Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance)

Raqs Sharqi (literally "Eastern Dance"), known internationally as belly dance, encompasses a family of solo improvisational dance forms characterized by fluid, articulated movements of the torso — particularly the hips, abdomen, and chest. The style that became codified as Raqs Sharqi emerged in Egypt in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, blending indigenous Egyptian dance traditions with influences from the broader Arab world, Ottoman court dance, and eventually Western theatrical staging.

The movement vocabulary emphasizes isolation — the ability to move one body part independently while keeping others still — creating the undulations, shimmies, and figure-eights that define the form. Key movements include the hip drop, hip circle, chest lift, shoulder shimmy, and snake arms. Egyptian style (Raqs Sharqi proper) tends toward elegance and musical interpretation, while Turkish Oriental dance favors more dynamic, athletic movement. Lebanese and Gulf styles each contribute their own aesthetic preferences. The dance is typically performed to Arabic music featuring the oud, qanun, tabla, and ney, with improvisation guided by the musical structure of taqsim (instrumental solo) and rhythmic sections.