The Art of Middle Eastern Dance

The origins of Middle Eastern Dance are uncertain. Many countries claim to have originated the dance, however, generally the source is attributed to the North African Berbers more than 5,000 years BC.

The dance is a mime of the mysteries of new life. The ancient nations celebrated new life through imitative dance. It was danced in worship of the female of every species, because it was the women who continued the life cycle.

Middle Eastern Dance has been influenced by many countries, each with its own unique style and heritage. The dance you see in America is a blend mixed over centuries.

Middle Eastern Dance was introduced to the United States in 1893 at the Chicago Worlds Fair. An exhibit called "A Street in Cairo" was featuring Little Egypt and her dancers. The exhibit however failed to get advanced publicity for its Middle Eastern Handcrafts and spectacular ethnic performers and was failing badly. An American publicity agent trying to stir up business renamed the dance "Belly Dancing" knowing well the hypocritical attitudes of the mid-victorian public. He believed a hint of sex would draw a large crowd to the exhibit, and so it did. The "Streets of Cairo" made a fortune, and the name Belly Dance was born.

This elegant dance is meant to be preformed with the qualities of dignity, poise, grace, stamina, femininity and creativity. The slow movements of the dance imitate childbirth and the fast movements accentuate tempo and counter-tempo of the heartbeat.

This ancient dance form is seeing a rebirth. It has come of age as a healthy, exciting, overall body conditioner as well as a beautiful dance. A dance form that is ageless, and art form typically performed by women but more and more men are becoming involved as the technique, the strength and control of the dance is becoming known. This is an art form that can be enjoyed by all, for the child to the grandparent.