What is Belly dance?

Belly dance is the western name for Raqs Sharki a type of middle eastern dance.  It is a dance that is traditionally solo form and is improved with the name it referring to the torso isolations.  When your hips are moving, you have a natural shimmy to your midsection refers to the western called name. Every region in the middle east has different look to the dance and costumes can vary in style.  The dance has boomed in the 2000s and has grown to global portions of popularity for fitness and as an art.

The movements found in Belly Dance/Raqs Sharki:

Fluid movements like water
Flowing in and out of movements using 8s/infinity loops or circles with your hips generally.   This is normally used for interpreting melodic lines in the music. These moves depend upon abdominal muscle control. 

Strong movements 
Sharp and quick bumps with the hips. These movements are use to emphasize the music. Hip drops, hip lifts, Vertical hips up and down, hip twists, belady step to name a few. Also you can you upper torso in movements, ribcage drops or lifts and shoulder accents. 

Shimmes   
This is a continuous fast shake of the hips or shoulder.  It adds texture to the movement.  Shimming can vary in size and in execution of the step. These different shimming can be used as a layer in a movement to further the interoperation of the music.

The influence in western dancing styles has introduced with different kinds of level changes, traveling steps, and turns like the arabesque.  More modernly the Egyptian style has put in a lot more high kicks and modern dance movements as the dance evolves. 

It is know a folk and social dance a lot like samba is to brazil. And as a performance art aspect depending on who you talk to. When it is in its social dance context, ordinary families and friends dance parties and wedding but not as a professional dancers.  These people are normally dress without proper dance attire just having fun. It is in more conserved families and areas that would have separate rooms for the party for men and women.  Belly dancing is not the only dance in the middle east.  There is Dabke that is typically done in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. In the Arabian Gulf countries also known as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) they also have their kind of dancing called the Raqs Al Nashal.  Each style of dance has their own drum rhythms.  

The form that you see by professional belly dancers has its roots in the social dancing but has evolved into a stage craftsmanship, like Samba. The costumes have changed to show the movements better and western dances are often mixed in. Some people in the Middle East do not consider performance dance to be a respectable profession, particularly for women, based on religious interpretations where performing in public is seen as forbidden, or "haram". It is important to remember that belly dance is not the only dance in the region. Other popular folk dances include Dabke, a line dance popular in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and the Raqs Al Nasha'al in the Arabian Gulf countries, each with its own unique music and rhythms.

The journey of belly dance from a communal tradition to a global performance art is rich and complex. Historically, the dance was deeply embedded in social and ritualistic life across the Middle East and North Africa. It was a social dance performed by people of all ages at joyous occasions like weddings and festivals. The transition to a professional stage art, or Raqs Sharqi ("oriental dance"), largely began in Egypt in the early 20th century. Venues like Badia Masabni's "Opera Casino" in Cairo were pivotal, blending traditional Middle Eastern dance with Western elements like ballet and stage choreography to appeal to both local and international audiences. The golden age of Egyptian cinema further popularized this stylized version, making dancers like Samia Gamal and Taheyya Kariokka cultural icons and bringing belly dance to global attention.

This evolution has led to the two distinct contexts in which belly dance exists today: as a social folk dance and as a professional performance art. In its social context, also known as Raqs Baladi, it is danced by everyday people at celebrations like weddings and parties, often in regular clothing simply for fun. In more conservative settings, these gatherings may be segregated by gender. The professional form, however, has evolved into a stagecraft where the costuming became integral to the performance. The "bedlah" style, a two-piece bra and belt set, was not a traditional outfit but was inspired by Hollywood's romanticized vision of the "Orient" and was later adopted by dancers in the Middle East to better showcase the intricate torso movements. This professionalization is also where controversy arises.