Belly Dancing Styles

There are many different styles of Belly dancing, each area of the world bringing it’s own influences. Below in brief is a summary of the most commonly known and heard of styles:

Egyptian 

Oriental Dance or Raqs Sharqi, is the classical Egyptian style. It is a characterised by an elegant, flowing style and precise powerful movements. The style has been developed to be more stage presentable and characteristics will often include flowing travelling movements. Props are not a traditional part of performance, although often a veil may be used as an entrance piece to display a dramatic visual effect for the audience. Egyptian dancers have created a 2 piece costume with a bra top and close fitting skirt with a side or front slit. The beading /patterning is usually very simplistic and tasteful, again reflecting the elegance of the dance. As mentioned previously in Egypt it against the law for a belly dancer to expose her midriff so often a body stocking is worn (usually a light sheer mesh) to maintain modesty. 

Turkish belly dance

Probably known as the second most popular form this style originates from the gypsies that inhabited Turkey. Also known as Oryantal Tansi this form of the dance is a lot more open for improvisation, often moves are very lively, fiery and joyful and a lot more impulsive compared to the control of the egyptian style. The style of costume is usually a three piece costume consisting of a decorated bra, matching belt and a skirt. Rather than being close fitting the skirts are usually layered or petal styled and generally very flowy. They tend to be more revealing than the other styles as there aren’t the same cultural restrictions.

Baladi belly dance

Baladi is an Egyptian Arabic word meaning "of the country" 

so Raqs Baladi can be translated as "the dance of my country/homeland", It is the more traditional style of the dance, and today’s Egyptian style is a evolution of it. The style of dancing is usually very earthy and grounding. Traditionally danced by the local people for celebrations at weddings, birthdays etc it is usually a very happy, lively dance.  The traditional costume is usually a long dress also known as a Galabeya and they often wear a head scarf and sometimes a scarf around the hips to add emphasis to the movements. Not originally designed as a stage dance the dance contains simpler movements.

American Cabaret Dancing Style

The American cabaret style has been developed by many westerners, bringing influences from other dance forms including ballet, jazz etc. It is designed very specifically for being very showy and flamboyant, Eye catching costumes in bright colours and drama filled performances can be expected. Also the idea of using props and incorporating them for an entire piece is due to the American cabaret style. Veils are often used for the duration of a piece, Also the Wings of Isis were created in Las Vegas to add a “Show girl” touch and many new forms are being created, even the use of fire can be seen again to create the dramatic effect.

Designed to keep the audience captivated and guessing. 

Tribal Style Belly Dancing

Tribal style or American Tribal style (ATS) is the newest form of Belly dancing, It is an ethnic fusion style, influenced by Middle Eastern dance but inspired by American artistic ideas to create dramatic effects through movement. The movements are often very snakelike with great emphasis on isolation.

There is a lot of emphasis placed on the arms and hands and the posture of the dance is very different. The costuming style is very different. Popular costuming has shells, mirrors, heavy tassling, head dresses are often worn with coloured hair falls and often heavily coined costumes can be seen. The colours and focuses are usually quite dark and earthy but often with a bold colour shining through.

Do I Need to Wear a Belly Dancing Hip Scarf? 

Many people who become interested in the art of belly dancing are immediately questionable in regards to the outfits that are to be worn. Most people simply do not understand the importance or significance of the outfits as a whole, and they thus do not comprehend how essential the proper belly dancing outfit is to the activity of the dancing as a whole. 

What is a Belly Dancing Hip Scarf? 

A belly dancing hip scarf is one of the key articles of clothing that are involved in the basic belly dancing outfit; there is the bra top, the floor length skirt, and then the belly dancing hip scarf. The belly dancing hip scarf is basically like a belt, which is worn around the hips of the dancer, and which is primarily worn in order to emphasize the movements of the hips during the dance. 

Belly dancing is a truly powerful and sensual type of dance, and is largely focused on that of the movements of the hips; swaying, thrusting, and so on, and the hips are the part of the body that are easily used in the most in these dances. 

You can basically choose any color of belly dancing hip scarf that you like, so long as you stick to the basic outline of the proper belly dancing outfit. There are many reasons as to why the outfit itself is so important, and it is in fact easier to understand when an example is used; for instance, think of a ballet dancer wearing jeans and a tank top, it just would not be the same. 

This is the same for basically every type of dance; there is a general outfit which was designed in order to enhance the parts of the dance that are supposed to be enhanced, and tone down the parts that are meant to be toned down. 

Overall however, the most important thing to remember is that you want and need to be yourself, and so although you know understand the basic guideline in regards to belly dancing outfits, you should still make sure that you keep it unique in some way and personalized, so that you do not lose yourself in the outfit and so that you do not feel uncomfortable or feel like you are not yourself. 

Remember to have fun, and take time and consideration in regards to putting your outfit together so that you are completely satisfied in the end. 

Having a work out using Belly Dancing is just a great way to keep in shape, this dance helps your hips, your shoulders, posture, and what great legs from all that moving.

This is most definitly a workout with passion, remember every 20 mins burns about 300 calories, so get to your local Belly Dancing group, swing your hips and learn the sensual art of Belly dancing.