Miscellaneous Guide

Arabic belly dancing is a great way to tone up one’s body and have fun learning to exercise and dance and there is sure to be a recognized Arabic belly dancing instructor who will teach the intricacies of this wonderful form of dancing. For those who would much rather be entertained by an Arabic belly dancing performer there are many events taking place that will entertain the American as well as Arab audiences.

Arabic belly dancing truly embodies a new art form as well as exercise routine and provides added entertainment when performed for audiences wishing to understand and experience the misunderstood Middle Eastern culturally rich dances such as raqs sharqi which is the Arabic translation for belly dancing.

Arabic belly dancing was not a dance that meant seduction performed by concubines to tantalize a Sultan but was created and performed by women to cater to women who treated it as a ceremonial custom that was used to prepare a woman for giving birth to a child. At the present time, Arabic belly dancing is thought of as being a way of celebrating the female spirit. And for the more learned, Arabic belly dancing is an art form much like ballet as well as Broadway-style dancing.

In times gone by, Arabic belly dancing helped a woman use her muscles all over the body as a preparation for giving birth to a child and the abdominal and pelvic muscles played a vital role in this form of dance. Even when the woman is giving birth to a child there would be Arabic belly dancing performed by neighbors of the pregnant woman’s community that would attempt to get the woman to mimic these movements.

Where it all Began

The term belly dance was coined by a savvy promoter named Sol Bloom who brought to America this Middle Eastern dance as a means to lure the public to the belly dancing events. However, Arabic belly dancing is a strenuous routine that takes as much training and practice as do ballet and modern dance as it requires a complete understanding of music, improvisation as well as choreography and is also sometimes performed while playing the finger cymbals.

The Arabic belly dancing movements are demonstrative and fast though at the same time very alert and controlled and is a popular choice for exercising, being preferred over jogging and aerobic exercises because it helps to strengthen, tighten as well as tone the muscles throughout the woman’s body. Abdominal undulations work on the tummy area while shoulder shimmies help to define out of condition flesh on the upper regions of the arm.