The conquest of the colonies led many citizens of the old continent to frequent travel. Even Oscar Wilde succeeded ‘to resist the allure of belly dance, and in 1883 represented a “Salome” which danced a dance of the seven veils in which the public, given the boldness of the show, perhaps it was not prepared but to which the rest’ anything but indifferent.
At the same time also the United States accorgevano of this new trend thanks to the performances of dancer, probably of Algerian origin, “Little Egypt” that came to play World Fair in Chicago. Even in that case was touched upon the scandal but the public remained hypnotized by its exotic movements and from that moment on film also propose increasing the performance of belly dancers during the first silent films shot in Hollywood.
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The dancers, who move on tiptoe, offer a very intense during the performance while maintaining a posture soft but with control of muscles. Indossano often a mermaid skirts, narrow hips from which to extend their knees on the bottom.
There are also two lesser-used variants, a popular, though born in an urban context and a “folk”, typical of villages.
This variety shows the importance of dance in Egypt: Arab dance in society, which is to mould old, is very deeply felt that in the West and is very common even in private homes, not counting being experienced as real collective phenomenon to celebrate festivals and weddings.
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Raqs Sharqi (Eastern dance), a name that evokes sweet and has only distant landscapes and mysterious atmosphere.
The origins of belly dance are lost in the mists of time and little is known exactly on the birth of this wonderful discipline. For some experts dates back to pre-Islamic and was widespread in the region Assyrian-Babylonian, within the peasant and matriarchal society. It seems certain, however the link with the rituals of fertility already charged during the Stone Age. During this period the woman occupied a prominent position in society and was considered sacred.
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