The performance dance form known in the West as the Belly Dance, is based on one of the social dances native to the Middle East. The term "belly dance" is somewhat misleading, as belly dance uses movements in every muscle group of the body. Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women.Quite a surprising fact, isn't it?There are many styles of belly dance, for example:
- Egyptian raqs sharqi – today it is considered the classical form of belly dance
- Indian Bollywood
- American Tribal Dance – created in the 1980s
- Saidi – a belly dance using a cone
- and much more!
There are many props which belly dancers use, for example: a cane, veil, sword, tambourine, wings or candles.
Oriental dance is one of my favourite hobbies. Maybe it doesn’t look so, but being a good belly dancer is damn difficult! Honestly, I am not that good as I would love to be – not at all – but I really enjoy attending oriental dance classes and that counts, doesn’t it?
