Where did belly dancing really originated from?

Question

is it indian or turkish its confusing please tell me.

Answer 1

This dance form is so ancient that historians aren't sure of it's roots. Check this site out;

www.shira.net

Many historians believe it's roots come from India, N. Africa, Egypt, Turkey...gypsies travelled and took with them the different dances they learned from their travels and perhaps helped this dance form evolve into what it is today. We now have our own version of the bellydance, American Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion, which is now evolving into Gothic and other forms of the dance. One thing it is not, it is not intended to seduce men. Take a look at the above site. Very informative!

Answer 2

As others have pointed out the origins of bellydancing are not clear.  There is a lack of of clear evidence as to it's origins.  The dance itself is more properly called "raqs sharqi".  It is very difficult to trace the origins for several reasons.  Number one is the fact that dances were not usually recorded in historical records and when there were they were descriptions by observers who did not offer a lot of insight into the movements or technical aspects of the dances.  In addition to this the few images of dancers that we have do not always give us insight into the movements they are performing.  It is a single moment in time an isolated frame of many frames that would need to be strung together to actually understand a movement.  However, even though dance ethnologists face these problems in interpreting ancient dances and dance origins they have managed to narrow down the possibilities into approximately 4 major theories of origin.  

Number one is what I call the Ancient Origin Theory.  This is often one of the most commonly used theories for explaining origins.  It's basic framework is that the dance evolved in an ancient culrture often from either fertility/childbirth rituals (see Morocco's articles for more on this) or they revolve around religious temple dances.  Both of these have a lot of supporting evidence but lack anything definitive.  Usually the place of origin is credited to Egypt but, some credit it to ancient Greece, India, Babylon, Mesopotamia, etc... pretty much any ancient civilization of the medditeranean or fertile crescent has been said by someone to be the origin.  Some of these places show more promise in their records than others in regards to supporting the theory.  

The other Major theory is the Gypsy Migration Theory which credits the origin of raqs sharqi partially to ancient India but the dance is then said to develop from the gypsies who left india as outcasts.  They brought their dance form with them as they traveled through the Middle East and Europe.  This theory has a lot of supporting evidence.  Especially in the many groups that claim descendency from the Roma (Gypsies).  Among these include the Ghawaazi of Egypt, the Rom of Turkey, and The Gypsies of Spain.  Flamenco dancers trace some of their dances origin to raqs sharqi.  Other than the emphasis on footwork many hip movements are largely unchanged between the two dances.

The third theory is based on regions and empires.  It does not atempt to trace any one specific origin but rather says that each region had its own dances and that when empires expanded and borders changed that the dances from different regions would blend and mix and basically influence each other.  This is a theory used to explain different styles and similarities that exist in raqs sharqi.  It does have a lot of evidence to support it due to regional differences and similarities as well as supporting evidence from either of the other two theories mentioned so far.

The last theory which I refer to as the Convergence theory is one in which all of the above mentioned theories are believed to have occured.  It basically suggests that the dance may have origins in all of these places and that it's modern day development evolved from each of these things occuring.

I know this answer really doesn't give you a difinitive answer but that's because there is not definiative answer.  This was of course a highly condensed explanaition of these theories but if you do a little research you can read a lot more about them.

Answer 3

It evolved all over north africa, asia and the middle east. the proper name is actually Oriental Dance.

Answer 4

Native to North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

Answer 5

Native to North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, belly dancing is based on one of the oldest social dances in world history. Much of the support for this theory stems from the similarities between poses in ancient Egyptian artwork and the modern dance.

Hope this helps.

Maria http://www.marzino.com

Answer 6

Jo is correct.  Belly dance as it exists today has origins in a variety of dances from multiple regions.  There are many opinions on its origins.  

Shira's website is a great place to start.  

Other websites with information about belly dance

http://www.middleeasterndance.net/

http://www.bhuz.com/

http://zaghareet.freeservers.com/

http://www.bdancer.com/med-guide/

Jo is absolutely correct about belly dance not being intended to seduce men.  That's a misconception created primarily by Hollywood.  Men and women in the Middle East, in the past and today, don't socialize together.  Women dance for other women.

Answer 7

In a book it says that  it comes from various parts of the the world such as india, middle east, asia, africa and the meditrian. It was said to be taught by elder women to help youngers with love making and child bearing. It was inspired by many things like gathering for instance. things that were part of their every day life. It also says that its one of the oldest soughts of dancers

this is what it says on the bellytwins.com (check it out)

Belly dance, also called Danse Oriental, is one of the oldest forms of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from India, eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The term "belly dance" is said to come from the French "danse du ventre', which means "dances of the stomach". This fertility ceremonial dance is and was for women and was taught to young girls to prepare for childbirth.

These feminine movements may be circular, angular, undulating, or vibrating - isolating major muscle groups emulating mainly from the hips and "belly." Much of the upper body - chest, arms, head, shoulders, may move similarly in opposition, embellishing these movements of the hips and belly. Typically, bellydance is performed as a solo improvisation, but choreography and group dancing is very popular today. Usually performed barefoot, this ancient dance was thought by many to emphasize the intimate physical connection between the dancer and Mother Earth.

Dancers' accessories used are finger cymbals (dating back to circa 200 B.C), swords, snakes, large vessels, and sometimes candelabras, complete with flaming candles. Veils are also incorporated, even though veils have been used only in the last 100 years. In America, veil dances are common, and the use of fans have recently became another addition. However, most of these accessories are not commonly used in nightclubs in Egypt.

" Floorwork" is the term used to describe when a dancer performs on the floor on one's knees, sitting, or reclining and was a popular dance movement in the 1970's here in the United States. Outlawed in Egypt in the 1950's (presumably because it was deemed too risqué), floorwork is a tradition still carried on by many American dancers. Also outlawed in Egypt is the exposure of a woman's belly, so the professional belly dancers wear sheer body stockings to cover their bellies in order to be legal.

Today women around the world embrace this dance for exercise, a fun hobby, or a way to reconnect with their femininity and the ideals of ancestors who respected their bodies and Mother Earth.

Some of the hundreds of other styles of Middle Eastern dance: