Belly dance ( ) is a Western term for a traditional Egyptian dance genre known as raqs sharqi (رقص شرقي; literally "oriental dance") or sometimes raqs baladi (رقص بلدي; literally "dance of country", and so "folk" dance). It is also sometimes called "Middle Eastern Dance" in the United States, "danse du ventre", or by the Turkish term Çiftetelli (τσιφτετέλι).
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Belly dance ( ) is a Western term for a traditional Egyptian dance genre known as raqs sharqi (رقص شرقي; literally "oriental dance") or sometimes raqs baladi (رقص بلدي; literally "dance of country", and so "folk" dance). It is also sometimes called "Middle Eastern Dance" in the United States, "danse du ventre", or by the Turkish term Çiftetelli (τσιφτετέλι).
Native to North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and now popular worldwide, belly dance takes many different regional forms, both in costume and dance style, indicating that distinctive dance moves may have been transported to these regions and incorporated with local dance styles. The "true origin" is unclear but may be Egypt or India.
General
Today there are two forms of Oriental belly dance; the first is called raqs baladi, a social dance performed for fun and celebration by men and women of all ages, usually during festive occasions such as weddings and other social gatherings. The second form, the more theatrical and the more popular in the West today, is called raqs sharqi. Like raqs baladi, raqs sharqi is performed by both male and female dancers. In regions where belly dancing is native, boys and girls learn it informally from an early age by observing and imitating their elders during family/community celebrations and gatherings with friends.Fact: date=July 2007 In the West, belly dancing is learned in dance classes under the tuition of professional instructors.
The United States has also given rise to new forms of belly dancing called American Tribal Style (ATS), which is group improvisation incorporating flamenco movements and posture (flamenco itself is derived from Roma dance, one possible way in which belly dance was spread), and "tribal fusion". The latter mixes ATS with Oriental belly dance and hip-hop moves and is an example of how belly dance can be incorporated with local dance styles when transported to a new culture. Fact: date=May 2009
Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women. Few depictions of mixed dancing exist. This practice ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband, her close family, or her female friends. Today, sex segregation is not as strictly practiced in many urban areas, and sometimes both men and women will dance socially among close friends at a mixed function. However, while social dancing at family functions is accepted and even encouraged, there are many people in Middle Eastern and North African societies who regard the performances of professional dancers in revealing costumes for mixed audiences as morally objectionable. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that such performances be banned. Fact: date=July 2007
