance was specifically developed for the female body and is an art that has been perfected for thousands of years. <ref>http://www.bellydancingdiva.com</ref>
 
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== Prohibition of belly dancing ==
 
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Belly dancing has been banned or restricted in some jurisdictions. In [[Egypt]], there was a ban on foreign belly dancers for a year, until it was overturned in September 2004. <ref name="WashingtonTimesEgyptOverturn"> [[Washington Times]]: [Egypt allows foreigners to belly dance] [[September 5]] [[2004]].</ref>
 
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==Belly dancing in pop culture==
 
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Music videos that include dancers who are called "belly dancers" often upset professional dancers who do not consider these "jiggle-shows"{{Fact|date=July 2007}} proper dance, considering their often poor technique and overtly sexual moves. Many bellydancers find it offensive that people take such a beautiful art form and twist it to fit the style of modern pop culture.  Professional belly dancers often prefer to call these pieces "belly dance inspired".{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
 
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Belly dancing has recently been made widely popular by Latin superstar [[Shakira]], whose dancing combines belly dance, [[Latin America|Latino]], and modern dance styles.
 
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R&B singer [[Aaliyah]] used the belly dance as her signature move, which she called the belly roll, and it was featured in many of her music videos. Other singers who have performed belly dance in their music videos include [[Hilary Duff]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Ciara]], [[Rihanna]], [[Nelly Furtado]], [[Britney Spears]], and [[Christina Aguilera]].  Only Shakira has had professional belly dance training.
 
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==See also==
 
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* [[Köçek]]
 
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* [[Tsifteteli]]
 
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* [[Dance basic topics]]
 
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* [[List of dances]]
 
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* [[Samia Gamal]]
 
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* [[Taheyya Kariokka]]
 
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* [[Serena Wilson]]
 
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* [[Shakira]]
 
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* [[Didem (Belly Dancer)]]
 
−
 
 
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==References==
 
−
* Donna Carlton (1995). ''Looking for Little Egypt''. Bloomington, Indiana: International Dance Discovery Books. ISBN 0-9623998-1-7.
 
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* [http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_specific/bellydance4.html Belly dancing]
 
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* Serena and Alan Wilson (1973). ''The Serena Technique of Belly Dancing''.  New York, NY: Pocket Books.
 
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* Julie Russo Mishkin and Marta Schill (1973).  ''The Compleat Belly Dancer''.  Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company Books.  ISBN 0-385-03556-X
 
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==Notes==
 
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{{reflist}}
 
  
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==External links==
 
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*[http://www.rakkasah.com Rakkasah Dance Festivals]
 
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*[http://www.mecda.org/ The Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association]
 
  
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{{Credits|223700588}}
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[[Category:Dance]]
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[[Category:Performing arts]]
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{{Credits|Belly_dance|1216665477|Raqs_sharqi|1189285886}}

Latest revision as of 16:20, 24 April 2024

Belly Dancer, Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946)

Belly dance (Arabic: رقص شرقي) is a Middle Eastern dance which features movements of the hips and torso. The Egyptian styles and costumes are the most recognized worldwide as several dancers rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry. However, belly dance has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style.

Today, belly dancing in its various styles and forms is popular worldwide, and practiced in many schools around the globe. Its popularity is not limited to the entertainment value of the dance, but also because the style of movement has a number of health benefits. As a low-impact, weight-bearing exercise, belly dance is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.

Names and terminology

The Dance of the Almeh (The Dance of the Almeh) by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1863

"Belly dance" is a translation of the French term danse du ventre. The name first appeared in 1864 in a review of the Orientalist painting La danse de l'almée (The Dance of the Almeh).[1] However, it is not translated from any Middle Eastern term: "belly dance" is known as "Oriental" or "Eastern" dance in Arabic and Turkish (raqs sharqi and Oryantal dans, respectively).[2]

The first known use of the term "belly dance" in English is found in Charles James Wills, In the land of the lion and sun: or, Modern Persia (1883).[3]

Movements found in belly dance

Belly dance is primarily a torso-driven dance, with an emphasis on articulations of the hips.[4] Unlike many Western dance forms, the focus of the dance is on isolations of the torso muscles, rather than on movements of the limbs through space. Although some of these isolations appear similar to those used in jazz ballet, they are sometimes driven differently and have a different feeling or emphasis.

Belly dancer Randa Kamel performing in Cairo, 2007

In common with most folk dances, there is no universal naming scheme for belly dance movements. Many dancers and dance schools have developed their own naming schemes, but none of these is universally recognized. The following attempt at categorization reflects the most common naming conventions:[5]

  • Percussive: Staccato movements, most commonly of the hips, used to punctuate the music or accent a beat. Lifts or drops of the hips, chest or rib cage, shoulder accents, hip rocks, hits, and twists.
  • Fluid: Flowing, sinuous movements in which the body is in continuous motion, used to interpret melodic lines and lyrical sections in the music, or modulated to express complex instrumental improvisations. These movements require a great deal of abdominal muscle control. Typical movements include horizontal and vertical figures of 8 or infinity loops with the hips, horizontal or tilting hip circles, and undulations of the hips and abdomen. These basic shapes may be varied, combined, and embellished to create an infinite variety of complex, textured movements.
  • Shimmies, shivers, and vibrations: Small, fast, continuous movements of the hips or ribcage, which create an impression of texture and depth of movement. Shimmies are commonly layered over other movements, and are often used to interpret rolls on the tablah or riq or fast strumming of the oud or qanun. There are many types of shimmy, varying in size and method of generation. Some common shimmies include relaxed, up and down hip shimmies, straight-legged knee-driven shimmies, fast, tiny hip vibrations, twisting hip shimmies, bouncing 'earthquake' shimmies, and relaxed shoulder or rib cage shimmies.

In addition to these torso movements, dancers in many styles will use level changes, traveling steps, turns, and spins. The arms are used to frame and accentuate movements of the hips, for dramatic gestures, and to create beautiful lines and shapes with the body. Other movements may be used as occasional accents, such as low kicks and arabesques, back bends, and head tosses.

Costume

Belly dancer in costume

The costume most commonly associated with belly dance is the bedlah (Arabic: بدلة; literally "suit") style, which typically includes a fitted top or bra, a fitted hip belt, and a full-length skirt or harem pants. The bra and belt may be richly decorated with beads, sequins, crystals, coins, beaded fringe, and embroidery. The belt may be a separate piece, or sewn into a skirt.

The bedlah has changed over the years, as has the dance itself.[6] For example, earlier costumes were made up of a full skirt, light chemise and tight cropped vest with heavy embellishments and jewelry.

As well as the two-piece bedlah costume, full-length dresses are sometimes worn, especially when dancing more earthy baladi styles. Dresses range from closely fitting, highly decorated gowns, which often feature heavy embellishments and mesh-covered cutouts, to simpler designs which are often based on traditional clothing.

Origins and history

Egyptian belly dancer Shafiqa El qibtia (1851–1926) wearing the dancing suit

Belly dancing is believed to have had a long history in the Middle East.[7] Several Greek and Roman sources including Juvenal and Martial describe dancers from Asia Minor and Spain using undulating movements, playing castanets, and sinking to the floor with "quivering thighs," descriptions that are certainly suggestive of the movements that are today associated with belly dance.[8] Later, particularly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European travelers in the Middle East such as Edward Lane and Flaubert wrote extensively of the dancers they saw there, including the Awalim and Ghawazi of Egypt.[9]

In his book, Andrew Hammond agrees that belly dance was recognized during early times in Egyptian culture:

The Greek historian Herodotus related the remarkable ability of Egyptians to create for themselves spontaneous fun, singing, clapping, and dancing in boats on the Nile during numerous religious festivals. It's from somewhere in this great, ancient tradition of gaiety that the belly dance emerged.[10]

The courtly pleasures of the Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid caliphs included belly dancing, soirée, and singing. Belly dancers and singers were sent from all parts of the vast empire to entertain.[11]

Middle East

Throughout the Middle East and the Arab diaspora, belly dancing is closely associated with Arabic music that is modern classical (known as "al-jadid").[12]

The Egyptian styles and costumes are the most recognized worldwide.

Belly dancer on a Cairo dinner cruise

Egypt

The belly dancer Taheyya Kariokka

Belly dancing is part of Egyptian culture, with tremendous influence on Arabic culture as a whole. In Egypt belly dance has two distinct social contexts: as a folk or social dance.[13]

Raqs sharqi (Arabic: رقص شرقي; literally "Eastern Dance" or "Dance of the Orient") is the classical Egyptian style of belly dance that developed during the first half of the twentieth century. It is a broad category of professional forms of the dance, including forms of belly dance popularly known today, such as Raqs Baladi, Sa'idi, Ghawazee, and Awalim. Belly dancers in Egypt have restrictions placed on their costume and movements. Most notably, no floor work is permitted and the dancer's midriff must be covered.

The informal, social form of the dance is known as Raqs Baladi ("Dance of the Country" or "Folk Dance") in Egyptian Arabic. As a social dance, belly dance is performed at celebrations and social gatherings by ordinary people (male and female, young and old), in their ordinary clothes.[5] In more conservative or traditional societies, these events may be segregated, with men and women dancing separately.[14]

Raqs sharqi was developed by Taheyya Kariokka, Samia Gamal, Naima Akef, Zeinat Olwi, and other dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry. These dancers had a great influence on the development of the Egyptian style, attracting the eyes of the world to the Egyptian belly dance. These dancers were famous not only for their role in Egyptian films, but also for their performances at the "Opera Casino" opened in 1925 by Lebanese-born actress and dancer Badia Masabni. [15]

The changes introduced by Badia Masabni to the oriental dance were aimed at adapting the intimate and improvised Egyptian folk dance into a crowded show and with the spirit of the variety theater or music hall. In order to achieve this Masabni aimed to fill the space, add visual dynamism and give a sensual air to the show. She pioneered theatrical dance tools such as group choreography, movement-extending props, the deliberate use of space on stage, and many more elements of modern entertainment.[16] This venue was a popular place for influential musicians and choreographers from both the US and Europe, so many of the developments pioneered here can be considered new developments in the dance.

Layla Taj, Egyptian belly dancer, performing in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Later dancers who were influenced by these artists are Soheir Zaki, Nagwa Fouad, Fifi Abdou, and Dalilah. All rose to fame between 1960 and 1980. Some of these later dancers were the first to choreograph and perform dances using a full orchestra and stage set-up.

Professional belly dance in Cairo has not been exclusive to native Egyptians, although the country prohibited foreign-born dancers from obtaining licenses for solo work for much of 2004 out of concern that potentially inauthentic performances would dilute its culture. (Other genres of performing arts were not affected.) The ban was lifted in September 2004, but a culture of exclusivity and selectivity remained. The few non-native Egyptians permitted to perform in an authentic way invigorated the dance circuit and helped spread global awareness of the art form.[17] American-born Layla Taj is one example of a non-native Egyptian belly dancer who has performed extensively in Cairo and the Sinai resorts.[18]

Turkey

Belly dance is referred to in Turkey as "Oryantal Dans," or simply "Oryantal" literally meaning "orient." Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage, and the Roma people of Turkey have had a strong influence on the Turkish style. In Turkey the style of belly dance is lively and playful, with a greater outward projection of energy than the more contained Egyptian style.[19]

In Turkey dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils, which are commonly used in Egyptian style and movies. Floorwork is also a part of Turkish belly dance. Another distinguishing element of Turkish style is the use of a 9/8 rhythm, divided into 2+2+2+3. This is often referred to as the Karsilama rhythm which is borrowed from the Karşilama folk dance.[19]

Outside the Middle East

Belly dancing has become popular outside the Arab world, and American, European, and Japanese women who have become professional belly dancers dance all over Europe and the Middle East.[20]

North America

Although there were dancers of this type at the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia, it was not until the 1893 Chicago World's Fair that belly dancing gained national attention. The term "belly dancing" is often credited to Sol Bloom, the Fair's entertainment director, but he referred to the dance as danse du ventre, the name used by the French in Algeria:

When the public learned that the literal translation was "belly dance," they delightedly concluded that it must be salacious and immoral ... I had a gold mine.[21]

Authentic dancers from several Middle Eastern and North African countries performed at the Fair, including Syria, Turkey, and Algeria—but it was the dancers in the Egyptian Theater of The Street in the Cairo exhibit who gained the most notoriety. The fact that the dancers were uncorseted and gyrated their hips was shocking to Victorian sensibilities. The popularity of these dancers subsequently spawned dozens of imitators, many of whom claimed to be from the original troupe. Belly dance drew men in droves to burlesque theaters. Victorian society continued to be affronted by the dance, and dancers were sometimes arrested and fined.[22]

American tribal fusion dancer Rachel Brice

Ruth St. Denis also used Middle Eastern-inspired dance in D. W. Griffith's silent film Intolerance, her goal being to lift dance to a respectable art form at a time when dancers were considered to be women of loose morals. Hollywood began producing films such as The Sheik, Cleopatra, and Salomé, to capitalize on Western fantasies of the orient.

In 1987, a distinctively American style of group improvisational dance, American Tribal Style Belly Dance, (ATS), was created, representing a major departure from the dance's cultural origins. A unique and wholly modern style, it makes use of steps from existing cultural dance styles, including those from India, the Middle East, and Africa.[23]

Many forms of "Tribal Fusion" belly dance have also developed, appropriating elements from many other dance and music styles including flamenco, ballet, burlesque, hula hoop and even hip hop.[24]

Australia

The first wave of interest in belly dancing in Australia was during the late 1970s to 1980s with the influx of migrants and refugees escaping troubles in the Middle East, including Lebanese Jamal Zraika. These immigrants created a social scene including numerous Lebanese and Turkish restaurants, providing employment for belly dancers. Rozeta Ahalyea is widely regarded as the "mother" of Australian belly dance, training early dance pioneers such as Amera Eid and Terezka Drnzik.[25]

Belly dance has now spread across the country, with belly dance communities in every capital city and many regional centers, brought together annually for the Australian Belly Dance Convention.[26]

Spain

Spaniard Dalilah, 1957
Spaniard Dalilah (Adelaida Angulo) in front of the Great Sphinx of Giza, 1957

In Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, the idea of exotic dancing existed throughout the Islamic era and sometimes included slavery. When the Arab Umayyads conquered Spain, they sent Basque singers and dancers to Damascus and Egypt for training in the Middle Eastern style. These dancers came to be known as Al-Andalusian dancers. It has been suggested that the fusion of the Al-Andalus style with the dances of the Romani people led to the creation of flamenco. Many moves in modern Flamenco are very similar to belly dance.[27]

United Kingdom

Belly dance has been in evidence in the UK since the early 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a thriving Arabic club scene in London, with live Arabic music and belly dancing a regular feature,[28] Several prominent members of the British belly dance community began their dance careers working in these clubs.

Today, there are fewer traditional venues for Arabic dance in the UK; however, there is a large amateur belly dance community. Several international belly dance festivals are now held in Britain such as The International Bellydance Congress, The London Belly Dance Festival, and Majma Dance Festival.[29] In addition, there are a growing number of competitions, which have increased in popularity in recent years.

Health

Belly dance is a low-impact, weight-bearing exercise and is thus suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.[30] Many of the moves involve isolations, which improves flexibility of the torso. Belly dance moves are beneficial to the spine, as the full-body undulation moves lengthen (decompress) and strengthen the entire column of spinal and abdominal muscles in a gentle way.

Dancing with a veil can help build strength in the upper body, arm, and shoulders. Playing the finger cymbals (sagat/zills) trains fingers to work independently and builds strength. The legs and long muscles of the back are strengthened by hip movements.[31]

In popular culture

In films

Egyptian belly dancer and film actress Samia Gamal is credited with bringing belly dancing from Egypt to Hollywood and from there to the schools of Europe. In 1954, she famously starred as a belly dancer in the American Eastmancolor adventure film, Valley of the Kings, and the French film Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.[32]

In British cinema, belly dancing features prominently in several James Bond movies, such as the 1963 movie From Russia With Love, the 1974 movie The Man with the Golden Gun, and the 1977 movie The Spy Who Loved Me.[33]

Belly dancing has been shown in many Bollywood films, and is often accompanied with Bollywood songs and dance sequences instead of the traditional Arabic style. While Bollywood choreographies are based on classical Indian dances, it evolved from a combination of classical Indian dance and folk dancing such as Bhangra, and was merged with Latino and Arabic/belly dance style moves.[34]

In pop music

Belly dance today is a dance used by various artists, including Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Fergie. However, the greatest representative of this dance is the Colombian singer Shakira, whose songs "Whenever Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie" made her dance skills famous worldwide, popularizing belly dancing in a large part of Latin America and later taking it to the United States. Over time Shakira began mixing this dance with Latin dances, like Salsa[35]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ainsley Hawthorn, Middle Eastern Dance and What We Call It Dance Research 37(1) (May 2019):1-17. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ Teri Williams, Why do we call Middle Eastern dance "belly dance"? Edinburgh University Press Blog, May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ Belly Dance, Noun Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ C. Varga Dinicu (Morocco), You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi (Hypatia-Rose Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0983069041).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Josephine Wise, The JWAAD Book of Belly Dance (JWAAD, 2012, ISBN 978-0957310506).
  6. ↑ Leyla Amir, Is the Bedlah from Hollywood? The Origin of Our Costume Gilded Serpent, March 28, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ Andrea Deagon, In Search of the Origins of Dance Andrea Deagon's Raqs Sharqi. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. ↑ Wendy Buonaventura, Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World (Interlink Books, 2009, ISBN 978-1566567916).
  9. ↑ Kathleen W. Fraser, Before They Were Belly Dancers: European Accounts of Female Entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870 (McFarland & Company, 2014, ISBN 978-0786494330).
  10. ↑ Andrew Hammond, Popular Culture In The Arab World (The American University in Cairo Press, 2007, ISBN 978-9774160547).
  11. ↑ Muhammed Al Da'mi, Feminizing the West: Neo-Islam's Concepts of Renewal, War and the State (AuthorHouse, 2014, ISBN 978-1491865224).
  12. ↑ Andrew R. Martin and Matthew Mihalka (eds.), Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO, 2020, ISBN 978-1610694988).
  13. ↑ Overview of Belly Dance: Egyptian Folkloric style belly dancing.
  14. ↑ Rosina-Fawzia al-Rawi, Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing (Olive Branch Press, 2012, ISBN 978-1566563260).
  15. ↑ The "Golden Era" of Belly Dance Artemisya Dancewear, March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Farah Rafik, Badia Masabani: The Force Behind Modern Belly Dance in Egypt Egyptian Streets, May 21, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2024
  17. ↑ Shannon Arvizu, "The Politics of Bellydancing in Cairo" The Arab Studies Journal 12/13(2/1) (2004):165.
  18. ↑ Bio Layla Taj. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Maura Enright, Turkish Orientale Belly Dance Baba Yaga Music. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  20. ↑ L.L. Wynn, Pyramids and Nightclubs: A Travel Ethnography of Arab and Western Imaginations of Egypt, from King Tut and a Colony of Atlantis to Rumors of Sex Orgies, Urban legends about a Marauding Prince, and Blonde Belly Dancers (University of Texas Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0292717022).
  21. ↑ Sol Bloom, The Autobiography of Sol Bloom (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948, ISBN 978-1125599662).
  22. ↑ No More Midway Dancing; Three of the Egyptian Girls Fined $50 Each The New York Times (December 7, 1893). Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ Kajira Djoumahna, The Tribal Bible, Exploring The Phenomenon That Is American Tribal Style Bellydance (BlackSheep BellyDance, 2003, ISBN 978-0972848602).
  24. ↑ Jasmine June, An Intro to Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Gilded Serpent, October 28, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  25. ↑ Natalie O'Brien, A night in the life of a bellydancer: Georgette Bowden shimmers across Sydney The Sydney Morning Herald (October 12, 2014). Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  26. ↑ Australian Belly Dance Convention. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ Stacy R. Webb, Belly Dance & Flamenco Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  28. ↑ Asmahan, The Golden Era of the Arabic Nightclubs in London Gilded Serpent, January 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  29. ↑ The Annual UK Belly Dance Congress World Belly Dance. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  30. ↑ Tamalyn Dallal, Belly Dancing For Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit (Ulysses Press, 2004, ISBN 978-1569754108).
  31. ↑ Pina Coluccia, Anette Paffrath, and Jean Pütz, Belly Dancing: The Sensual Art of Energy and Spirit (Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 2005, ISBN 978-1594770210).
  32. ↑ Samia Gamal, "The Barefoot Dancer" Artemisya Dancewear, March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ Steven Jay Rubin, Belly Dancers Spy Movie Navigator. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  34. ↑ Bollywood Belly Dance Atlanta Belly Dance. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  35. ↑ Shanice Davis, Shakira Drops Salsa Version Of "Chantaje" Just In Time For Her Birthday Vibe, February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2024.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Al Da'mi, Muhammed. Feminizing the West: Neo-Islam's Concepts of Renewal, War and the State. AuthorHouse, 2014. ISBN 978-1491865224
  • Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia. Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing. Olive Branch Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1566563260
  • Bloom, Sol. The Autobiography of Sol Bloom. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948. ISBN 978-1125599662
  • Buonaventura, Wendy. Serpent of the Nile: Women and Dance in the Arab World. Interlink Books, 2009. ISBN 978-1566567916
  • Coluccia, Pina, Anette Paffrath, and Jean Pütz. Belly Dancing: The Sensual Art of Energy and Spirit. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 2005. ISBN 978-1594770210
  • Dallal, Tamalyn. Belly Dancing For Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit. Ulysses Press, 2004. ISBN 978-1569754108.
  • Dinicu, C. Varga (Morocco). You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi. Hypatia-Rose Press, 2013. ISBN 978-0983069041
  • Djoumahna, Kajira. The Tribal Bible, Exploring The Phenomenon That Is American Tribal Style Bellydance. BlackSheep BellyDance, 2003. ISBN 978-0972848602
  • Fraser, ‎Kathleen W. Before They Were Belly Dancers: European Accounts of Female Entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870. McFarland & Company, 2014. ISBN 978-0786494330
  • Hammond, Andrew. Popular Culture In The Arab World. The American University in Cairo Press, 2007. ISBN 978-9774160547
  • Martin, Andrew R., and Matthew Mihalka (eds.). Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO, 2020. ISBN 978-1610694988
  • Wise, Josephine. The JWAAD Book of Belly Dance. JWAAD, 2012. ISBN 978-0957310506
  • Wynn, L.L. Pyramids and Nightclubs: A Travel Ethnography of Arab and Western Imaginations of Egypt, from King Tut and a Colony of Atlantis to Rumors of Sex Orgies, Urban legends about a Marauding Prince, and Blonde Belly Dancers. University of Texas Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0292717022

External links

All links retrieved April 23, 2024.

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