History of Middle Eastern Dance

Bellydance, Raks Sharqi, Danse Orientale, or whichever term you use refers to a wide variety of women’s dances originating from Middle Eastern countries. This is a dance by and for women, and is traditionally performed by family members for family events like birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations, Public dancing is performed by professional dancers, and some Middle Eastern countries place strict requirements on who can perform, where, and what type of costuming must be worn.

While the exact origins of the dance are shrouded in history, it is generally accepted that bellydance began in ancient Egypt. However every region in the Middle East, and also North Africa and Central Asia, has their version of the dance. Nomadic peoples like the Bedouin and Romany also influenced the dance; as they moved from place to place their dances would incorporate something new from the local dancers, which they would carry onto their next destination. The dance is still evolving today with new styles such as fusion with Flamenco, Jazz, Bollywood, and variations of American Tribal Style.

Minnesota has it's own bellydance history, which many local dancers are unaware of.

Bellydance does not have specific meanings attached to the movements, as in Hawaiian or some forms of Indian dance. In bellydance, the dancer isn’t telling a story with her moves, she expresses the rhythms and melodies of the music through her body movements. Through her interpretation of the music, she becomes another instrument in the performance. Many dancers play finger cymbals, also known as zills or sagat, while they are dancing to accentuate the music and their movements. Zills are a percussion instrument, and have accompanied dancers for centuries, but they are not a dance prop.