Origins in Egypt The first belly dancers were a group of traveling dancers known as the ghawazee. These women were considered gypsies in Egypt in the 18th century, and were banished from Cairo during the 1830s, but went on to perform in Upper Egypt and later in the Middle East and Europe.
The belly dance, raqs sharqi or raqs balady originates from Egypt. In this country the dance has a long standing tradition. In ancient Egypt, women performed ritual dances to worship Isis - the goddess of fertility and motherhood.
African origins
…is considerable agreement that the belly dance, now performed by dancers from the Middle East, is of African origin. A report of the 4th century bc from Memphis in Egypt described in detail the performance of an apparently rumba-like couple dance with an unquestionably erotic character.
1. Egypt. Egypt is La Mecca for belly dancers all over the world, especially the cities of Cairo and Luxor. Egyptian belly dancers are considered amongst the best in the world and Egyptian belly dance teachers are extremely sought after.
Belly dance originated in the temples of Egypt over 4,000 years ago and was danced by the temple goddess for religious ceremonies. Dance was a part of their culture. Labourers would work in rhythmic motion, sounds, song and percussion.
Belly dance (Egyptian Arabic: رقص شرقي, translated: Eastern/Oriental Dance, romanized: Raks/Raas Sharqi) is a Middle Eastern dance that traces its origin back to Egypt.
Not native to America, Immigrants brought belly dancing from Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Central Asia, Lebanon, Israel, Armenia, The Balkans, Persia, Iraq, India, and Africa.
Overall, there is no universally accepted proscription against dancing in Islam. Some Muslims may feel belly dance is acceptable, but less so when it is associated with alcohol, drugs, or sexuality outside of marriage, while others may feel only each individuals' behavior and relationship with God matters.
Origins of the Dance
According to some, the dance form that today many call belly dance is extremely old and traces of it can be found up to 6,000 years ago, in some pagan societies who used to worship a feminine deity, to celebrate women's fertility as something magic.
French explorers travelling in Egypt, in the 18th century, witnessed dancers performing an exotic dance that they decided to call the 'dance du ventre' (meaning the 'dance of the stomach'). In 1893, promoter Sol Bloom, introduced belly dance to America, at the Chicago World's Fair.
A veil signified social status, communal membership and it provided a barrier between the veiled and unveiled.
Belly dancing significantly aids muscle toning with its refined movements of internal muscle anatomy. Movements were historically created to work those core feminine muscles such as, the Gluts (bottom), Oblique's (stomach) and Quads (thighs).
"One of the most natural dance forms for a woman's body, belly dance is deeply connected to the womb. This, in turn, empowers a woman on a psychological level," says Meher Malik, director, Banjara School of Dance.
The Egyptians are not Arabs, and both they and the Arabs are aware of this fact. They are Arabic-speaking, and they are Muslim—indeed religion plays a greater part in their lives than it does in those either of the Syrians.
Although some Egyptian men have no problem shaking their hips and bodies while dancing in weddings or parties to have fun, the male belly dancing profession is regarded by many Egyptians as taboo. Performers are regarded as being gay, which faces widespread opposition in Egypt.
Even though Turkish belly dancing has deep roots in the Sultan's palatial harems of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish belly dance today is closer to its Romany (Gypsy) heritage than its Egyptian and Lebanese sisters, developing from the Ottoman rakkas to the oriental dance known worldwide today.
Demographics. In 2010, based on the contested 2006 Census data, estimated that 94.9% of Egyptians are Muslims, 5.1% are Christians, and less than 1% are Jewish, Buddhists, or other religions.
"As a spiritual activity, belly dance is viewed as quieting the mind, a moving mediation, ritualistic and serving a form of worship. In this sense, belly dance is similar to traditional rituals, such as chanting, responsive readings, taking Communion or saying the rosary."
Discover the zestfulness of the Lebanese Belly Dance technique! Lebanese-style dancer and performer Alma breaks down the fundamentals of the belly dance technique that originated in Lebanon, characterized by sharper hip movements, fast-speed turns, and lots of shimmies!
Lebanese bellydancers seem to have retained the classicism of oriental dance with a feisty, modern edge. The style is highly interpretive, yet more energetic and directed at entertainment than Egyptian dance. Recently, costumes have become wildly experimental, with everything from feathers to hotpants making a debut.
Doha: The Qatar Tourism Authority denied banning belly dancing at hotels in the country. "We have not issued the ban on belly dancing.
The term "belly dance" is believed to have come from a French term (danse du ventre) meaning "dance of the stomach." There is really no correct word or name for this art form, simply because so many styles and forms of the dance exist in several cultures.
Many researchers have found evidence supporting the theory that belly dance is the oldest dance form, a fertility dance done by women, with and for other women (not men), encouraging, emulating, and celebrating childbirth and maternity.