Belly Dancing in Pop Culture
Belly dancing has recently been repopularized by Latin American superstar Shakira. She is Colombian and Lebanese, which has influenced her style. She has put a modern spin on the art whilst still using traditional moves; some of her routines incorporate Zumba or Latin American styles. Videos of hers that belly dance is used in include "Whenever, Wherever," "Hips Don't Lie," "She Wolf," "Ojos Así," "Beautiful Liar," "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," "Loca" and "Gypsy."
The Brazilian novella O Clone (also known as El Clon in Spanish-speaking countries and the United States) is set in Brazil and Morocco and featured belly dancing in many episodes. The lead character, Jade (Giovanna Antonelli), used it to entice her lover Lucas (Murilo Benício) and to soothe and seduce her husband Said (Dalton Vigh).
Several James Bond films have featured belly dancers. In The Man With the Golden Gun, the belly dancer Saida wears a spent bullet in her navel, which Bond accidentally swallows while trying to retrieve it.
In the Beatles' movie Help! there is a restaurant scene which Paul McCartney enters with the other Beatles and attempts conversation with a belly dancer.
R&B singer Aaliyah used the belly roll as her signature move. Other singers and actresses who have performed belly dance moves include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Yvonne De Carlo, Jessica Simpson, Beyoncé, Ciara, and Hilary Duff.
Probably the most famous belly dance troupe is the group formed by Miles Copeland III: Bellydance Superstars tours internationally, furthering the popularity of bellydance around the world by performing over 700 shows in over 22 countries. Gravitating from small theatres and clubs the troupe now performs in much the same venues as Riverdance and other mainstream dance shows. The shows have made stars of several of its dancers, including Rachel Brice, Jillina, Sonia, Petite Jamilla, and Kami Liddle.
Documentaries about belly dance include American Bellydancer, Belly, and Temptation of Bellydance.
Today bellydance itself has become an industry. It includes numerous weekly classes around the world. The most popular classes take place in Egypt at the Ahlan WaSahlan annual festival. There are also courses that can be taken via the Nile Group in Egypt. This group featured one of the world's top male raqs artists, Tito Seif.
The bellydance costume industry is also very large. There are many other suppliers and costumers found at the many festivals. Khan al Khalili is the world's most popular spot for bellydance wear/Raqswear and continues to attract millions of visitors every year.
Read more about this topic: Belly Dance
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