Turkish belly dancing

Unique Turkish Belly Dancing

Turkish belly dancing is an ancient form of dance that traces its roots to Anatolian fertility rites. The sensual movements that celebrate a woman’s natural curves and contours are part of an ancient fertility rite. Turkish belly dancing still has some of that mystique and its vibrant routines and costumes reflect its pagan roots.

There are of course other influences on this art form but belly dancing in Turkey has remained distinct from other belly dancing traditions largely due to the fact that it is still very much a part of everyday Turkish life rather then a mere tourist act. it is common to see belly dancing on Turkish television, corporate events, and parties.

Vibrant Art

Turkish belly dancing has been allowed to evolve, as there have been no restrictions on what can and cannot be performed. This means that belly dancers in Turkey are free to express themselves, and this translates itself into energetic performances that require great flexibility and strength.

The costumes of Turkish belly dancers are also sexier; with more cleavage and leg on display then the relatively demure Egyptian dancers. This style of costume is very popular in the West and the skirts with high slits have made their way to Western belly dancing classes everywhere.

The use of coins in Turkish belly dancing in terms of accessories is not all that common. Instead the costumes rely on intricate beading for drama and flair. Finger cymbals are also unique to this branch of belly dancing. The music in Turkish belly dancing involves the oboe, clarinet, Oud, Kanoon, Ney, and hand drums.

Male Dancers

Although this form of dance is associated with females there are instances when male belly dancers have taken center stage. Turkish belly dancing is no different. There have been male dancers who have impersonated women and others who simply use belly dancing moves to demonstrate their strength and agility.

Male dancers have always courted controversy but they are slowly gaining acceptance. In fact every Turkish party that hires belly dancers is sure to see a male audience member jump up and try to compete with the star attraction. He is usually not that successful though.

This form of dance will most likely continue to evolve and expand in Turkey, as it is an accepted and revered part of Turkish culture. It is proving to be popular among many Western women who appreciate the sensuality of the movements and the great strength it can provide anyone who studies this dance.

tribal bellydancing

Learning Tribal Bellydancing

A lot of women seem to have a growing interest in learning the art form of belly dancing even though men have loved to watch the dance for years. There is a lot to learn when it comes to getting it all done but the mental and physical benefits that come with it are just too good to pass up. If you want to get in a lot better shape or want to add a little spice to your normal routine, try learning belly dancing, as you will be happy you did.

But as with everything in life, there are options to pick from, as belly dancing is just not belly dancing. There are several different types and forms of belly dancing to be aware of so you must consider which you would be more interested in. One of the more popular types is that of the tribal bellydancing.

Tribal bellydancing has been used for many years as a form of celebration and communication. Women have used the various dances and routines in their tribal bellydancing to get across a certain message or story. For modern woman though, this is just something that is used more for fun then anything else.

Taking Classes

While there may be a tape or two out there promising to teach you the basics of tribal bellydancing, nothing can compare to being taught in person. Being in a classroom setting will allow you to catch on quicker and to learn slight variations and tips that could help you that your otherwise would have never learned about.

Learning such skills from a tape is generally not advised, as you could also get hurt without the proper instruction. Learning directly from a professional is always the best thing no matter what it is that you are trying to learn in this lifetime.

There are a lot more classes offering tribal bellydancing then there ever used to be before as there has been an increased interest in it. What that means for you is that your chances of finding and actually getting into a class that offers lessons on tribal bellydancing is a lot better then it used to be.

Just start searching your local paper for advertisements or your local yellow pages for more information on classes near you. If that does not work well for you, head to the computer and jump on the Internet as you are bound to be overloaded with lots of information from there.

tribal belly dancing

The Enigma of Tribal Belly Dancing

You may have heard that there are many different types of belly dancing. It is quite normal for any art form that has been influenced by so many cultures to be varied. Belly dancing varies primarily according to where it is performed. Tribal belly dancing is a branch of belly dancing that you may have heard of.

The thing is that there is no true form of tribal belly dancing, though the name may lead people to think that it is an authentic form of the dance. It is in fact a fusion of styles inspired by ethnic elements. Dancers who admire it in different parts of the world have then further adapted this art form.

A Question of Authenticity

The reason that there is no true picture or form of tribal belly dancing is simply that there is not enough information. At the time when ‘real’ tribal belly dancing was being practiced there was no documentation of the dance. If there was documentation such as pictures, painting or oral histories, they are no longer in existence.

Instead what we have today is a dance that has taken different elements from the various tribes of the Middle East and made it into something completely different. Usually elements of Turkish, gypsy, Moroccan, Algerian, and frankly whatever strikes the dancers fancy are incorporated into a routine.

Costuming and Style

There are also no authentic costumes in tribal belly dancing. The costumes are mostly inspired from what the dancer might believe tribal women wore. Usually the costumes are one-piece costumes rather than the traditional two-piece costumes worn by most belly dancers.

The fact that the nomadic tribes that inspire these modern day costumes probably borrowed and were influenced by other tribes and cultures makes this approach to costuming particularly appropriate. The great thing about this is that you can really choose whatever you feel suits your body and dance moves.

While traditional belly dancing of the Egyptian and Turkish traditions tend to be slower and more sensuous, tribal belly dancing tends to be faster paced. The dances usually have a more energetic and exuberant feel to them. Singing, clapping and ululations may also be incorporated into the routine.

The music also reflects this type of dance form and less classical instruments usually accompany the dancing. This is a great style of dance to experiment and explore. It gives dancers a lot of freedom to choreograph. A little research will help to inform and create something that is at least close to the original dance forms that inspired this genre.

Lebanese Belly Dancing

Lebanese Belly Dancing is Extinct

Lebanese Belly Dancing, like belly dancing in Egypt and other Arabic countries have had productions of song, dance and acting. There have been Lebanese Belly Dancing shows and it is often referred to as the Oriental Dance.

This dance can be held in the same category for the Lebanese as ballet and opera to the Americans and Europeans. The music is so soulful and passionate that it can bring tears to your eyes. Much of the music is based on famous artists, especially hailing from Egypt.

Looking at Tthe Future

With the political situation in Lebanon, the future of Lebanese Belly Dancing is uncertain. Even though the dancers earlier brought in a lot of revenue into the country, the art of belly dancing was not favored by the Islamic religion. The young people of Lebanon believe that Belly Dancing is old fashioned and hence it is not used as a form of entertainment in other Arabic countries too.

Form

Lebanese Belly Dancing, like any other form of Belly dancing consists of swaying the hips breaking into dynamic expressions. The patterns used in the dance are curves, thrusts, lifts, locks, drops and shaking body movements. The belly area is the point of concentration and the footsteps are not important. The arms and hands move in a serpent-like manner.

Costumes

Lebanese Belly Dancing celebrates women, their life and creativity, their beauty and especially the beauty of their body. The costume of the dancer changes from place to place, but the skirt, bra and the hip-belt are the main parts of the costume. The dancer often plays finger cymbals and sometimes there is a music accompaniment.

Women Power

All the designs of Lebanese Belly Dancing emphasize and enhance the grace, power and independent control of the feminine form. It can be a fertility dance as well. Sometimes men participate in the dance too, but it is mainly done by women. The dance originally comes from the folklore tradition of the Middle East and still portrays the culture of the Middle Eastern countries.

The Egyptian and the Turkish Belly Dance is by far more popular in Europe and America, and the style has been modernized to suit new trends. But the culture is still borrowed from tradition and in many small villages and small towns of Lebanon, it is danced when there is a celebration.

Belly dance is gaining popularity worldwide, but the future of dance is extremely uncertain in Middle Eastern Countries. But there is still hope that Oriental Dance will flourish once again in its hometown like Lebanon.

learn belly dancing

Learn Belly Dancing: The Options Are Many

The term belly dancing is not in fact the way that the originators of this form of dance call their particular way of dancing. It is, in fact, something that has been coined by westerners to describe a particular style of dancing practiced by Arab dancers. If you were to visit an Arabic country, you would most probably be bemused to learn that what westerners term as belly dancing is actually known only as oriental dance, while some Americans even have termed it as a Middle Eastern dance.

What’s more, Americans are not particularly taken up with belly dancing. To learn belly dancing you would need to look high and low and more particularly amongst ethnic populations whose enthusiasm for belly dancing knows no bounds. However, even those who are involved in belly dancing cannot agree as to where belly dancing actually originated.

Thus, opinion varies between those who say it is really an Egyptian form of dancing while others believe it has to do with people from India migrating to Rome. However, rather than get embroiled in the controversy about where belly dancing originated it is a much better idea to learn belly dancing.

Nothing Quite Like Learning From an Instructor

Of course, there is in fact, no better way to learn belly dancing than to have an instructor show you the ropes and be the one that will guide you through every stage of the learning process. In case, you are having trouble learning belly dancing, you can always ask questions and get your questions answered till you are confident of performing the steps in the proper manner.

In case you need to locate an instructor from whom you want to learn belly dancing, then you should go through the yellow pages. Check out restaurants where dancers perform, check the city’s local Parks & Recreation department, and check out the many websites that offer non-credit classes.

However, it is not always possible to learn belly dancing from an instructor. So you may be forced to use DVDs or even ask for instructions over the Internet. In fact, it is possible to learn belly dancing via the World Wide Web. Places such as Aziza Sa’id’s Lessons Online could prove to be useful in case you needed to learn Hip Lift as well as Drop and Shoulder Shimmy. Finally, you can also learn belly dancing through watching DVDs and a particularly resourceful video is the one known as Middle Eastern Dance Video Sourcebook.

Istanbul belly dancing

Exotic Istanbul Belly Dancing

Istanbul belly dancing is a huge tourist attraction. Nightclubs everywhere offer special shows meant for visitors. However, Istanbul belly dancing is not just for tourists. Belly dancing is very much a part of Turkish history and culture. It has evolved with time but it has its roots in many different types of cultures that have helped to shape the dance into its present form.

There are certain characteristics of the dance that are unique to Istanbul belly dancing in terms of costume and props. It was traditionally meant for the eyes of women only as this was considered a sacred dance that celebrated fertility.

Costume and Props

The traditional Turkish costume for belly dancing involves a long skirt with a high slit. This skirt emphasizes the leg and Istanbul belly dancing involves the dancer’s legs more than other types of belly dancing. Although there is such a thing as belly dancing slippers it can sometimes be performed with high heels and platform shoes.

Turkish belly dancers also play zils, or finger cymbals during performances. Purists say that a dancer can only be considered skilled if they can play the finger cymbals while dancing. Four zils are usually used, two for each hand. They are very small and it can be difficult to master playing these tiny instruments and dancing at the same time.

The dance style of Istanbul belly dancing is also very different than that of Egyptian belly dancing. This is because there are fewer restrictions on Turkish belly dancing. Turkish dancers are allowed to do floor work and to incorporate pelvic thrusts into their shows unlike Egyptian dancers. Turkish dance also tends to be more gymnastic and energetic, rather than slow and sensual.

Modern Culture

Istanbul belly dancing is still very much a part of everyday life in Turkey. It is still a popular custom for a belly dancer to perform at weddings. Belly dancers are also called on to entertain at circumcision ceremonies for young boys. Television programs also feature belly dancing and there are quite a few famous belly dancers that are celebrated both in Turkey and around the world.

Turkish belly dancing is distinctly different from its Egyptian variant and watching a performance will most definitely be breathtaking. It is truly a display of grace, agility, and showmanship. It is guaranteed to be a fun night for everyone present. One performance is enough to make you want to take this exquisite dance form up yourself.

egyptian belly dancing

Learning Egyptian Belly Dancing

A lot of times women will find that they want to learn something new and exciting that will not only allow them to have fun but will help them get into great shape as well. Also, on top of having fun and giving their bodies an excellent workout, learning new things by taking classes is a great way to socialize and to meet new friends. These are just some of the reasons so many women have found themselves wanting to learn egyptian belly dancing.

Egyptian belly dancing is something that is not only fun to do but is something that can help entertain others or even spice up a dull love life. Some women have found pole-dancing classes to give the same results but because of fears of judgment, other women have found their way to egyptian belly dancing classes. These classes are just like any others where you warm up, learn the basics, and then slowly progress into the more difficult routines. Before long, students taking egyptian belly dancing classes will find themselves dancing like professionals.

Finding Classes

Ten years ago it would have been next to impossible to find any classes or centers that were offering egyptian belly dancing classes and lessons. But now, as more and more people are starting to express in interest in it, most cities have at least one class on it and the bigger cities have been known to have several different places that are offering eqyptian belly dancing.

All you really need to do is to keep your eyes open and your ears open and before you know it, you will learn about some fun and exciting places to take classes. Even try asking your friends if they have heard of any place that would be offering such classes, as word of mouth advertising is a great resource.

If you do not happen to come across any places that offer egyptian belly dancing by chance, then it is time to start your search. Looking on the Internet is a great place to begin because if there is a business or a class anywhere near you offering egyptian belly dancing classes, they will more in likely be found on the Internet. Also, you could always scroll through your local yellow pages to find a place near you. In the end, you will be glad that you gave it a try as your body and your mind will feel so much better.