History of Belly dance

The origins of Belly dance can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, over 6000 years ago, with the Egyptians, Turks, and Phoenicians all claiming the dance as their own. This dance originated to celebrate the most festive occasions and soon spread to each region and village which matured the dance and developed their own style. The movements and vocabulary of Belly dance are a conglomeration of styles from many regions as a result of cultural exchange historically through trade and shifting national boundaries.

American Belly dance is unique because its present form has been shaped by so many different cultural influences and traditions. It is constantly evolving, as new dances are introduced to the community, and for this reason it has remarkable variety. Today Belly dance is enjoyed worldwide and is taught in almost every country. Enthusiasts pursue it for enjoyment as exercise, recreation, and socialization. Many perform regularly as amateurs or semi-professionals: Belly dance communities worldwide are notable for their energy and enthusiasm in putting on collaborative performances, workshops and other events. It is ironic that while traditionally Middle Eastern women have been discouraged from pursuing an identity and career as a Belly dancer; many Western women embrace it as a means of rediscovering themselves and nurturing a stronger personal sense of self and empowerment.

Very often, people have inaccurate ideas about Belly dancing which has been misaligned and associated with a sexual revealing of the body. Belly dancing is not stripping. The Belly dancer does not remove her costume; it is very much a part of the dance routine. A Belly dancer is proud of her costume, and it is crucial to wear the most elaborate and elegant dress to convey class and professionalism. All styles of Belly dance can incorporate any number of props from swords and veils to flowers and baskets. American Belly dance is the ultimate fusion of all forms of Belly dance style.

Dance Style	Costume Style	Origin	Movement
Cabaret	sequins, beads, shiny coins, and shimmering accents	folkloric routines	body-centered shimmies, often danced in small spaces
American Tribal	heavily layered, long fringe, yarn tassels, antique jewelry, elaborate head pieces	folklore inspired fusion of ancient dance techniques	improvisational, lead-follow performance within large group
Turkish	split skirts, high heels or platform shoes, Egyptian style costuming	Karsilama rhythm	large hip and body movements and full use of the stage
Egyptian	mermaid skirts, hip scarves with intricate beading	celebratory dances	tight and controlled, matching drum (or tabla) music
Tribal Fusion	modern fashion, fusing all styles of costume	blend of contemporary influences	traditional tribal moves performed at different tempos to electronic music
Gypsy	big flowing skirts, colorful scraps/scarves, noisy belts, heavy jewelry	Indian, European, and Middle Eastern street dancers	energetic, almost bouncy, often using tamberines to accentuate