Egypt

Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Beladi

"Raqs Sharqi" Oriental Dance (Classical)

"Raqs Beladi" Folk Dance

Raqs baladi is the folk/social form of bellydance. It is more stationary than raqs sharqi, with little use of the arms, and the focus is on hip movements. Baladi dance has a 'heavy' feeling, with the dancer appearing relaxed and strongly connected to the ground. It is performed to baladi or folk music.

Typical costuming for performances of this dance style is a long dress covering the midriff, which may be plain and traditional, or heavily embellished. Traditionally, a baladi dress would resemble a theatrical version of traditional Egyptian clothing. The most common version has a straight skirt with side slits, long sleeves which may be slit to the elbows, and a scooped or shirt-style neckline. Striped fabrics or tulle bi-telli are popular. A sash may be worn around the hips, and a headscarf is often also worn. A baladi-style performance may include the use of sagat, or the dancer may perform with a cane (assaya).

Fifi Abdou, one of the legends of 20th-century Egyptian bellydance, is often described as a baladi-style dancer.

Raqs sharqi (Arabic: رقص شرقي‎, Egyptian Arabic: [ˈɾˤɑʔsˤe ˈʃæɾʔi]; literally "oriental dancing") is the classical Egyptian style of belly dance that developed during the first half of the 20th century.

Based on the traditional ghawazi and other folk styles and formed by western influences such as the Russian ballet, Latin dance, etc., this hybrid style was performed in the cabarets and in early Egyptian cinema.

Modern Cabaret costumes (with beads and fancy fabrics) were influenced by american showgirl costumes, adapted by egyptian cinema.

The style is often considered the classical style of belly dance, although that term historically referred to the ghawazi style, and today covers a much wider range of Middle Eastern dance as well as Western styles developed from them.