Belly dancing

Believed to be created more than 6,000 years ago, belly dancing is one of the oldest styles of dance still enjoyed in modern times. Well known as an Arab dance form, belly dancing is referred to in the Arabic world as 'raqs sharqi', meaning 'oriental dance'. Today, belly dancing enjoys popularity all over the world, as well as in its Middle Eastern homeland.

Description of Belly Dancing Style

Belly dancing is often incorrectly thought of as a dance designed to entertain men; however, traditionally, belly dancing was performed as a fertility ritual to a female-only audience. This is where the famous hip and stomach movements originate from – they are intended to be synonymous with the body movements experienced during labour.

Though also performed by males, belly dancing is designed for a woman's body and is predominantly performed by females. Belly dancing is a sensual and earthy art form, performed with bare feet, movements from the chest and hips, Arabic music and colourful flowing costumes.

Belly dancing is defined by several movements. Perhaps the most famous is the 'figure eight', where the hips are repeatedly swayed up and down from left to right in the shape of the number eight. Arm waves, chest circles, body rolls and shimmies are other important steps. There is not much leg movement involved in belly dancing – it mainly focuses on isolating the hips and pelvis, as well as certain parts of the torso.

Different Types of Belly Dancing Styles

Though the origins of belly dancing are highly disputed, many believe that it can be traced back to ancient Egyptian times. Since then, several different strands of belly dancing have been introduced. These include:

• Egyptian – The oldest form of belly dancing, Egyptian style has also evolved to include more ballet influenced movements.
• Turkish – A more sexual style than the Egyptian forms, Turkish belly dancing is also known for its high tempo and athletic moves.
• Gypsy – Considered a more freestyle form of belly dancing, gypsy style is traditionally performed on the street and is a blend of several other forms.
• Male – Male belly dancers usually perform a more rigid style of dance with less side to side hip movements.

Belly Dancing Lessons

Belly dancing lessons have become extremely popular across Australia and the rest of the world. As far as health benefits go, belly dancing has been known to de-stress the body and mind, as well as provide a unique workout. In fact, belly dancing strengthens hip muscles and helps to reduce chances of osteoporosis.

For fitness purposes, belly dancing burns calories, tightens muscles and increases flexibility, but it also strengthens the pelvic region and prepares women for a less painful labour.

Australian Belly Dancing Events

There are a number of belly dancing events across Australia. Some of the most popular include:

• Mid North Coast Belly Dance Festival – Held in Kempsey, New South Wales, the Mid North Coast Belly Dance Festival will feature three days of amazing belly dance performances and workshops.
• WAMED Festival – This four day festival includes belly dancing performances workshops, parties and parades.