Oriental dancing for children is an opportunity to reveal individuality and creativity. Oriental dance - benefits for soul and body

To keep your body in shape or to acquire slim figure All more women make their choice in favor of oriental dances, namely belly dancing. What are the benefits and difficulties of belly dancing? What are the contraindications to belly dancing?

Let's take a closer look.

Why belly dancing attracts us

At first glance, belly dancing − perfect solution in every sense, the instructors of this colorful oriental movement claim that regular oriental dance classes will help you quickly get back in shape and relieve excess fat in the hips and abdomen, strengthen the pelvic muscles and tighten the buttocks, relieve back pain and improve posture. And if we add the erotic aspect of oriental dance to the list of advantages, then, it seems, there is no need to think any more.

Then why are European doctors sounding the alarm that oriental dance can be very dangerous?

How belly dancing helps you lose weight

Any representative of the fair sex knows that in order to be the happy owner of a slender, graceful figure, you must always spend more energy than what enters the body with nutrition.

Belly dance elements such as kicks, shakes, figure eights, rocking and steps can burn at least 400 kilocalories in one hour of practice. Despite their apparent simplicity, this is a decent load for female body, because literally all parts of the body are involved in the dance: head, stomach, hips, buttocks, legs and arms. Correctly performed oriental dance movements cause the pulse to remain stably in the “energy burning” zone. So regular rehearsals 3-4 times a week are an excellent alternative to aerobic training in the name of losing weight.

But fitness trainers admit that belly dancing can not help shape a figure for everyone. If you have a trained body that is accustomed to constant stress, then to lose weight you will need to put in more effort than beginners. Alternatively, you can perform the dance elements with good amplitude, without interruption throughout the lesson, and with concentration on the quality of each movement. But if you don’t feel your muscles warming up, feel slightly tired, or don’t feel any strain at all, you’re unlikely to be able to lose weight. In this case, it is better to choose another fitness program.

The absolute benefits of belly dancing

What results can you get in return for the time and effort spent conquering belly dancing?

— The first surprise for you will be improved coordination of movements and strengthening of the vestibular apparatus. Your body will gain natural grace, flexibility and plasticity.

— In the process of performing some dance movements, there is an improvement in blood circulation, which is very useful for preventing congestion in the pelvic organs.

— After a month of stable belly dancing classes, the spinal column is strengthened and relief occurs even for those dancers who previously had spinal injuries.

— Belly dancing is an excellent prevention of diseases such as osteochondrosis and hypertension.

“A couple of months of exercise is enough to improve joint flexibility, not only in young girls, but also in older women.

— Special technique movements of the arms in belly dancing, due to the tension of the spinal muscles, corrects defects in posture, reduces or eliminates stoop.

— The shoulder girdle and arms involved in the performance of oriental dance help many belly dance fans to long years save perfect shape breasts

— This component of oriental dance, such as shaking, significantly reduces the appearance of cellulite and prevents new fat deposits in problem areas of the hips and buttocks.

— Rhythmic breathing, which is the basis for performing all dance elements, reduces stress levels and helps get rid of depression.

The role of belly dancing in preparing women for pregnancy and childbirth

Belly dancing plays a special role in preparing women for pregnancy and childbirth. In the first case, he trains important groups muscles not usually involved in Everyday life, strengthens the back muscles, which bear the main load during childbearing, and prevents the development of varicose veins in most pregnant women.

In the second case, due to training the muscles of the perineum, strengthening the abdominal press and getting used to the load on the legs, the period of contractions and the birth itself are easy for women, and most women in labor manage to avoid perineal incisions and ruptures.

"Pitfalls" of oriental dance

It is important to understand and accept that belly dancing is not a panacea for all diseases, as many fans of this movement are convinced. There is a risk group for which belly dancing, like any other type of dance or sport, can cause significant harm and jeopardize health. Therefore, before plunging into the world of exotic oriental medicine, be sure to visit a doctor to check for temporary and absolute contraindications.

Temporary contraindications

— chronic diseases in the acute stage: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, bronchitis, cholecystitis and others;

- any purulent processes, regardless of the location;

- acute inflammatory processes: acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza, sore throat;

- postoperative period of any diseases (the duration of necessary abstinence is regulated by the doctor);

- pronounced displacement of the vertebral discs; at the rehabilitation stage, exercises other than full force;

- phase of exacerbation of liver and gall bladder diseases;

- excessive blood loss and painful condition during critical days.

Absolute contraindications to belly dancing

- severe flat feet (due to the main position “on the balls of the feet”);

- undiagnosed problems with the spine, a hernia of more than eight millimeters;

- benign and malignant tumors;

- congenital heart disease, severe heart disease: angina at rest and exertion, previous heart attack, mitral valve prolapse;

- hypertension, aneurysms, blockades;

- obstructive bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

Solution, dance Eastern dance or not is always up to you. There are many benefits from belly dancing, but do not forget about the contraindications from doctors. Always do right choice listening to your body.

When and where did oriental dances appear?

When we say “oriental dances,” we undoubtedly mean Arabic dances. Arabic dance abdomen has many roots. The origins of oriental dances can be traced to the frescoes of ancient temples in Mesopotamia. The frescoes were preserved beautiful images dancing people. Frescoes, whose age dates back to approximately 1000 years before the birth of Christ, are also found on ancient Egyptian temples. It is believed that these frescoes describe an ancient ritual dance dedicated to fertility and the birth of new life.

The priestesses who danced in the temples addressed the spirit of the Great Goddess through their dance. It is quite possible that some of the movements of their dance have been preserved in those oriental dances performed by modern dancers.

Ghawazi (translated from the Egyptian dialect - strangers) performed oriental dance in the streets and, as a rule, were not distinguished by education.

Avalim were dancers who received special dance and music education. Avalim knew how to play on various musical instruments, were well versed in poetry, could perform poems and songs of their own composition, like geishas medieval Japan.

The styles of oriental dance Gavazi and Avalim were quite different. Some experts who study the history of oriental dances believe that such dances were a ritual in preparation for childbirth. In those days there were no hospitals, painkillers and other medications to facilitate the process of childbirth, so you had to give birth as nature intended.

Another direction of oriental dance is known as Beladi. Translated from Arabic, this word means “homeland” or “ hometown", which reflects the great popularity of the dance among the peoples of Egypt. At first it was a women's dance, performed only for women. The main characteristics of Baladi are a variety of hand figures that do not have a clear connection and system with swinging the reeds. Overall the dance made a great impression.

Instinctively, women turned into a ritual those movements that strengthened and toned the muscles and thereby facilitated childbirth. It is easy to notice that many belly dance movements are concentrated in the abdomen or pelvis. Representing a combination of muscle tension and relaxation, they train internal organs and tone the abdominal muscles. The wave-like movements actually engage those muscles of the woman that push the baby out during childbirth.

Other researchers believe that vystok dances originated in Central Asia and that such a dance had a sacred meaning and was part of a ceremony of worship of the female maternal principle.
For example, abdominal movements are mentioned in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. They were used for the purposes of meditation and transition to a new astral level.

The ritual of oriental dance was carried out on the occasion of the birth of children, and the dance itself gradually spread to the countries of the Near and Middle East, as well as to the Mediterranean.

In Greece, belly dancing was used to heal the sick, accompanied by loud music and screams. The Indians introduced smoothness and softness of movements into it, the Turks enriched it with complex and unusual rhythms, and the gypsies gave it passion.

At the Harmony club in Mytishchi, studying with experienced masters, you can master the art of dance to perfection.

Dance is an integral part human life. An opportunity to show your talents, show your individuality, and also improve your health, make your movements more flexible. From a very young age a person begins to respond to music. The child claps his hands or stomps his feet on the spot when he hears a fiery melody. This suggests that every person has a predisposition to dance. But how this talent will develop and how it will ultimately manifest itself is another matter.

They do not depend on fashion trends

There is a huge variety dance styles. Just as the fashion for clothes changes, the fashion for dancing also changes, but there are some that have existed for several centuries and do not become less popular because of this. These can be called ballroom, folk and For children they have much higher value than simply performing a certain set of movements that are pleasant to watch from the sidelines.

Undoubted advantages

Modern parents claim that oriental dancing for children is an opportunity to shape their figure, the correct shape of the spine, develop strength, agility, endurance, and also strengthen character. Specific movements are especially useful for girls: they will not only learn to feel correctly musical rhythm, but will also reveal their natural femininity. Thin waist fans of this style of dance are guaranteed.

Choice of parents and children

More recently, this direction was new for the residents of our country, but today, when answering the question of which direction of dance you would choose for yourself or your child, an increasing number of votes are given for oriental dances. For children, this is an opportunity to have fun, make new friends, and wear incredible clothes. Nice dress for a performance, for parents - confidence in the good health of their child, an opportunity to strengthen the strength of his character, make him more confident, and, of course, an additional reason for pride.

The culture of an entire country

In the Middle East and North Africa women's dancing- this is a whole direction of the culture of the people. The science of how to dance oriental dances for children began from a very early age. Except cultural heritage, this had another equally important meaning. In these countries, the main and sometimes only purpose of a woman is to give birth and raise children. For motherhood, the development of the pelvic and abdominal muscles plays a big role. Oriental dances are primarily aimed at training these areas. For the children of our country, the question of motherhood is not raised from such an early age, but strengthening the general state of health, which can be achieved as a result of regular exercise, will not hinder any child.

An excellent option for psychotherapy

We all know about the existence of so-called transition periods in personality development. Associated with awareness of oneself as an individual, with changes in the environment ( kindergarten- school), understanding many things that come with age, very important processes take place in the child’s psyche. And it is how they pass that determines what place a person will take in society in the future, what results he will achieve in life, what kind of person he will be - brave and self-confident or constrained, squeezed by a quiet person. Oriental dancing for children is, first of all, an opportunity to smooth out periods of growing up and avoid conflicts in adolescence, the girl should understand the advantages of her body, learn not to be ashamed of it. By sending their child to such classes, parents will be able to see how, right before their eyes, a small fledgling and sometimes ruffled chick grows into beautiful swan, with a proud posture and knowing his worth.

A dream for a little princess

Costumes for oriental dances attract special attention. For children, wearing such a dress is just a dream. Expensive silks, flowing lines, stones, rhinestones, sparkles - isn’t this the dream of a little princess of the East?

Oriental dance lessons for children include basic elements, but even simple performances performed by young talents delight. It is known that what younger child, the more plastic his body is, so it is advised to send children to classes as early as possible. But oriental dances for children are unique in this regard. No matter what age you start learning, the result will still be amazing. Perhaps this is what explains the popularity of the chosen dance direction.

If only parents dream of enrolling their child in a club, but the child is categorically against it, try a little trick. Read Eastern tales together and watch cartoons that correspond to the theme. It is likely that the girl will be interested in how to dance oriental dances. For children, and for adults too, it is very important to believe in a fairy tale, and such dances allow you not only to believe in it, but also to completely immerse yourself.

To oriental dances children are accepted, usually, from 5 years old. It is during this period that the child is especially flexible, which will easily help him practice oriental dancing. Of course, this type of activity is more suitable for girls, because this is a great opportunity to learn graceful movements and, moreover, to play the role of a real princess - the costumes for oriental dances are truly magical.

However, it is worth noting that boys sometimes attend this club, because oriental dancing is very good for health.

Belly dancing perfectly develops coordination of movements, helps shy children to relax and promotes development acting. Moreover, all kinds of clubs also teach the child how to manage his time and discipline him.

Very useful classes kids with overweight , since oriental dances are able to correct the figure and train the child’s muscular system.

Classes also allow children to make new friends, because in the circle they are united by one thing, which perfectly allows them to find a common language.

Oriental dancing is especially important for girls- they help to avoid gynecological problems in the future.

Features of the classes

Oriental dance classes usually take place 2-3 times a week. Kids are taught simple movements, work with them on various dance combinations, which the dance allows them to do in the future, and do flexibility exercises. Workouts usually begin with light warm-ups and end with tension-relieving stretching.

Please note that up to 8 years of age, a child must perform only plastic exercises in classes and light waves - all kinds of hip shaking at this age can have a negative impact on health.

By age 9, trainers add more elements to classes, including “eights,” “waves,” and hip thrusts. In this period exercises should be performed carefully and not at full strength, since the developing organism should not be subjected to sudden and unusual movements. By adolescence, children fully master complete complex oriental dance movements.

Before getting your child interested in oriental dances, try to introduce him to the culture and customs of the East. It would be nice to read fairy tales and watch cartoons on this topic - for example about Aladdin.

About the form for classes

For normal training, the child needs comfortable shoes, swimsuit and pocket square with all kinds of decorations.

Beautiful full-fledged costumes are needed only for reporting concerts and performances at the end of the year, so you shouldn’t throw a lot of money on them as soon as your child starts studying.

Clothes for performances are sold ready-made and made to order. There are combinations with bloomers, a belt, sleeves and a bodice, or large bright skirts are worn on the bottom instead of bloomers.

The costume can be made of satin, large mesh, velvet, trimmed with sequins, fringe or rhinestones. The monist is purchased separately - an essential part of any oriental costume.

Before purchasing or sewing an outfit, you should consider its style - you need to choose from those that will not restrict the child’s movements.

Smooth movements of the hips, wave-like vibrations of the abdomen, a mysterious smile, grace and plasticity of the dancer drive the audience crazy, immersing them in the bliss of sensuality of this exciting spectacle... And this has been going on for more than 11 thousand years... Belly dance - this is a way of expressing one’s admiration and praising the maternal nature of the women of Central Asia. This is not even a dance, but a form of meditation, a ritual with deep sacred meaning. In a similar way, women praised women in labor on the occasion of the birth of a child. The dance immediately interested representatives of other nations and gradually began to spread to other countries. eastern countries and the peoples of the Mediterranean. Due to the fact that different nations interpreted belly dancing in their own way, its meaning changed for each nation. Some put into it their concepts of astral perception of the world, others - healing properties. Some peoples used it to enrich their internal culture. The gypsies who lived in the east effectively incorporated belly dancing into their national dances, filling it with his unusually beautiful and enchanting movements, overflowing with the passion inherent in the gypsy people. The only people who remained indifferent to belly dancing were the Islamic people, whose faith did not allow them to focus their attention on such moments.

Storybelly dance
Initially, dancing was not common to everyone. They were of a ritual nature and were performed by shamans in their rituals. Ordinary people, participating in the actions, also had the right to make these movements. The abundance of customs and their accompaniment of many processes of everyday life has led to an increasing penetration of dance into everyday life. Appearance instrumental music transferred dance from the category of mysticism to the category of ways of entertainment or revealing positive emotions. They danced everywhere: both after a successful hunt and to celebrate the victory and to accompany wedding ceremony. Often dances were used to express negative emotions. It was believed that in this way one could turn to God so that he would remove the heaviness from the dancer’s soul. Further development dance art took place under the influence of Islam that passed into the territory modern Turkey with Seljuk and Iranian culture. During the formation of the Ottoman Empire, belly dancing continued its development in Istanbul, where it acquired its final form. When Islam became the main faith in Turkey, the canons of which prohibit women from showing half-naked bodies unknown men, dancing formed a rather unusual branch - men's dancing, performed only by men. Women's belly dancing has acquired some modesty in outfits, which eliminated a number of movements and made it more restrained. But no matter who performs the dance movements, each of them is based on an expression of desire and passion. Therefore, oriental dances are considered the most erotic, and even sexy. Modern Turkish dances have been greatly influenced by various European movements. This led to the emergence, along with traditional religious movements, of new sports and modern variations. Historical movements can now be observed in isolated settlements, rarely visited by foreigners and only on holidays and ceremonies. Tourists, as a rule, can only observe the basics of traditional dance, without the full palette of diversity. Now, as before, oriental dances in Turkey are very popular, which gradually crosses the borders of the state and conquers larger and larger territories. European culture starts to take on some features oriental cultures, including dancing.

The legend of the appearance of belly dancing
There is a legend associated with the appearance of belly dancing. A bee flew under the clothes of the young dancer, confusing her hot body, anointed with oils, with a fragrant flower. The girl, in order to get rid of the annoying insect, wriggled her whole body, began to vigorously twist her hips and make movements with her stomach... Researchers have established a connection between many dance movements and the movements of a woman in childbirth, which indicates its basic function of supporting childbirth. In the East, where girls were married off very early, belly dancing was taught first. The specificity of the dance is the constant dynamics of relaxation and tension of certain muscles, which helps a woman synchronize her movements and labor pains, and relieve pain during childbirth, increase the plasticity of the pelvic floor and joint mobility. Oriental dance has many roots. It existed in pre-Islamic and pre-Christian times, and even before Judaism. Its origins can be traced in the frescoes of the ancient temples of Mesopotamia ( Western Asia), which preserved images of dancing people. The ancient ones also have similar frescoes. egyptian temples. They are believed to describe an ancient ritual dance that was performed at ceremonial festivals celebrating the birth of children and the harvest. Big influence Belly dancing was influenced by gypsy tribes. The gypsies traveled throughout India, the Middle East and Europe, settling temporarily in Spain. It is not difficult to trace the similarities between Indian and Middle Eastern folk dances. Middle Eastern dance is also the ancestor of modern flamenco. Islamic countries, where harem relationships traditionally existed, the emphasis in the dance shifted from worship of the mother to seduction. Belly dancing for numerous women in the harem served as a way to win the attention of the owner. There is evidence that 3.5 thousand years BC. The art of oriental dance, traveling with nomadic tribes, also came to the ancient Slavs. The Proto-Slavs changed the nature of the dance. It already has a slightly different ritual meaning: the wife, dancing this dance annually for her husband on their wedding anniversary, remained just as desirable, young and beautiful many years later. About 300 years before the advent of Christianity, the Slavic version of this dance began its journey back to Asia. Having been modified again in Turkey and the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, belly dance for almost 400 years retained its sacramental meaning of “dance for a single man,” but then some dancers began to perform it for money. So the ritual version of the dance began to lose its esoteric meaning, and over the next 350 years became known in all countries of the East, in India, Ceylon, Japan, Afghanistan, as well as in Africa, Europe, and the Far Eastern lands. In the 80s XIX century Belly dancing became widespread in Europe. Dancers of that time, as a rule, performed in long dresses, with a scarf highlighting their hips. In the 50s of the 20th century, Islamic sentiments intensified in Egypt, which led to a harsher attitude towards belly dancing. Two new dance centers had already emerged in the Middle East - one of them was Bahrain, where there were no strict rules regarding belly dancing. Libya became the second dance center. At the same time, in Turkey, belly dancing developed more in a cabaret style; the dancers' costumes were more open and seductive than in other styles.

Historical roots of belly dance
Belly dancing is a hymn of praise to Woman, Sensuality, Motherhood. This is the dance of Life, filled with deep experiences that accompany the birth new soul. Having survived through millennia, Belly Dance is being revived in modern world together with the need of every woman to realize her true nature. The art of this dance, which goes back centuries, reflects ancient cults fertility, abundance and love. It is with the rituals of worship of the Egyptian Isis, Greek Aphrodite, Babylonian-Assyrian Ishtar, who embody the image of the Great Mother Goddess, that the emergence of this ritual dance is associated. Belly dancing is the oldest dance on Earth. Therefore, it has many directions, styles, types. Many peoples of the world influenced and influence the development of this dance.
Ancient Egypt considered the birthplace of belly dancing. Geographical position Ancient Egypt was such that it was a rather isolated state, so for a long time the dance was formed only by the Egyptians and other peoples did not influence it.
In Ancient Egypt, the art of dance was highly valued. There were many various types dances: ritual, harem, war dances and dances that were danced just for fun. The images of dancers and dancers that have survived to this day testify to how the dances were performed. In Ancient Egypt, the dance was quite varied, there were much more movements than in the “traditional” belly dance. The hands, as a rule, were “soft,” smooth, open, but there were also characteristic jerky, geometric movements with clenched fists. Over time, Ancient Egypt became more influenced by neighboring countries: Syria, Palestine, Nubia, Sudan, Ethiopia. In 1500 BC. The Egyptians brought bayaderes from India to the court, who brought elegance, flexibility, and sophistication to Egyptian dance. After the New Reign period Egyptian civilization began to fade away, increasingly subject to invasions from neighboring countries, and in 30 BC. e. Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.
Gypsies. The merit of the gypsies is that they were a kind of connecting link between different cultures. Wandering around the world, they left traces of their culture and absorbed the flavor of the culture of the country through which their path lay. The Gypsies left India around 420. AD and proceeded through the countries of the East to Europe, stopping in Andalusia, where they found people close to their liking. The flamenco style originated in Andalusia - a mixture of Arabic, gypsy, Jewish, Spanish and other dances.

IN Ancient Greece there were many religious ceremonies during which people danced. Dance was an obligatory part of the worship of such gods and goddesses as Dionysus, Bacchus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter and many others. Greek dance characterized by energy, even frenzy, often accompanied by screams and rather loud musical accompaniment. Dance was considered a means of healing from various ailments of the body and spirit.
9th-10th centuries India associated with the heyday of temple architecture. At the temples there were always ritual dancers, who were considered very revered people, had houses in the best quarters of the city and did not pay land taxes. Each dancer had an excellent musical, choreographic and linguistic education. It was believed that the dancer was married to the temple deity, so she would never be a widow. For Indian dance the movements of the hands are very characteristic, each gesture has a certain meaning, therefore the dancer does not hold the cymbals in her hands during the dance, the cymbals are attached to various parts bodies.
Türkiye. To understand the nature of Turkish dance, you need to look into history. The Turks settled on the Central Anatolian Plateau, then they began to conquer nearby lands and move further into Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Ottoman Empire was formed, which for a long time united representatives of various civilizations and peoples. Therefore, there were several thousand folk dances that were intertwined with each other, and it is impossible to say that there was a purely Turkish dance. In Turkey there were religious dances, folk dances and even very spectacular performances. Türkiye has made a great contribution to the art of dance in the form of the invention of complex and interesting rhythms. Islamic bans on dance affected mainly dancers in large cities and towns, but had virtually no effect on folk dances in isolated villages, so even now in remote villages you can see the dance as it was many years ago.
Europe. Napoleon opened Egypt to Europe. In addition to many archaeological treasures, Europeans, along with Egyptian culture, also saw belly dancing.
USA. In 1893, Sol Bloom brought oriental dance to America. Since at that time there were rather strict morals and everything connected with the body was considered indecent, Sol Bloom managed to shock the audience with a perverted presentation of oriental dance, which he called belly dancing. Since then, the name, as well as the association of this dance with striptease, unfortunately, has stuck.

Styles and directions
Saidi. Saidi is a dance with a cane. It originated in an area of ​​Egypt called Said, where there were shepherds and warriors who used bamboo canes as weapons. Women transformed these warlike movements into a beautiful, energetic dance.
Dance with a scarf. This is one of the most theatrical dances and requires acting skills. The scarf is also a background to highlight the beauty of the body and movement. This is also what hides in order to be revealed later. It is very important for the dancer to feel the scarf not as part of the costume, but as part of her body.
Gulf dance (Khalij). This dance is performed by the peoples of the Gulf countries. Khaliji is an incredibly subtle, lyrical dance. The costumes for this dance reveal only part of the face and hands. The basic step of this dance imitates riding a camel.
Dance with cymbals
Cymbals are one of the most ancient musical instruments in the form of two pairs of wooden or metal plates. The dancer uses their sound as musical accompaniment to her dance.
Saber dance. It's pretty complex dance. They say that in ancient times, when accompanying their husbands to war, women carried a saber on their heads - this is how this dance originated. They also say that by dancing with a saber, a woman demonstrates her rebellion.

Belly dancing before the 19th century
Until the 19th century, oriental dance was performed in the family circle and at family holidays. Weddings, circumcisions, bar mitzvahs and other similar events would not be complete without this dance. Sometimes a professional dancer was hired. Since these were mainly family celebrations, outsiders and foreigners rarely got to see this dance. Beginning in the mid-1800s, trade fairs became popular. Dancers from the Middle East began to perform in Europe. The first oriental dance show took place in Paris in 1889. The expression "Danse Du Ventre" ("belly dancing") was coined in 1893 by Sol Bloom, impresario of the Midway Plaisance and the Cairo Street Exhibition at the Columbia Trade Fair and the Chicago World's Fair. He did this deliberately to excite the warped imagination of the Victorians of the time, who were willing to pay any price to see something "obscene" in their minds, so they could go home and pretend to be shocked. Mr. Bloom's calculations were correct, and he earned enough money to finance his future congressional elections, which he subsequently won. As a result, the name stuck, thus contributing to this interpretation.
In the 1880s, Europeans began to embrace the fascination of the East. Writers such as Gustave Flaubert and artists such as Jean-Léon Gérôme traveled to the Middle East and North Africa for inspiration. Tourists visited the region to admire the exotic landscapes and people. The colonial armies of England and France occupied several countries in the region. From the 19th century through the first decades of the 20th century, professional dancers in Egypt were divided into Ghawazee and Awalim. Ghawazee were gypsies, usually performing on the streets or in courtyards, often with lower class people as their audience. The Awalim were more respected than the Ghawazee. They could not only dance, but also sing, play musical instruments and recite poetry, and they were often invited to the homes of the rich. Until the 30s. In the 20th century, dancers more often performed in homes or cafes. Then, in Cairo, a Lebanese girl named Badia Mansabny opened night club Casino badia, which was decorated in the style of European cabarets. The varied program featured oriental performances in the form of dancing, singing, musicians and comedians, also included various European acts, and even offered a concert for families in daytime. Officially performed in fairly small venues, Raks Sharki had to adapt to big stages. European dance choreographers, working for Badia Mansabny, helped train Oriental dancers, adding elements from other dance schools, especially from ballet. At the beginning of the 20th century, Cairo became big city with a population of a third of a million people, of whom 20% were non-Egyptians. Most foreigners in Cairo were traders. The Baladi style has evolved along with the urbanization of the population. When villagers came to the city, they were exposed to influence different countries and the result was changes in dance style. The Baladi style, influenced by the West, and the dances of Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Persia, India, other Middle Eastern countries and perhaps through contact with Ghawazee, evolved into a new dance known as Raks Sharqi. New dance became a mixture of styles and costume details, tailored to the individual female performance. People often say "female" solo dance", distinguishing it from folk dances, usually in groups. A dance with a lot of hip movement is associated with Baladi, and the center of movement moves upward to the torso.

Varieties
There are more than 50 styles of oriental dance, the following areas are also distinguished:
- Egyptian school - a more chaste version of belly dancing in closed outfits with smoother movements.
- Arab school(khaliji) - hair dance, which got its name from the characteristic swings of her flowing hair.
- the Turkish school is more sensual, the costumes are more revealing, dances on the table are accepted, communication with the audience during the dance is accepted.
Belly dancing is influenced by Arabic folk dance dabka (a group dance with jumping, similar to a Celtic jig).
Accessories . Some types of belly dance may use accessories:
- cane (saidi dance, related to the male war dance takhtib)
- tambourine (shamanic dance of Nubia)
- fire
- sabers
- sagat (metal disks)

Costume
The belly dance costume has a name - bedla. Its classic elements are a bodice, a belt and a wide skirt, often with a slit at the hip. The costume for the conservative public involves a covering veil for the stomach, arms and hair. Bloomers can sometimes be worn instead of a skirt. The entire costume is decorated with beads, rhinestones, monists or pearls. Decorations play a big role because they attract attention, captivate the eye and give the dance an oriental meditative flavor. The skirt can be wide (sun, half-sun) or straight, with one or several slits. The bodice and belt are embroidered with sequins, beads, etc. Fringe and pendants decorated with sequins and beads are sewn to these parts of the costume. And this is no coincidence, because in oriental dance the emphasis is on isolated movements of the hips and chest, therefore the costume is decorated in such a way as to emphasize the movements and strengthen them. The costume enhances the fabulous impression made on us in oriental dance. IN traditional costume for belly dancing, the belly is left open to show the actual belly dancing, but there is another type of costume - this long dress, closed with a scarf tied around the hips (this is how Egyptian women danced). Dance shoes deserve special mention. Traditionally, belly dancing is performed barefoot, but today, when belly dancing has become a type of pop show, dancers wear high-heeled shoes. But for training it is better to use Czech shoes, soft dance shoes, and, even better, to train barefoot.