Belly Dancing - Where did it come from?

Belly dancing is a dance in which the hips and belly are swayed by the dancer in a sexy, sometimes provocative manner. Moving the abdominal muscles is one of the main characteristics of belly dancing although it is also focuses on different parts of the body and moving them in specific independent ways.


Belly dance is generally accomplished barefoot because it is assumed that the barefooted show accentuates the close physical relationship between the dancer, the Mother Earth and the expressions shown by the dancer.


Belly dance is a derivative of customary women’s dancing from North Africa and The Middle East. Women from this region dance at family get togethers, parties, weddings and other social occasions and the dance gradually became known as belly dancing, it is a form that aims at providing entertainment.


The History of Belly Dancing:


Across the world Belly dancing is also known as ‘danse du ventre' meaning ‘dance of the stomach’. Also other terms, namely, Middle Eastern Dance and Raqs Sharqi (An Arabic term that means “Dance Of The East.”). It originated in ancient Babylon in the southern part of Iraq. After the initial introduction of belly dancing and drumming in ancient Babylon, belly dance was passed down from generation to generation.


After the arrival of Islam in Arabia, the tribes would assemble the women on private gatherings and other special occasions where they entertained others through dancing while men created the music using drums.


In regards to the history of belly dance, there is evidence that while the Abbasid and the Fatimid dynasties ruled, the Arabs settled in Egypt and passed on the knowledge of belly dancing to the people of Egypt. The Egyptians quickly adopted this dance form and passed it on to the subsequent generations.


In the US, belly dancing, was introduced when a dancer known as ‘Little Egypt’ performed `Raqs Sharqi` at the Chicago Exposition in the year 1893. This dancer “Little Egypt’ included several techniques in her belly dancing, most notably, belly rolls, hip drops, shoulder shimmies, undulations and all the definitive techniques and styles of belly dancing.


Belly Dance—As a Popular Dance Form


Belly dance was initially popular in the Middle Eastern region of the world only but slowly and surely, it became a well-established form of dance in the US as well as throughout Europe. It is gaining extreme popularity in Asia also.


The various forms and styles used by belly dancers and a large assortment of costumes used in belly dancing have made this dance form very popular across the nation. However, there are two specific types of oriental belly dance, namely, “Raqs Baladi” and “Raqs Sharqi.” That are a bit different. Raqs Baladi” is popular as a social dance while Raqs Sharqi” is considered to be more dramatic and more popular form of dance in the western countries.


“Raqs Baladi” as well as “Raqs Sharqi” is performed at festivals by men and women of all ages. In specific places where belly dancing is a native dance, girls and boys educate themselves on the performance art from an early age by following the dance movements of their elders during family gatherings.


Since the beginning, the art of belly dancing is getting more popular across the world and it has reached a stage where belly dancing festivals, concerts and workshops are now organized regularly throughout the world.


Altogether it is known that men and women are getting drawn to these belly dance events in huge numbers.


Is It Possible To Learn Belly Dancing Via DVDs And Videos?


The best way to learn belly dancing is through a belly dance instructor through group or private lessons, but if you can not find a belly dance class nearby or you can not afford regular belly dance classes with an expert; you can learn belly dancing through DVDs and Videos.

On the internet, videos and DVDs containing instructions on correct belly dance moves are available at fairly inexpensive rates. You can easily buy these videos/DVDs and start learning belly dance at home. However, if purchasing videos to learn belly dance, you should go for three to four videos that teach basic moves and also contain dance performances by experts. You will need to learn the basic moves effectively and arrange your home lessons in a way that you can get the most benefits from the videos or DVDs. What is good about these DVD’s is that you can watch them as many times as you want and practice a step as per your time and convenience.