In Arab societies, belly dancing is frowned upon and viewed as a form of excitement and sensuality, but let us go back to the distant past; throughout ancient history, belly dancing did not take on that sensual, exciting character, but rather sought to elevate the soul and body to a spiritual world, which is what the dancer must embody in her performance. Belly dancing became a recognized profession in the Middle Ages, at that time, gypsies crossed to Egypt, where they learned belly dancing, and then began to transfer it to their countries, but where did the story of belly dancing begin?
The beginning is in ancient Pharaonic Egypt
The director of belly dancing training, Ruqayya Hussein, confirms, saying, “No one dances like an Egyptian woman, I think it is an inevitable talent.” The truth is that the origin of belly dancing goes back to ancient Egyptian civilization, which is clearly evident in the drawings on the walls of Pharaonic temples, which show women dancing belly dancing, not for entertainment, but instead to ask for the blessings of the gods for fertility, prosperity and growth.
There are clear parallels between the general movement of the body, especially the abdomen and lower body, and sexuality, pregnancy and childbirth. While it seems that every civilization in the eastern Mediterranean had its own version of belly dancing, the consensus seems to be that it is the Egyptian version that has given this art its glory, especially in the modern era.
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