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| Belly Dance or “Oriental Dance” is a term for a beautiful feminine dance form from the Middle East. Its movements are thousands of years old and are based on traditional folk dances. Traditionally it was performed in the home by women for women at their women only parties. Today, though it has moved to the stage for public entertainment, it can still be found in its traditional setting of the home. In the 19th century, Westerners accustomed to dance that involved only legs and feet, traveled in the orient and referred to a dance form which involved the torso as "Danse Du Ventre" or "Belly Dance". "Belly Dance" is an oversimplified Western term for a dance form that involves much more of the body than the name suggests. In Egypt it is called Raks Sharki meaning "Dance of the East" or "Oriental Dance". It is a very old dance form, perhaps 5,000 years, which traditionally adorns celebrations and weddings in the Middle East. |
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Belly Dance differs from Western dance forms in the use of the body by emphasizing the torso and using isolations to express the rhythmic and emotional qualities of Arabic music. The dance maybe vigorous and playful at one end of the spectrum, and subtle and sensual at the other, but the essence of oriental dance is the music, and the heart is the drum. |
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