Belly Dance - As a social dance

 Belly Dance - As a social dance

As a social dance, belly dance (also called Raqs Baladi or Raqs Shaabi in this context) is performed at celebrations and social gatherings by standard folks that aren't skilled performers.
Dancers wear their ordinary garments rather than a special dance costume. Dances that could be delineate as belly dance area unit performed during this context by men and ladies of all ages in Egypt, often together with young kids. In more conservative or ancient societies, social occasions are usually gender quarantined, with separate parties for men and women - each women and men could participate in diversion at single-sex gatherings. Belly dance is not the sole social dance during this region. Other notable social dances embrace the Levantine dabke and the hair-tossing women's dance of the Gulf states, Raqs al Nasha'al.

The version of belly dance that is performed on stage has its roots within the social dance, with more stress on workmanship and use of house, and special costumes designed to show off the movements to best effect. Elements from Western dance designs area unit usually introduced. Professional performers (including dancers, singers and actors) are not thought of to be respectable within the geographic region, and there is a powerful social stigma attached to feminine performers above all, since they display their bodies in public, which is thought of haram.
Historical groups of skilled dance performers embrace the Awalim (primarily musicians and poets), Ghawazi and Köçekler. Belly dance in Egypt Historically, public dance performers in Egypt were known as Ghawazi, whilst entertainers World Health Organization performed in personal settings were referred to as Awalim. The Maazin sisters may be the last authentic performers of Ghawazi dance in Egypt. Khayreyya Maazin was the last of these dancers still teaching and performing as of 2009.
A Turkish bellydancing group. Belly dance in Turkey