About Belly Dance - Pregnancy, Ghawzee, Assaya, Restaurants in Brisbane

"Belly Dancing" originates from the folkloric dances of the Middle East. Some of these dances were religious or spiritual in nature, others designed for court or harem entertainment, others celebratory.

Other Names for Middle Eastern Dance:
Belly Dance, Bellydance, Oriental Dance, Raqs Sharqi, Danse Orientale, Tsiftitelli, Egyptian Dance

Regional and cultural variations have given birth to many different dance styles, each with particular music and costumes.

Countries of Origin:
Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Greece, India etc.

The style of belly dancing most Westerners recognise is a relatively new (20th century) fusion of many different Middle Eastern dance steps with a generous dollop of Hollywood and western ballet steps thrown in!

Other people have already written extensively on the origins of Middle Eastern dance so here are some links:

Origins of Oriental Dance
In Search of the Origins of Dance
Why the Fuss over Egyptian Style Music and Dance?

	Styles of Egyptian Dance
	Saidi - an "earthy" style from Upper Egypt, often using a cane (raqs al assaya) as a prop, more covered costumes, such as a baladi dress, are usually worn, use of more traditional instruments e.g mizmar
	Baladi - "Urbanised Folk" - evolved early this century, usually danced in a baladi dress, specific musical format
	Ghawazee - Female gypsy style dance, very traditional instruments such as arghul, rebeba
	Cabaret - This style is what western audiences recognise as "belly dance"; glitzy costumes, may combine a few different styles in the one act
	Zaar - spiritual "trance" dance, specific drum rhythm link to more info (arab-esque)
	Nubian - dance style of the Nubian people of Upper Egypt link to more info (egypt magazine)
	Milaaya Luf - playful Alexandrian dance style using a black shawl (milaaya) as a prop link to more info (arab-esque)
	Aida Noor with Milaya Luff
	Pharonic - theatrical style inspired by the poses found in ancient Egyptian paintings

	Where to find Belly Dance music in Brisbane
	Azziza's Belly Dance Supplies Ph 3359 4680
	Rockinghorse Records (Adelaide St) JB Hi Fi (Adelaide St), Borders (Albert St), HMV etc - Look under Bellydance or Middle Eastern in the world music section
	Amera's Palace, Sydney, order by phone or email

	Where to see a Belly Dancer in Brisbane It is a good idea to ring ahead to check whether there is a belly dancer performing that night. Most restaurants only employ belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights.
	Caravanserai Restaurant, Turkish, 1 Dornoch Tce, West End, Ph 3217 2617 Dancer 8.30pm
	Ottoman Cafe, Turkish, Mollison St West End Ph 3846 3555 Dancer 9.00pm
	Efes One, Turkish, 293 Sandgate Rd, Albion Ph 3862 4599 Dancer 8.00pm
	Kapsali, Greek, Southbank, Ph 3846 1804 Dancer 8.30pm
	Harem Restaurant, Turkish, Given Tce Paddington Dancer 7.45pm Saturday
	Ahmets Turkish Restaurant, Turkish, Southbank ph 3846 6699 Dancer 8.30pm
	Ahmets Turkish Restaurant Bulimba Dancer 7.45pm
	Al Samar, Lebanese, The Grange Dancer 8.00 Friday
	Little Indian Palace, Indian, Cleveland Dancer 7.30pm (First Friday of the month)
	La Kazbah, French Moroccan, 669 Stanley St Woolloongabba Ph 3391 7439 Dancer 8.30pm