There is two train of thoughts on this
i) the French soldiers who occupied Egypt saw the ghawazee dancing along the Nile and called it 'danse du ventre'
the direct translation of this to the western ear is 'bellydance'.
Fahreda Mazhar or 'Little Egypt' was performing at the Mid Eastern exhibits in Chicago during the Trade
Exhibition',when asked by the entrepreneur Sol Bloom as to what she was doing,she replied 'baladi'.
Sol Bloom decided to capitalise on it by terming it 'bellydance' which meant a reverse to good fortune saving the fair
by attracting a lot more excited punters during the Victorian era.
Right in Sol Bloom's footsteps is the enterprising Miles Copeland the creator of the Bellydance Superstars a sensational
cast of talented dancers very technically refined with a perspective to theatrical presentation.
The term bellydance is common lay expression understood by the ordinary person but fairly vague.
What is a Raqs Sharqi?
It refers to the dances of the east.
This dance is also known as the solo Oriental dance done commonly by the women. It is mostly choreographed with
flourishes,twirls and works on the principle of interpreting the various rhythms presented in it.It is both elegant,
graceful and artistic in it's presentation. The costumes are mainly two pieces with full skirts though this trend changes
with the fashion influences of the time.
The music for the Oriental pieces can be from 5 to 15 minutes.
Is Oriental dance--Chinese dance?
Oriental dance does not mean far Eastern Chinese or Japanese dance. The term Oriental comes from the early
travellers from Europe and the West who were discovering the Mid East and near East and they termed these countries
as the Orients.
The influence to Oriental dance is limited to the Midle East,Near East,Indian and Eastern European styles.
What is Mid Eastern dance?
Generally,this refers to dances of the Arabic nations and surrounding areas ie.Egypt,Jordan,Morocco,Lebanon,
Iraq,Iran, Saudi Arabia,Algeria,Gulf countries and North Africa.
What is Cabaret?
This is dancing in a night club dressed in two piece costumes.Mainly in touristy resorts to appeal to the Western punters the bellydancers wear skimpy costumes and the dancing is done more as an entertainment for the audience.
What is Turkish dancing?
Turkish dancing is very vigorous and done mostly on the toes. It is quite acrobatic and involves a lot of internalised
pelvic movements as well as spins and direction change. It is very lively and expressive in it's expression.
What is Lebanese dancing?
The costumes are elaborate and the style is very dynamic and flamboyant.
What is Egyptian dancing?
The Egyptian style of dancing is mostly self contained, dignified, very meditative, highly refined and fairly grounded.
There are various styles ranging from:
i) Sharqi/Oriental- classical choreography
ii) Baladi - pertaining to the suburbs or native to one's origin
iii) Saiidi - from the Arab horsemen of the Luxor region
iv) Nubian - pharaonic dynasty of the militant rulers of Upper Egypt ie. Aswan,Nubia.
v) Folkloric - based on the village dances all over Egypt eg. Mahmoud Reda's National Folkloric Troupe of Egypt