In the News: 27 Apr: In Marietta, Turkish dance taught with Southern flavor 21 Mar: Belly Dancing With More Belly 21 Mar: Dancing away stereotypes 21 Mar: Shimmying and shaking 2 Mar: Ambassador's belly dancer stages her life 2 Mar: A bowlful of jelly? Not! 4 Dec: In belly dancing, showing your middle isn't taboo 4 Dec: Belly Dancers: Baring it all More news articles...

Belly dancing has long history; many benefits

Many experts believe belly dancing is the oldest form of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from the orient to India to the Middle East. The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength.

Belly dance is a Western name for an Arabic style of dance developed in the Middle East. In Europe, it is sometimes called oriental dance. Similarly, in Turkish it is referred to as oryantal dansı  or dance of the east. In Arabic belly dancing is known as raqs sharqi, or eastern dance, or sometimes raqs baladi, or national dance.

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