About Bellydancing - Different Styles

In America we associate the term Raks sharki with cabaret-style belly dance. Cabaret-style dancing is what many Americans think of when they hear the term belly dance. Typical costuming includes a belt and bra set with a skirt, sequins, beads, shiny coins, and other shimmering accents. In Egyptian cabaret the dancer uses body-centered movements and shimmies, often dancing in a fairly small space. In Egypt, night club dancers will also wear full beaded dresses, called baladi dresses, to do the folkloric routines. These types of outfits are also used by American and European dancers when performing folk dances such as the Cane Dance, or the Candelabra dance. Egypt enforces laws where dancers are prevented from performing floor work and certain pelvic movements. When performed as a solo, Raks sharki tends to be improvisational, following the beat and mood of the music. Generally when performed in a group raks sharki is closely choreographed, following the changes in the music.

American tribal-style is a popular dance style is uniquely American. It emerged as a distinctive style about twenty years ago and has become very popular, especially in the Bay Area. This form represents everything from folklore-inspired dances to the fusion of ancient dance techniques from North India, the Middle East, and Africa. ATS has a format consisting of a vocabulary of steps that are designed to be performed improvisationally in a lead-follow manner. Pure ATS is performed in a group, typically with a chorus of dancers using zills, or finger cymbals, as accompaniment. The music can be folkloric or modern, and the costume is heavily layered, evoking traditions of any or all of its fusion of cultural influences. A typical costume would feature tassels, long fringe, pantaloons, voluminous skirts, antique jewelry, and elaborate hair and headpieces.

In Turkish-style cabaret, the dancer makes larger hip and body movements and uses more of the stage. Turkish law does not impose restrictions on Turkish dancers' movements and costuming, and therefore are often more outwardly expressive than their Egyptian sisters. Another distinguishing element of the Turkish style is the use of the Karsilama rhythm in a 9/8 time signature, counted as 12-34-56-789. Turkish belly dance costumes can be very revealing, with the belt sometimes worn high up on the waist and split skirts which expose the entire leg, although dancers today are costuming themselves more like Egyptian dancers and wearing more modest "mermaid"-style skirts. The Turkish style is emphasized further by the dancer wearing high heels and often platform shoes.

Tribal Fusion is a term that describes the blending of contemporary influences; including modern fashion, film and television imagery, the world of rock and hip hop, underground subcultures, etc. to create a hybrid form of belly dancing. Every year in the U.S. more fusion and personal styles are added into belly dance, making it one of the most diverse dance forms within the U.S. to date. Although Tribal Fusion will often utilize quite traditional forms, it is more often performed to contemporary electronic music (generally also featuring a fusion of modern and more tribal elements).

Gypsy dance is another style which is widely danced in the U.S. Gypsies originally came from India and traveled thorough out the Middle East and Europe bringing their dances with them. The Ghawazhees were originally Egyptian Gypsy street dancers.