So what is belly dance?

Most people will already have a preconceived idea of what belly dance is, based on what they have seen on holiday, at restaurants or on television. Many of the ideas centre on a sparkling costume, a bare midriff and beautiful, young women. Modern cabaret belly dance is in fact, a Westernised version of various folk dance movements from the Middle East. Probably the biggest misconception is that belly dance was created to entertain men.

How did such a powerful dance evolve from its Folk roots?  Where did the dance originate and how did it spread? Most importantly, how can women around the world benefit from these most ancient of movements in their everyday lives today?

There are many theories about the origins of belly dance. The dance itself is so ancient that the complete story of its evolution is lost in time. Each Middle Eastern country has a slightly different version of what Westerners would call belly dance, with moves and accents specific to its people. For example, Turkish belly dance is very different to Egyptian dance.

One of the most popular theories about the evolution of belly dance involves the original travelling Romany people. The Romanies originally came from India thousands of years ago and spread out across the world seeking a better life.  Many of the Romanies settled in Egypt where they found that they could make a good living. They brought their ancient culture and heritage with them, a heritage rich in music and dance.  Soon they discovered that they could use their folk dancing as entertainment. Paid professional dancers, began to adapt and sensationalise their folk dances and perform them for money.

At this point, the dancers began to divide into two categories, the Ghawazee, who performed on the street much as modern buskers do today, and the Awalim who were more respected dancers who performed at celebrations and in the homes of wealthy Egyptians. The Ghawazee were generally paid in small coins for their street performances, and would stitch the coins onto their costumes to keep them safe. This is how the coin belts or shimmy belts evolved. The Awalim, who were paid more money for their performances, were generally paid in gold or silver, often in the form of jewellery, which could also be worn to keep it safe as they danced.

Wealthy Egyptians would have had servants from many of the surrounding lands, including Turkey and Greece, and these people also brought their dance traditions with them. Add to this mix the traditional religious and folk dances native to Egypt - and you have a vibrant and constantly evolving dance scene that must have been a joy to witness!

As time went on, many of the Romany people who had settled in Egypt began to move on (hence their modern nickname of Gypsies – ‘from Egypt’). As they travelled, they took their dances with them. Each new country influenced their dance and vice versa. This is one of the theories explaining why so many of the same core moves are common in folk dances in various Middle Eastern countries.

In the great Chicago World Fair in 1893, an exhibitor took along several Turkish ladies from Paris to demonstrate some of their native dances. The audiences from Victorian England were suitably scandalised. This caused a media sensation and a fascination with all things Eastern began. This influence shows itself in many of the art forms of the time, including dance, painting, fashion and sculpture.

As filmmaking began in the early 1890’s, many films cashed in on this interest in the East and would include a belly dancer, usually dressed in a glittery costume.  In response to the demand for more flesh on show, the costumes began to change from modest dresses to the bra and belt costume ubiquitous today. The jewel in the navel tradition was no tradition at all, but a way to get round the Censor’s stipulation that a women’s navel should not be seen on film! The tradition of dancing with a flowing veil also has no roots in any folk dances, but originated with Samia Gamal whose dance teacher suggested she carry a veil to improve her posture. By now the dance had evolved a long way from its folk origins and modest dress, and was truly a form of sheer entertainment. Belly Dance stars such as Samia were created, and the dance gained even more popularity as a form of entertainment in the West.

Many of the moves that are danced in modern Cabaret belly dance, are the same moves that are used by everyday women in Middle Eastern countries attending a family celebration. They are passed from mother to daughter, from grandmother to granddaughter, from auntie to niece.  The moves are good for toning up the abdominal muscles that are used in child birth, which is perhaps one of the reasons it is passed down through the generations.

In more recent years, belly dance classes have become increasingly popular in the West. Dance is much more a part of the everyday culture in many Middle Eastern countries and whenever women celebrate together without the men, there will usually be spontaneous dancing with the emphasis on enjoying each other’s company and celebrating together. The women are much less self-conscious and there is a genuine delight in watching each other dance and in dancing together.

We did not seem to have an equivalent to this in the West. 

In response to this need, Balliamo Belly Dance classes are formulated specifically to provide the opportunity for women of all ages, shapes and sizes to enjoy dancing together.  Women who attend the classes say that their self-confidence improves dramatically, they feel more feminine, their general fitness increases and they really enjoy getting to know the other ladies in the classes. Balliamo Belly Dance is about celebrating each and every member of the class, their different body shapes, their unique personalities, and their special talents.

The joy is spreading!