Belly Dance - Egyptian Belly Dance

Egyptian Belly Dance

In Egypt, three main forms of the traditional dance are associated with belly dance which are called by different terms. Broadly, these are cabaret dance, folk dance, and classical dance. The terms often used are: Sha'abi, Baladi/Beledi, and Sharqi.

Baladi is a folk style of dance from the Arab tribes who settled in Upper Egypt. However the term has come to refer to the folk dances performed by the working classes of urbanised Egypt. Dance which tries to preserve folk traditions from the countryside or from specific tribes is often referred to as Ghawahzee. Ghawahzee dancers have also been known to be at the heart of the conflict in Egypt over the propriety of publicly performed dance. The well-reputed Mazin sisters are widely held to be the last authentic performers of Ghawahzee dance. Khayreyya Mazin is currently the last of these dancers still teaching and performing as of 2009.

For a detailed explanation of the Sharqi style, see the main entry for Raqs Sharqi.