ORIGIN
The origins of Belly dancing are unclear, but this is often the case with any dance of folkloric origin. But can be traced back to Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa. There are indications that belly dancing was originally from Ancient Babylon in southern Iraq. Arabs introduced belly dancing and drumming. Before the arrival of Islam the tradition was for women to dance at social gatherings, while the men played the drums. Another theory is that belly dancing was a ritual where women danced for other women as a ritual emulating movements traditionally utilized to ease childbirth. DESCRIPTION The Belly dance is uniquely designed for the female body. It emphasises abdominal muscles, hip moves, and chest moves. It is a dance characterized by sinuous hip, abdominal and arm movements. There are various forms of belly dancing, including Turkish, Egyptian Oriental, and American Tribal. More information about these styles can be found via the links above. |