Yes, anyone can dance this dance from young to old. This dance compliments all of us.

Belly dancing is not only a full on cardio workout that helps increase flexibility and strength, it also works muscles you may have never known existed! This form of dance is also more gentle on the joints than any other exercise, and keeps you constantly shifting your weight and moving.

Comfortable workout clothes, leotard/tights, sweats or skirt & tops, must show body’s outline & permit visibility of movement.

Some say it’s the oldest dance in the world but know one really knows for sure, some say even before written time. Fertility rights where women would assist in birthing. The word “Raks” meaning “dance” in Arabic from folkloric dancing where it was part of every day life through out the different regions of the Middle East, including men, women and children dancing.

The art of Belly Dance (or Oriental Dance) was introduced to the Western culture with the peak interest in the dance in the1800’s when travelers, artists and writers came back with fantasy tales like “The Arabian Nights” of the dance from the Middle East. Originally performed at Chicago’s World Fair in1893 by a dancer named Little Egypt. The name “Belly Dance” was an advisement stunt to attract the Victorian era people to come see the performance at the World Fair of 1893.

“Oriental Dance” or “The Dance of the East” Is an Egyptian style of dance pioneered in Cairo in the 1930’s by the great Taheyya Karioka. Costumes were very refined in Sharki, one or two circular skirts with a beaded hip scarf and fitted top with body stocking covering the belly. In Egypt, dancers are not allowed to show their uncovered belly. Classical Egyptian Cabaret is an elegant, strong, graceful style. The use of a large stage is best, and the dancer wears elegant costumes.

From the Egyptian country side, people bringing their music and dance to the cities, developed early 1900s, longing for their country, develop from the more earthly folkloric dancing. The dancer utilizes a smaller space dance with high energy, control and heavy, strong yet simple percussion. In the Arabic world women often dance for themselves after caring for their family, getting together with other family members to play instruments and dance.

A more recent style of dance developed in the early 1990’s in American. A fusion of movements mixes up from gypsy, Bedouin and other Middle Eastern or North African tribes and is usually in a group where the leader improvises and the others copy.

Sagats are Arabic for finger cymbals, also known as “Zills” in Turkish. The cymbals are affixed to the thumbs and middle fingers of dancers' hands. They were first used as early as 500 A.D. Cabaret, Tribal, and all metamorphosis of Belly Dance frequently include the use of finger cymbals.