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Eastern Bellydance (Oriental Dance) Styles
It is still not known where, when, or how bellydance (Oriental dance) originated
(see our articles on bellydance history.
However, it has been the cultures of the Near and Middle East that have preserved the core
belly dance moves vocabulary from the time of antiquity.
Since the beginnings of Islam in the 7th century, the sexes have been strictly segregated in many Muslim societies.
Because of this, Middle Eastern women for generations have bellydanced among themselves or with their families at
private social gatherings, transmitting the dance from mother to the daughter, unaffected by outside influences.
Professional entertainers also helped preserve belly dance moves in their performances at public and private festivities.
Modern and Western styles of bellydance have evolved primarily through the relatively recent transmission of belly dance
moves through Near Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures. Eastern styles of bellydance include
Egyptian / Raks Sharki,
Turkish / Oryantal Dansi ,
Lebanese,
East Indian /Bollywood.
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