an Arab/Middle Eastern form of dance consisting mainly of
hip gyrations and undulations, but also some steps. the modernized form
popular today is derived from the Classical Egyptian style, said to have been brought to Egypt by the Gawazi gypsies from
India, although the actual
hip movements are thought to have been present in the middle east for thousands of years. each different tribe and ethnic group had/has their own style. the original name for it is "Raqs Sharqi". the term "belly dance" was givin by Europeans and other whites who did not understand it.
in the Classical Egyptian style, there is the side to side
hip gyration, called the maya, which has been popularized by
Shakira. there are also belly rolls, which are very
hard to learn to do with the abdominal muscles. there is also the
shimmy, which can be done with the knees or the hips, and can also be done with the chest. there's also ticking, which is isolating the hips back and forth, side to side.
in the middle east, belly dance is illegal to perform in public in many countries, due to Islam's influence on their laws. in America, it is often performed in Greek restaurants. most Arab people keep the dance alive by women performing it for other women, especially at bridal showers,
baby showers and other celebrations and get togethers where men are not present.
"she's a belly dancer, she works at the restaurant with the good gyros downtown"
"she can
belly dance, her grandmother taught her"
"they used
belly dance as a fertility
exercise, and to prepare for childbirth"
