The origins of belly dancing

Theories about the history of belly dancing abound.
Images that resemble belly dancers in pose and costume were found painted on Egyptian tombs and artifacts dating back to the 14th century B.C. Some believe belly dance was originally a folk dance performed by everyone in the family; others say it is a dance related to childbirth that was only performed by women, for women.
Americans are said to have first encountered the dance form, called Raqs Sharqi in Arabic, at performances by Middle Eastern and African dancers at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.
The dance was performed in America for the next 50 years, but did not begin to gain mainstream popularity and lose its reputation as a form of burlesque until after the 1950s, when it was more widely performed cabaret-style in ethnic clubs. Since then it has been influenced and fused with other kinds of dance, so that American belly dance emerged as its own unique style.
Teacher Kristie Speck, of North Amherst, said the evolution of the dance and music has also drawn in new dancers.
“It’s grown and morphed a lot,” she said. “Back in the ’60s and ’70s when American belly dance developed, they put a lot of ballet into it, and now people are adding African and hip-hop influences. It’s versatile and modern, so it’s becoming more popular because more people are recognizing something in it that they like.”
— REBECCA EVERETT