las delly dancs with u

Traditional Middle Eastern dance

When immigrants from Arab States began to arrive in New York in the 1930s, dancers started to perform in nightclubs and restaurants. Some of today's most accomplished performers are their descendants, e.g. Anahid Sofian, Aisha Ali, and Artemis Mourat.^[12][13]
In the late 1960s and early 1970s many dancers began teaching. Middle Eastern or Eastern bands took dancers with them on tour, which helped spark interest in the dance.
Although using traditional Turkish and Egyptian movements, American Cabaret or American Restaurant belly dancing has developed its own distinctive style, using props and encouraging audience interaction. Many modern practitioners make use of the music of Egyptian Sha'abi singers, including Ahmed Adaweya, Hakim, and Saad el Soghayar in their routines, which combines the percussion of modern Egyptian music with a traditional feeling for music and dance in the Raks Sha'abi (dance of the people) style.
Raqs Sharqi continues to be widely practiced. Maria Jammal and Mahmoud Reda, both being of Middle Eastern descent are noted for its substantial presence in the U.S.

[edit] American Tribal Style

Main article: American Tribal Style Belly Dance

Further information: Improv Tribal Style Belly Dance

American Tribal Style Belly Dance performance in Pacifica, California (2004).

In 1987, a unique and original American style, American Tribal Style Belly Dance, (ATS), was created. Although a wholly modern style, its steps are based on a fusion of ancient dance techniques from North India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Tribal style dance is characterized by muscle isolation to create smooth, undulating movements. Like other forms of belly dance, Tribal dance is more accessible than many other dance styles to people with a wider range of body types, ages, and health problems.^[14]

[edit] Tribal Fusion

Main article: Tribal Fusion (dance form)

Further information: Bellydance Superstars

Many forms of "Tribal Fusion" belly dance have also developed, incorporating elements from many other dance and music styles including flamenco, ballet, burlesque, hula hoop and even hip hop. "Gothic Belly Dance" is a style which incorporates elements from Goth subculture.

[edit] Europe

Performance in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 2010.

Belly dance has been practiced in Europe since the 1960s.
Many dancers in Great Britain credit the developments since the 1980s to Suraya Hilal, who performed throughout the Middle East and Europe during this time, and who appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1980 and 1982.Suraya Hilal.
Today, many European belly dancers have been greatly influenced by the US dance hybrids, and have gone on to create their own forms of urban and folk bellydance. There is also a thriving scene in cabaret bellydance/burlesque crossover performance. American Tribal Style Bellydance is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative. There are a number of belly dance festivals popular in Europe.

[edit] Australia

The first wave of interest for belly dancing in Australia was during the late 1970s to 1980s with the influx of migrants and refugees escaping troubles in the Middle East, including drummer Jamal Zraika. These immigrants created a lively social scene including numerous Lebanese and Turkish restaurants, providing employment for belly dancers.
Early dance pioneers included Amera Eid and Terezka Drnzik. Both of these teachers have pedigrees linked back to Rozeta Ahalyea. Belly dance has now spread across the country, with vibrant belly dance communities in every capital city and many regional centres.

[edit] Fitness and health

In the Western world, belly dance classes are advertised to as a form of physical exercise for health and fitness reasons besides as a performance art.
Belly dance is a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise and is thus suitable for all ages, and is a good exercise for the prevention of osteoporosis in older people. The isolations improve flexibility of the torso. Dancing with the veil can help build strength in the upper-body, arm and shoulders.
According to Paffrath (2005), playing the zills trains fingers to work independently and builds strength. The legs and long muscles of the back are strengthened by hip movements. Paffrath also researched the effect of belly dance on women with menstruation problems. The subjects reported a more positive approach toward their menstruation, sexuality, and bodies. ^[15]

[edit] In western pop culture

Belly dancing has recently been repopularized by Latin American superstar Shakira. Although she was born and raised in Colombia to a Colombian mother and a Lebanese father, her Lebanese background has influenced her style.
The Brazilian novella O Clone also known as El Clon in Spanish-speaking countries and the United States, is set in Brazil and Morocco and featured belly dancing in many episodes. The lead character, Jade (Giovanna Antonelli), used it to entice her lover Lucas (Murilo Benício) and to soothe and seduce her husband Said (Dalton Vigh).
Several James Bond films have featured belly dancers. In The Man With the Golden Gun, the belly dancer Saida wears a spent bullet in her navel, which Bond accidentally swallows while trying to retrieve it.
R&B singer Aaliyah used the belly roll as her signature move. Other singers and actresses who have performed belly dance moves include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Yvonne De Carlo, Jessica Simpson, Beyoncé, and Ciara.
Probably the most famous belly dance troupe is the group formed by Miles Copeland, Bellydance Superstars tours internationally, furthering the popularity of bellydance around the world by performing over 700 shows in over 22 countries. The troupe now performs in much the same venues as Riverdance and other mainstream dance shows. The shows have made stars of several of its dancers, including Rachel Brice, Jillina, Sonia, Petite Jamilla, and Kami Liddle.
Documentaries about belly dance include American Bellydancer, Belly, and Temptation of Bellydance.