What is “Belly Dance”?
A much debated term, “Belly Dance” is commonly used in the United States to refer to a type of Middle Eastern Dance called Raqs Sharqi (رقص شرقي – Arabic for “Eastern Dance”). In Raqs Sharqi, the dancer artistically embodies the rhythms, textures, and instrumentation featured in a given song – to both entertain the audience and move them on an emotional level. Such an artist physically expresses not only the feeling of the music, but also the unique cultural significance of the particular dance style, through intricate movements of the whole body – not just the belly – adorned with a variety of regional costuming & props. Despite this art form being widely known in the West as “Belly Dance,” the most prominent body part used is arguably the hips – and the so-called “Belly Dancer” has no obligation to bear her belly in order to perform authentically.
What do Middle Eastern people call “Belly Dance?”
Many Middle Eastern people (Rose included) avoid using the term “Belly Dance,” as they see it as a vulgar, Orientalist misnomer for what is, in reality, a respectable & dignified art form. In fact, the term “Belly Dance” did not originate in the Middle East or its diaspora, but rather, it was coined by a white, American man at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, hence its inherent cultural insensitivity.
In the colonized Middle East, the term Raqs Sharqi was translated to the French Danse Orientale, and therefore, many Middle Eastern people still refer to it as “Oriental Dance” – yet another problematic term, as it mistakenly implies an association with East Asian cultures, in true Orientalist style.
Where does “Belly Dance” Come From?
It is generally understood that “Belly Dance” aka Raqs Sharqi originated in Egypt, and then spread to other parts of the Middle East, including Lebanon and Turkey, et al., where it continues to exist as a living art form (not merely an ancient dance to fetishize and fantasize about).
Is today’s “Belly Dance” just Raqs Sharqi?
Nowadays, the professional “Belly Dancer’s” repertoire has expanded to include (in addition to Raqs Sharqi) many other Arab dances. Though these dances have their own particular costuming, it is generally expected that the “Belly Dancer” perform these styles in her two-piece costume, whenever the given musical style is played during her show:
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Raqs Baladi (رقص بلدي – literally meaning “country-style dance): an earthy, sensual dance style seen by many as the origin of modern Raqs Sharqi, typically performed in a long-sleeved dress known as a galabeya (جلابية) adorned with a hip scarf to emphasize the intricate hip movements
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Raqs al Shamadan (رقص الشمعدان – candelabra headpiece dance): originally used as part of a coming-of-age ritual for young brides joining their groom's family, and still common at weddings & other special celebrations, this folkloric dance features the splits & other acrobatic feats
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Raqs Saidi bel Assaya (رقص صعيدي بالعصاية – Upper Egyptian cane/stick dance): accompanied by southern Egyptian instrumentation such as the mizmar (مزمار – double-reed wind instrument) and the rebaba (ربابة – predecessor of the violin), this folkloric dance mimics and originates from the similarly-accompanied martial art of Tahtib (تحطيب)
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Khaleeji (خليجي) & Iraqi Kawliya folkloric dances, which feature hair figure-eights & circles, and special footwork
Thus, Rose prefers to use either (a) these specific Arabic names, or (b) the general term, Arab Dance, to refer to the styles she studies, teaches, and performs – rather than the misleading term “Belly Dance.”