what is belly dance

Belly dance is an Arabic expressive dance that originated in Egypt, which features movements of the hips and torso. It is also known as Raqs Sharki, which is a type of Middle Eastern dance. The dance is traditionally a solo form and is improved with the name. The Belly Dance is identified by swaying hips, undulating torso, and articulated isolations employed in a range of dynamic and emotional expressions. Accents using "pop and lock" where a dancer either shimmies or makes a striking motion in her shoulders or hips are common, as are feats of flexibility, rolling ones stomach muscles, balancing various props like baskets, swords, or canes, and dancing with chiffon or silk veils. The name "belly dance" is a translation of the French term danse du ventre, which means "dance of the stomach". The term "belly dance" is a westernized name that originally referred to traditional Middle Eastern dancing. The earliest forms of belly dance were the Egyptian ghawazi dance during the 19th century, and Raqs Sharqi, an Arabic dance of the 20th century. Despite Egypt's location in Africa and contributions from other nations such as France, Turkey, and the United States, the term belly dance is usually used today to include all traditional dances of the Middle Eastern region, including those not geographically situated there.