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What is bellydance?... Bellydance is much misunderstood. When it is first raised in conversation the usual response is accompanied by raised eyebrows and giggles. It is somehow imagined as an exotic form of striptease, being about nothing more than shaking bodies, baring flesh and tantalising men. The truth is somewhat different - the dance requires skill, technique and musicality to interpret and bring alive the music. Whilst it is a powerful and sensual dance form, it is more about women being comfortable and confident in their own skins than exciting men.  Bellydance is a westernised name used to describe a range of dance forms originating from the Middle East, and is also sometimes known as Arabic dance, Raqs sharqi, Oriental dance and Middle Eastern Dance. Bellydance has developed differently from region to region, with countries including Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey each developing their own style. In general, however, the dance form is characterised by movements involving isolations of the body. Despite the name "belly" dance, the movements are generally more focused on hip movements than the belly.  The origins of bellydance are clouded in history, as are those for many unwritten art forms. Whilst it is possible that bellydance existed as early as Pharonic times, evidence of this is limited to tomb paintings which can not truly reflect the style of dance at this time. It appears, however, that the Egyptian dance form has developed from traditional folk and gypsy, or Ghawazi, dances. The dance form has developed over the years, reflecting changes in Egyptian society, musical fashions, external influences and changes to the types of performance platforms available. Down to earth folk styles developed into beladi style dances as people began to settle in urban areas and a greater range of musical instruments became available. The establishment of nightclubs and the Egyptian film industry in the early twentieth century allowed the Oriental style to start to develop. The comparitively large stages and sets provided by these forums allowed dancers to include more travelling and expansive movements within their choreographies, with more westernised, balletic influences coming in to the dance. Bellydance has continued to develop until the present day, with dancers bringing their own unique interpretations to the art form, which in turn serve to inspire and influence the next generation of dancers.
So, why bellydance?... Egyptian culture seems to have far stronger links to dance in day to day life than we have here in the UK. Egyptian women of all ages, from 3 to 90 years old, will dance for and with each other at celebrations such as weddings. This sometimes seems unusual to us in the UK, where some seem to believe that dancing should be limited to fit, young exhibitionists, and should not be enjoyed by everyone as a celebration of living. The movements used within bellydance are very natural movements, which help make this dance form available to a far wider range of ages, body shapes and levels of fitness than many other dance forms. Perhaps most importantly, bellydance is about interpretation of the music. This allows every dancer to put their own style, emotions and personality into the dance... as such, everybody who bellydances brings something unique to it.
Photos: Top - Tahia Carioca, 1930 [www.zilltech.com] Right - Randa Kamel, 2009 [Claire Novis]
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