Daily Top 10: 10 Places on Long Island to Take Belly Dancing Classes
Belly dancing has its roots in Middle Eastern dance but is a translation of the French “danse du ventre,” which is actually a misnomer as every part of the body, especially the hips, is involved in the dance. Belly dancing gained popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries in the West due to the displays of Middle Eastern dancers at various World’s Fairs. Dancers often perform in costume which varies in style from region to region. Western belly dancing garb is accredited to Victorian painters’ ideas of “Orientalism” and harem fantasies and not with traditional Middle Eastern dress. This style, called bedlah (Arabic for “suit”), includes a fitted top or bra, a fitted hip belt, and a skirt of harem pants. Some Western dancers also wear a headpiece. The separate pieces are often embellished with decorations such as beads, sequins, coins, braids and embroidery. This differs from the Egyptian costume in that Egyptians often go without a belt. However, regions such as Lebanon and Turkey also use the bedlah style of dress.
