Belly dance

Belly dance was developed in the Middle East, is an Arabic style of dance. Some American devotees call it only as "Middle Eastern Dance".

There are two types of belly dancing. The first is known as raqs baladi ("national" or "folk" dance). In Palestine and Lebanon, raqs baladi is a folk dance performed by people of all ages, during festive events, such as weddings and other social meetings for fun and festivity. The second form, the more theatrical form, is called raqs sharqi (eastern dance), the term "raqs sharqi" may have originated in Egypt, and it is most popular in America today. Both styles: raks baladi, raks sharqi is performed by male and female dancers.

The center of Raqs Sharqi belly dancing is the pelvic and hip area, the movements consists in performed throughout the body. It is, basically, a solo improvisational dance with its own single dance terminology that is fluidly incorporated with the music’s rhythm. The dancers express the feelings evoked by the lyrics and the music integrated to the dance.