Bellydance is an oriental dance. It was born in Middle East during the mesopotamian age and it has spread little by little in the countries of Maghreb, most of all in Egipt.
During the twentieth century because of cabarets, this dance arrived in Europe too and in occidental countries. Today it is very famous in all the world and it is a real discipline object of stages, competitions, national and international championship and above all festivals. In the occidental countries, where the bellydance has reached the highest level, particular attention should be paid to the countries of east europe from where come bellydancers with great fame in all the world.
Even if it is expression of sensuality, bellydance is practised from women, as expression of femininity and from men, as espression of elegance and class. Many men are considered the greatest international MASTERS of this dance.
Bellydance, physical and mental wellness
Particular attention should be paied to the benefits that come from the bellydance practise. There are very many!!!
Phyisically it helps the firming and toning of the muscles, and the blood circulation. It helps to eliminate the troubles of the spine, the lumbars and the cervical.
About the top part of the body, in fact are involved:
– shoulder and arms, always in movement and coordinates;
– breast, hips, lumbars and abdominal with considerable benefits for the internal organs of women.
About the bottom part of the body, bellydance involves:
– gluteus, legs, calves and muscles of the feet.
Bellydance’s movements let, then, from a side to work on strength invigorating the muscles, from another side let you to have litheness of movement and flexibility. Other benefits are about articulation and breathing. Is very important to remaind that such advantages can come only with the right practise of the discipline.
About the mind, bellydance increases the self- esteem and helps you to have good mood taking away the stress. So, delicacy of the movements, grace, elegance, vitality, these are all elements which let one person to increase the self-believe and feeling good with the body. Like every activity that makes one person busy with the mind, the practice take away the attention from daily problems and let you to have mental clearity again!
Then, because of exibitions like solist or in group, bellydance let you to improve the quality of the social life, developing also the capacity of coordination and collaboration inside the team.
Styles and accessories
There are more than 45 different styles of bellydance. In general we have some big groups: classic-oriental; oriental-modern; folkloristic; show bellydance. So, you can find Raqs Sharqi classic stile, Baladi with movement more accentuated. There is Saidi with the use of stick like a part of folklor, the Andalusian oriental with large skirts like for the Flamenco, there is Khaligi with large and long costumes… and many many others!!!
There are styles that are connected with the original region and characterized from a particular costume or dress. In according with the style you can use many accessorizes. It is possible infact to use veils, sticks, cymbals, swords, Iside’s wings, fan veils and candelabrum creating a real artistic show!