The History of Belly Dance

Oriental dance (the correct name for belly dance) actually open a seductive dance performed by the concubines to stimulate the Sultan or the King. This is contrary to popular belief west.

The role of Oriental dance (belly dance) in the social life of the Middle Eastern countries that has lasted for centuries, that of folk dance that people can do it with joy on certain occasions such as weddings, births, festivals in certain communities, and show other events that bring people together in a party.

Dance in the Muslim Social Life

As the growth of Islam, people living in households separately. Male life in one piece in the house while the women and children living in other parts of the house. The word "Harem" is not referring to some of the rooms were filled with erotic seductive naked woman lying on a pillow waiting for their chance to tease Sultan.

But merely pointing to the house where the women perform their daily activities such as cooking, sewing, gossiping with friends and thinking about her children. "Harem" is derived from the word "Haram" which means forbidden. Men who are not part of the immediate family or married individuals banned from entering the area when they visit the headquarters of her friends.

With regard to the party that will do, she will celebrate with other women, and men having a separate party with his fellow men. Historically, men and women are not Mixed. In some Muslim countries, it is still true today.

In the afternoon, finished feeding their husbands with a great afternoon of food, sometimes she had gathered in the house his brother, aunt, cousin, friend or grandmother to enjoy time together.

In unofficial togetherness, they may rise up and take the opportunity to dance with each other. Here is a chance for a mother who has a son flunky to find girls who qualify for the child in the community.

At that time no special costumes to wear, people dancing belly dance in her party dress. So the dance is not something the show is done by people who we pay a professional, but it is something that is earned and done spontaneously.

20th century

Times change, and the person also change over time. In the 20th century has brought some changes in the shape and role of dance in the social life in the Middle East countries, as follows:

The colonization of Europe has brought westernized style they affect the Middle East, which in some countries has destroyed the traditional dividing line between male and female friendships become mingled in social life.

Night Club has been growing as a place for people looking for entertainment.

Composer as Mohammed Abdel which has created a new style of music with a heavy influence on western orchestral sound.

It has been the emergence of Cairo and Beirut as an important cultural center in the Arab world.

Initially focused on the Egyptian film industry Samia Gamal, Tahia Carioca, and the other dancers dancer as International stars, and Hollywood has inspired the costume vest and belt are made filled with fairy lights of jewelry and beads-mote at the first turnout.

"The entertainment industry" has completely swept the world to take advantage of film, radio and television technology.

Today

Today, although there are exceptions, mostly in the Middle East is no longer a separation between men and women. No longer do the parties separated between men and women at marriage receptions also on other special occasion.

Muslim women are still conservative still hesitant to dance in a position where men who are not her husband can see them, even if it's in a daily social event. Similarly, women who might go to an event that mixes between women and men, but they are probably not going to dance.

Professional Dancers still perform in night clubs, and is often called upon to perform at weddings and other special events are also events.

It may have occurred to many who have used certain personal belly dance is for personal use as a seductive tool. But it was not as the way people think about the Middle East as Oriental dance, and it's not like the role they see the social life they have. For them, dance is reminiscent of a really really in a world where people of all ages do it with joy when they get together.

Dancers who danced with intent teaser teasing, obviously do not understand the cultural background of this belly dance. Or perhaps it is not concerned with middle eastern dance, also called oriental dance.