Welcome to Belly dance 101! Here I will introduce you to the art of Belly Dance, with a bit on the history and evolution of the Dance here in the United States.

What is Belly Dance?

Belly Dance, properly known in Arabic as Raks Sharki, is a very ancient art form which requires much skill and passion to perform well. Raks means Dance, and Sharki means of the East. In English the proper word is Oriental Dance. Raks Sharki is traditionally performed by a solo dancer who interprets the music with her body. She is the visual embodiment of the music. It is important that she dance with the music and know it well. It is a very individual expression unique to each dancer.

There are many styles of belly dance. In the United States Raks Sharki is often called Cabaret Belly Dance, and that is the dance most commonly seen in restaurants and at parties. It was usually performed in a glamorous two piece beaded or coin costume with a long skirt, finger cymbals or zills, and a veil. There are many variations within this loose category, and the fashionable look has changed quite a bit over the years. Now many dancers perform without zills and minimal veil, in skin tight beaded gowns with cut outs in just the right places.

A very popular style in the USA is American Tribal Belly Dance. This dance is performed by a troupe wearing very earthy costumes with elaborate headdresses. They look as if they have taken every kind of tribal jewelry from all over the world and piled it on their necks, heads and hips. The hip belts have tassels hanging from them which look like the tasels worn by Egyptian camels in full regalia. They adorn their faces and bodies with henna and tattoos. These troupes are magnificant looking and very impressive. They do not reflect any one authentic dance or dress from the Middle East, but rather a fantastic evolution of the dance that is unique to the United States.

Authentic Middle Eastern Folk Dances can also fall under the loose term of belly dance, but they are quite different. Raks Sharki often includes steps from these dances. These dances were not originally intended to be performances, but are participatory dances. They are usually repetitive dances, done for a specific ceremony or celebration. The costuming is likely to be long dresses or robes that completely cover the body, with lots of jewelry. The jewelry and costumes vary according to where the dance is from and what it is about.

Where did Raks Sharki originate?

I want to laugh and say that depends on what country the Middle Eastern individual who is talking to me at the time is from. Over the years many people from Arabic countries will complement my dance and tell me, with great passion, how the dance originated in their country.

The dance is very ancient, and the roots come from many cultures and countries, including India, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, and Spain. There are many great stories on the history of Belly Dance, one is that gypsies from India traveled and spread this dance and music, picking up influences from Egypt and Spain, and continuing Northward into Europe. Others include the fantasy of women dancing for the Sultan in harems, and the dance being a form of worship to the Goddess among women of ancient times. To find very good sources of information on this, see www.shira.net, listed on my links page. I personally believe all of these myths have some truth, but none of them cover the full story. I believe this dance has existed as long as humans have existed.

Currently the dance and music is still thriving in Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and Morocco. Cairo is where dancers all over the world now look for inspiration as well as music. It is also where dancers have become wealthy celebrities who hire large orchestras of musicians to play for them. Raks Sharki is also very popular all over the world, and especially right here in the United States, where we can see the dance being taken to a whole new level of excellence.

Miles Copeland has produced the Belly Dance Super Stars and Desert Roses show which is now traveling worldwide, featuring beautiful young dancers who are extremely well trained in Western dance as well as belly dance. The show features breathtaking choreography that is very much a fusion of western jazz and Eastern Raks Sharki. It also features a taste from many of the cultures that created this dance, including Indian Pop and American Tribal. This show is a very exciting, controversial, and new direction in the evolution of the Dance.

In the old world, the dance still thrives in family gatherings where it has its roots. In the privacy of their homes the dance is a celebration. Men, women, and children all dance, and dance well. the dance is a social thing, especially among women, dancing for each other. For an Arabic woman, the performance of this dance in public is frowned upon. Most Muslim women will not perform in public. Those that do face the disapproval of their families and peers. With so much struggle going on in that side of the world these days, I am very glad that we here in the United States have such a love for the dance and continue to build it as the beautiful art form that it is.

Where can I see Raks Sharki?

Raks Sharki Performances can be seen in Middle Eastern Night Clubs, and Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Greek, and Indian Restaurants. It also thrives in cultural and community festivals, especially American Tribal Belly Dance, which is particularly suited to outdoor venues. We have a huge belly dance community in the United States which holds many events all over the country.

To find out about this community, go to www.shira.net. She lists all the dancers, performers, teachers, and event sponsors. These dance events are usually held on weekends, and include classes taught by top professional dancers, and performances by all levels of dancers and students. They attract large followings, and usually feature many venders who sell costumes, props, and music.

Raks Sharki in concert, such as the Belly Dance Superstars show, is a spectacular art form. But I also enjoy seeing the dance in an intimate setting such as a restaurant or night club. Many of the subltle nuances of the dance and the dancer's personality are lost on a big stage. I think there is room for both in the world of Raks Sharki. I think given the respect it deserves, the dance can be enjoyed on stage as well as in a restaurant or at Uncle Joe's birthday party!

~ Layla Katrina 10/10/2002