Origins of belly dance.


"Belly dancing", as it is most commonly known, has many other names. Often it's referred to as Oriental dance and in many Arabic speaking countries it's known as "Raks Al Sharki" (dance of the East) 

 Most people are familiar with the name but contrary to what many people believe. belly dancing did not originate as a dance of seduction done by concubines to titillate the Sultan.
For centuries, the role of belly dancing in Middle Eastern society has been that of a Folk dance for joyous occasions such as weddings, the birth of a child, community festivals, and other events that brought people together to party. It was performed by women for women and was one way that the mothers of marriageable young men could get to know the eligible young women of the community. For Arabian women, the dance was considered to be sacred, and not intended to be seen by men at all.
The dance was originally taught to girls from an early age in order to strengthen their abdominal muscles in preparation for childbirth. The muscle isolation techniques require practice and control, and this type of exercise is believed to mitigate pain, so the dance was born through abdominal movements like pelvic rocking and the belly roll.
It also involves every other major muscle group in the body by working them in isolation or In opposition to other parts of the body. Through isolating lower body moves from the upper body, it causes a noticeable and continuous movement In the mid-section. Hence the term "belly dancing", as to the observer the belly looks as if it dances during a performance!
Traditionally the dance is performed with bare feet with smooth, flowing. sensual movements incorporating many techniques from different parts of the Middle East: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Morocco to name a few, and each country has its own style.
Some dancers think Egypt is the source of belly dancing, but despite much research nobody is certain.

 What is not disputed is that the 'belly dance' is at least 2,000 years old, if not older. All though there are different variations and styles of the dance, music, and costume, the basic movements appear to have remained virtually unchanged throughout the centuries
One of the biggest changes to the dance was during the twentieth century and this helped to reshaped the role of the dance in Middle Eastern society.


*       Colonialists from Europe brought their Westernizing influence to the Middle East, which in some countries broke down the traditional barriers to men and women socializing in mixed company.

*       Nightclubs arose as a place where people could go for entertainment.

*       Composers like Mohammed Abdel Wahab created a new style of music heavily influenced by the Western orchestral sound.

*       Cairo and Beirut emerged as important cultural centers In the Arabic world.

*       The early days of the Egyptian Film industry turned Samia Gamal, Tahia Carioca, and other dancers into international stars, and the Hollywood-inspired sequined bra/belt costume made its first appearance.

*       An entire "entertainment industry" swept the world to take advantage of rapidly advancing recording, film, radio, and television technology.

The term "belly dance" is credited to Mr. Sol Bloom. He was an entertainment impressario and the first to popularize the dance in the United States by bringing authentic Middle Eastern dancers and musicians to the 1893 Chicago World Fair though he was not actually the first to bring the dance to the US, his show seemed to capture the attention of the American public.

Despite the wide range of dance ability and authenticity of the traditional dancers, a standardized image started to emerge, mainly through Hollywood movies: of dancers wearing a bra, often decorated with glass beaded fringe or coins, and a belt worn at the hip line over a skirt executing snaky moves.

This image has helped to tarnish this traditional dance in some peoples eyes, into something more associated with sleaze.

The 'Jewel-In-the-navel" is definitely an American invention. Hollywood costume designers started it In the 1950's because of their strict "morality" code. Since exposing the naval on television was banned, the costumers put a jewel in the navel to cover it up from the censors.
Today, it's still technically illegal In Egypt for the abdomen to be exposed In public. Most professional dancers cover their stomachs by wearing body stockings or a 'choli', (a fitted midriff length vest/top that fastens underneath the bra) or long beaded dresses. Depending where you're at in the world, floor work (where a dancer goes to her knees to perform moves) is considered to be any thing from very poor taste to an offense which will get you arrested.

People around the world are embracing this dance for many different reasons: effective exercise, holistic health, a hobby, relaxation etc. Unlike many other types of dance there is no age limit with it and no insistence on a certain body type. Many women find it an excellent way to reconnect with their femininity and in Egypt today it is still the custom to hire a belly dancer for a wedding. The bride and groom often take a picture with their hands on the belly dancer's stomach this is an obvious reference to the dance's beginnings as an ancient fertility celebration.