1. Modern Egypt and ancient Egyptian style
The modern Egyptian belly dance performance genre is very restrained and elegant. It has been greatly influenced by Russian belly dance since 1920 and often includes Some ballet moves. Because it emphasizes muscle control, the range of motion is relatively small. The control of the muscles is a slow and small dance with the central trunk as the main axis. "Little is best" is their dance philosophy, which pays more attention to emotional expression. Elegant rhythms are dominated by delicate layered movements and elegant subtle movements.
Because most of the modern Egyptian dancers believe in Islam, the dancers dress conservatively and mainly use traditional costumes. Egyptian dancers are required by law to cover their midriffs during public performances. The dance costumes are beautifully crafted and gorgeously embroidered, decorated with rhinestones, large embroidery and crystals, and lined with tassels. He rarely performs wearing dancing shoes. Of course, there are also some folkloric Egyptian dancers who wear more colorful costumes and have gorgeous and dazzling costumes. Usually its attire is a fitted long-sleeved dress with a belt and openings on one or both sides, called a Beledi dress. Turkish robes with one side or two sides. Triangular headscarves are also common accessories.
Most Egyptian belly dancers rarely use finger cymbals in their performances. Floor moves are also rarely used in typical Egyptian-style dances, due to public bans by the government, but occasionally floor moves are used to show the beauty of balance in the menorah dance performed at private parties. Commonly used handicrafts in the Egyptian style include shepherd's sticks or bamboo baskets, canes, candlestick dances and the dance known as Melaya. There are also Kung Fu dances by male dancers, performing with long sticks commonly seen in ancient wars.
The performance method is mainly a combination of mixing, string music, modern drums and dancers singing. American dancers and certain Moroccan dancing veteran Egyptian sideshows favor original Egyptian dances.
Today’s famous Egyptian-style dancers include Dina, Randa Kamel, Soheir, Nour & Dandash, etc. The recent legendary dancers include Soheir Zaki, Nagua Fouad, and Fifi Abdu. The 1940s and 1950s, considered the golden age of Egyptian belly dance, saw the emergence of unforgettable legends such as Taheyya Carioca, Samia Gamal and Na’ima Akif.
2. Turkish style
Turkish cabaret, which is completely different from the Egyptian style, is often seen in performances in nightclubs or restaurants. It is not as subtle and restrained as the Egyptian style. "Anything is good" is more in line with their dance concept, which is a very energetic dance style, large-scale movements, gorgeous and unrestrained. Known for her fast and shaking hip shimmy, jumping and hip movements are also very common.
Belonging to open Europe, dancers usually wear very little, their costumes are gorgeous and expensive, and they often hire famous teachers to make them. However, the boldness, exaggeration and exposure of clothing are not the requirements of this style, but its characteristics. Dancers are accustomed to performing in dancing shoes.
Turkish folk dances are rich in content. Performances usually include the Gypsy skirt dance from the ancient Roman era, wooden spoon dance, tea tray dance (tea trays of different sizes with candles on them), etc.
Turkish dancers perform more floor movements than Egyptian dancers. The music used in the Turkish style is also quite different from that used by Egyptian dancers.
In today’s Middle Eastern dance styles, Turkish dancers also appear to adopt Egyptian-style music and perform adapted Egyptian-style dances.
Historically famous Turkish-style dancers include Tulay Karaca, Ozel Turkbas, and more recently, Princess Banu, Sema Yildiz, and Burcin Orhon. Current rising stars include Asena and Zinnur Karaca (niece of legendary dancer Tulay Karaca).
3. Lebanese style
Lebanese style is a belly dance genre between modern Egyptian and Turkish styles. It is closer to Egyptian style, but has larger movements and is influenced by ballet. It's also more obvious.
It combines elegant movement, changes or pauses in the front, rear, left and right directions, dancing and a little ballet element. Dancers often use the stage as a performance venue, and marching movements and dramatic tension are popular performance elements.
Lebanese folk dances include Debke, Khaleegi (Persian Gulf style) and Said dance.
Lebanese dancers use gauze for a long time when entering the performance, and are also accustomed to wearing dance shoes throughout the performance. Common hand tools include finger cymbals and shepherd's sticks, and occasionally there are sword dance or knife dance performances.
The famous Lebanese style dancers today include Amani and Samara, and the most representative legendary star is Nadia Gamal.
4. Gypsy style:
During the migration process, the Gypsies who originated from India introduced dance to the Middle East and Europe and even to the Americas where it is spread today. Ghawazhees, to use modern terminology, is the street dance of the ancient Egyptian Gypsies.
5. Persian style
It is a dance that is different from most Middle Eastern countries. There is a small amount of abdominal movement and fluctuation. It’s more about graceful arm movements and shoulder swings and turns.
There are many styles of Persian dances and dancers. Some will play demons; these are often religious dances. For example, "whirling dervishes" perform whirling dances as part of their religious or blessing rituals.
Classical Persian clothing usually includes a loose and suitable long dress with long sleeves, usually worn with a long coat outside it
6. Indian style:
Indian-style belly dance combines the charm and gestures of Indian dance with the charm and swing of belly dance. Through the rotation and twisting of the hips, chest and arms, the dance brings out the elegance and sexiness of women. When you think of Indian-style belly dance, do you think of Indian girls in veils, dancers wearing sequined bells, dancing their necks, fingers, arms, waist, and hips to the mysterious and light Indian music, with graceful and charming figures? Land attracts people's attention. Usually Indian style is preferred by sentimental people.
7. European and American styles:
Most American belly dancers do not stick to any pure form of dance, but mix American styles - only the United States was the first to introduce belly dance Called Bellydance. Some dancers like to add influences from other dance styles such as Latin, jazz, ballet, Spanish flamenco, modern dance, hip-hop, etc. to create more styles of belly dance. Latin Queen Shakira is the most typical example.
8. Gothic Belly Dance
The specific word Gothic originally meant the Germanic tribes of Western Europe. In terms of architectural culture and writing from the 18th to 19th centuries, the so-called "Gothic Revival" dug out the dark sentiments of the Middle Ages from the tomb of historical context. At the same time, some literary works since the end of the 18th century have been classified as "Gothic novels" because they have the same tone and style. The background of the novel is usually constructed in a desolate castle or a deep monastery. The protagonist (usually an immature boy or girl) is trapped in an inescapable demonic desire, and starts a story with the (usually masculine) abuser that leads to death. The fate of ending... Musically: nouns such as darkwave, gotht-echno, dark-alternative, and ambiente are all "gothic styles." To describe it more specifically: the fear of darkness, the sorrow of death, forbidden love, the beauty brought by complete pain, in short, the dark side of the human spiritual world.
9. Beledi style
It is an Egyptian country dance and the name of a kind of music. When it was put on the stage, it got a new name "Urban Beledi". The most eye-catching thing about this kind of folk belly dance is its gorgeous and unusual costumes. It is usually worn as a fitted, belted, long-sleeved garment with openings on one or both sides, called a Beledi. Triangular headscarves are also a common accessory.