Egyptian Dance:
Evolution of an Art Form

Workshop Summary

Every dance has a history. Learn the history, and you'll have the power to answer people's questions and misconceptions about our dance. This workshop covers how Oriental dance ("belly dance") evolved from its roots as a social dance into the theatrical form we know today.

Detailed Description

Every dance form has a history, whether it be ballet, modern dance, or raqs sharqi (belly dance). By learning that history, we are better able to promote respect for our dance form with our families, our friends, our students, the press, the academic world, and our audiences. Regardless of which style of this dance we prefer to study and perform ourselves, learning about the past can enrich our experience, connect us to our roots, and bring us a deeper understanding of what this dance is about.

Much of raqs sharqi as we know it today is based on the performing art that arose in Egypt and spread throughout the Near East through Egypt's motion picture industry. This makes Egypt the logical starting point for exploring the roots of our dance.