Belly dancing was originally from Ancient Babylon in southern Iraq. Adnanite Arabs introduced belly dancing and drumming. It was passed on from generation to generation. The drum beats people hear today are the same beats that the Arab tribal men used. Before the arrival of Islam the tribes in Arabia used to gather women in private gatherings or special occasions and perform the belly-dancing, while men from the tribe perform on the drum. Men used to have large feasts of food and wine and watch women while they were dancing.
FUN FACTS
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.
GENERAL:There are 2 forms of belly dance, Raqs Baladi and Raqs Sharqi.
RAQS BALADI (The term baladi, as it refers to rhythm, is the backbone of oriental music)
Baladi is the most ancient and original form of Egyptian solo dance. Raqs baladi is a social dance performed for fun and celebration by men and women of all ages, usually during festive occasions and social gatherings such as parties and weddings. It is an improvisational dance integrated with the rhythm of the music. Baladi dancers traditionally wear an ankle length, baladi dress with a coordinating hip scarf.Musicians as well as dancers typically improvise within a loose framework, which makes the style truly original.
It uses a style called the saidi style which can be traced back to the 'raks tahhtyb' dance, which is a men's combat dance performed with a large stick. This evolved into the woman's raks assaya, or cane dance, which is more delicate and coquettish than the male counterpart. And would later be used as a costume for belly dancing after improvisation.
Saidi Style
THE COSTUME
The woman's costuming for raks baladi is an ankle-length, tight-fitting tunic called a baladi dress, and worn with a scarf or fringed belt tied low around the hips. This is different from the oriental or sharqi costume which consists of the jeweled/beaded/sequined bra and belt with skirt and veil.
NOTE!
Raqs Baladi costume
BELLY DANCE
Videos of the Baladi dance
I cant find any good quality videos of it.
RAQS SHARQI
The more popular and more theatrical in the West today is Raqs Sharqi. Its performed by both male and female dancers. From the raqs baladi has evolved the raqs sharqi or "oriental dance" (what we refer to as more popular/modern bellydance).
Raqs Sharqi translates as "The Dance of The East", or "Oriental Dance", although only Egyptian dance is technically Raqs Sharqi.This dance is pre-Islamic and is an oral tradition which has changed over the centuries. Some people believe that it originated as a fertility or Goddess worshipping dance, and in North Africa it can still be used to help during childbirth.
Many see Raqs Sharqi as a woman's dance, celebrating the sensuality and power of being a mature woman.
THE STYLE
This style is more balletic, with smaller movements, isolation and lyrical, expressive arms and upper torso. The arms in Sharqi are straighter and more expressive, describing slow, airy patterns around the dancer. Sharqi is more of a theatre dance, requiring space for large gliding steps and spins. The dancer can go very low down, in a wider stance than other styles of Egyptian dance. Courtly classical is a variation which is more sensual, with heavier elbows.
THE COSTUME
The costume is very refined in Sharqi. One or two circular skirts are worn, with a beaded hip scarf, and a fitted top. Sometimes the belly can be seen through a body stocking. Egyptian dancers are not allowed to show their uncovered belly. Jewellery is small and the hair is put up, off the face. The veil is lightweight and can be rectangular, semicircular or like butterfly wings.
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