At first glance, Alia Mohamed’s Instagram account appears like a fantastical throwback, reminiscent of Middle Eastern record covers and black-and-white movies of the ’50s and ’60s. In one post, the ...

When I turned 17, I wanted just one thing for my birthday: belly-dancing classes. The dance's beauty, grace and creative costumes, along with its strong connection to Arabic music, made it a natural ...

Japan is in the middle of a nascent belly-dancing boom. Over the last few years, the expressive dance has won a growing number of devotees who are drawn to its colorful garb, captivating rhythms, and ...

Belly dancing in Egypt faces stigma despite growing global popularity and heritage value Safy Akef, linked to a dance legend, has never performed on stage in Egypt due to lack of respect Choreographer ...

Belly dancing is often seen as Orientalist, erotic and undeniably feminine – but one Lebanese performer is using it to fight for gender fluidity. In the Middle East, the word ‘belly-dancing’ is never ...

As belly dancing gains popularity internationally, young Egyptian performers are working to restore its reputation at home, pushing back against decades of stigma to reclaim the dance as part of their ...