Belly Dance

Belly dance is a particular type of dance in which the hips and abdomen are swayed by the dancer in a sensuous manner. Abdominal muscle movement is one of the principal characteristics of belly dancing though it is also known to focus on different parts of the body and moving them sensuously in specific independent ways.

Belly dance is generally performed barefooted and it is assumed that the barefooted performance accentuates the close physical relationship between the dancer, the Mother Earth and the expressions shown by the dancer.

According to specific sources, belly dance is a derivation of customary women’s dance from North Africa and Middle East. Women of this region take part in dancing at family get together, parties, rites of passage et al and this dance performed on social occasions gradually evolved into belly dancing, the dance form that aims at providing entertainment.

The History Of Belly Dancing: A Glance

---

The word “belly dance” ` is an American word, across the world this form of dancing is also known as ‘danse du ventre' which means ‘dance of the stomach’. It is also known by other terms, namely, Middle Eastern Dance and Raqs Sharqi (An Arabic term that means “Dance Of The East.”). However, according to the available details on the origination of belly dance, it originated in ancient Babylon in the southern part of Iraq. After the introduction of belly dancing and drumming in ancient Babylon, belly dance was passed on from generation to generation.

It is further known that after the arrival of Islam in Arabia, the residing tribes used to assemble women on private gathering and other special occasions where they were asked to entertain others through belly dancing while men created music through the drum.

Pertaining to the history of belly dance, it is evident that while the Abbasid and the Fatimid dynasties ruled, the Arabs made their settlement in Egypt and transferred the knowledge of belly dancing to the people of Egypt. The Egyptians adopted this popular dance form and passed it on to the subsequent generations.

In the US, belly dancing, the entertainment dance was introduced when a dancer known as ‘Little Egypt’ performed `Raqs Sharqi` at the Chicago Exposition in the year 1893. The dancer Little Egypt’ included several dancing techniques in her belly dancing, namely, belly rolls, hip drops, shoulder shimmies, undulations and all these definite techniques and styles of belly dancing captured the attention of Americans to a significant degree.

Belly Dance - As A Popular Dance Form

---

As a native dance of the Middle East, belly dance was initially popular in the Middle Eastern region of the world only but slowly and gradually, it became known as a well-established form of dance in the US as well as throughout the Europe and has also gained extreme popularity in Asia.

The various forms of dancing styles used by belly dancers and a whole array of costumes used in belly dancing have made this dancing form significantly popular across the world. However, in the present times, two specific types of oriental belly dance, namely, “Raqs Baladi” and “Raqs Sharqi.” are extant. Raqs Baladi” is popular as a social dance while Raqs Sharqi” is considered to be more dramatic and more popular form of dance in the western countries.

“Raqs Baladi” as well as “Raqs Sharqi” is performed on festivals by men and women of all ages. However, in specific places where belly dancing is regarded as a native dance, boys and girls educate themselves on the performance art from an early point of time by following the dancing steps of their elders during family gatherings.

Since its inception, the art of belly dancing is increasingly popular across the world and this popularity has reached a stage where belly dancing festivals, concerts and workshops are now organized throughout the world.

Altogether it is known that men and women are getting drawn to these belly dance concerts in huge numbers.

Is It Possible To Learn Belly Dancing Via DVDs And Videos?

---

The perfect way to learn belly dancing is through a belly dance instructor or a teacher but if you fail to enroll for belly dance classes under a teacher or owing to your financial incapability, you are not able to afford expensive belly dance classes under an expert; you can learn belly dancing through DVDs and Videos.

Over the internet, videos and DVDs containing instructions on correct belly dance moves are available at fairly inexpensive rates as compared to the cost of the live classes. You can easily buy these videos/DVDs and start learning belly dance at home. However, while purchasing videos to learn belly dance, you should go for three to four videos that teach basic moves and also contain specific dance performances by professional experts. First of all, you need to learn the basic moves effectively and arrange your learning regimen in a way so as to extract the utmost benefits from the videos or DVDs purchased by you. What is good about these Videos is that you can watch them as many times as you want and practice a step as per your time and convenience.