To keep your body in shape or to acquire slim figure more and more women are making their choice in favor of oriental dances, namely belly dancing. What are the benefits and difficulties of belly dancing? What are the contraindications for belly dancing?

Let's take a closer look.

What attracts us to belly dance

At first glance, belly dancing is the perfect solution in every sense, the instructors of this colorful east direction claim that regular classes oriental dances will help to quickly restore shape, get rid of excess fat in the hips and abdomen, strengthen the muscles of the pelvis and tighten the buttocks, relieve back pain and improve posture. And if we add the erotic aspect of oriental dance to the list of advantages, then it seems that there is no need to think more.

Then why do European doctors sound the alarm that oriental dance can be very dangerous?

How belly dancing helps you lose weight

Any representative of the fair sex knows that in order to be a happy owner of a slender, graceful figure, you must always spend more energy than what enters the body with food.

Such elements of belly dance as blows, shaking, eights, rocking chairs and steps, in one hour of classes, can burn at least 400 kilocalories. Despite their external simplicity, this is a decent burden for the female body, because literally all parts of the body are involved in the dance: head, stomach, hips, buttocks, legs and arms. Properly performed oriental dance movements make the pulse stay in the “energy burning” zone stably. So regular rehearsals with a frequency of 3-4 times a week are a great alternative to aerobic training in the name of losing weight.

But fitness trainers admit that belly dancing can help model a figure not for everyone. If you have a trained body, accustomed to constant stress, then you will need to make more efforts to lose weight than beginners. Alternatively, you can perform dance elements with good amplitude, without interruption throughout the session, and with a concentration on the quality of each movement. But if you do not feel warm muscles, slight fatigue, or do not feel the load at all, you are unlikely to lose weight. In this case, it is better to choose another fitness program.

The unconditional benefits of belly dancing

What results can be obtained in return for the time and effort spent on conquering the belly dance?

- The first surprise for you will be the improvement in coordination of movements and the strengthening of the vestibular apparatus. Your body will acquire natural grace, flexibility and plasticity.

- In the process of performing some dance movements, there is an improvement in blood circulation, which is very useful for the prevention of congestion in the pelvic organs.

- After a month of stable belly dancing, the spinal column is strengthened and relief comes even for those dancers who previously had spinal injuries.

- Belly dancing is an excellent prevention of diseases such as osteochondrosis and hypertension.

- A couple of months of classes is enough to improve the flexibility of the joints, and not only in young girls, but also in older women.

- A special technique of hand movements in belly dance, due to the tension of the spinal muscles, corrects posture defects, reduces or eliminates stoop.

- The shoulder girdle and arms involved in the performance of oriental dance help many belly dance fans to maintain the ideal shape of their breasts for many years.

- Such a component of oriental dance as shaking significantly reduces the appearance of cellulite and prevents new fat deposits in problem areas of the thighs and buttocks.

- Rhythmic breathing, which is the basis for performing all the elements of the dance, reduces stress and helps to get rid of depression.

The role of belly dancing in preparing women for pregnancy and childbirth

Belly dance plays a special role in preparing women for pregnancy and childbirth. In the first case, he trains important muscle groups that are not usually involved in Everyday life, strengthens the back muscles, which account for the main load during childbearing, and prevents the development of varicose veins in most pregnant women.

In the second case, due to training the muscles of the perineum, strengthening the abdominals and getting used to the loads on the legs, the period of contractions and the birth itself in women are easy, and most women in labor can avoid perineal incisions and ruptures.

"Reefs" of oriental dance

It is important to understand and accept that belly dancing is not a panacea for all diseases, as many fans of this direction are convinced. There is a risk group for which belly dancing, like any other direction of dance or sport, can cause significant harm and endanger health. Therefore, before plunging into the world of the exotic east, be sure to visit a doctor for temporary and absolute contraindications.

Temporary contraindications

- chronic diseases in the acute stage: stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, bronchitis, cholecystitis and others;

- any purulent processes, regardless of the location;

- acute inflammatory processes: ARVI, acute respiratory infections, influenza, tonsillitis;

- the postoperative period of any diseases (the duration of the necessary abstinence is regulated by the doctor);

- pronounced displacement of the vertebral discs, at the stage of rehabilitation, classes are not allowed at full strength;

- phase of exacerbation of diseases of the liver and gallbladder;

- profuse blood loss and painful condition during critical days.

Absolute contraindications to belly dancing

- strong flat feet (due to the main position "on the balls of the fingers");

- undiagnosed problems with the spine, hernia more than eight millimeters;

- benign and malignant tumors;

- congenital heart disease, severe heart disease: rest and exertion angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, mitral valve prolapse;

- hypertension, aneurysms, blockades;

- obstructive bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

The decision whether to dance oriental dances or not is always yours. There are a lot of benefits from belly dancing, but do not forget about the contraindications of doctors. Always make the right choice by listening to your body.

Dance has always been like a conversation with the world, a dialogue, especially women's dance - belly dance. In many myths, it is mentioned that the connection with the unknown occurred through the Woman. And while dancing (communicating with the world), the Woman entered into resonance with nature, felt the rhythm of Life and harmonized herself with it. By this, she was freed from unnecessary tension, through this communication she found answers to her questions, filled with joy, calmness and felt protected, felt herself under the cover of Mother Nature herself. A woman is the source of life, the main purpose of which is to be happy and free. In the East, women embodied these postulates in oriental dance - belly dance. To reunite the nature of the physical, energy and physical state and emphasize your naturalness, belly dance, exotic and bewitching, will easily help ...
Oriental dances are distinguished by unusual plasticity, bewitching movements of the hips and hands. The variety of directions of oriental dances allows you to reveal any temperament, individuality and always be in a good mood.
During classes, all muscle groups are involved, from the cervical spine to the tips of the toes.
As a result, you gain body flexibility and plasticity, joint mobility, chest and waist muscles are strengthened, posture improves, congestion in organs and tissues is stopped, adhesions are stretched, blood circulation and intestinal motility improve. Numerous "eights" of the pelvis, the work of the abdominal muscles, "shaking" will become a unique massage of the internal organs of the abdomen and pelvis, as well as the best assistant in the fight for a thin waist, beautiful hips and smooth skin.

Types of oriental belly dances

FOLKLORIC
Folklore dance is a dance born from the traditions of a country or region. Usually consists of movements that can be learned a large number of people. According to tradition, folklore dance is passed down from generation to generation in the environment in which it is danced. Folklore is the cultural heritage of all people, reflecting their customs, habits, music, costumes and history. Folklore dance, in turn, is divided into:
1. Performed by all people, expressing their feelings. It is not associated with the theatre, this view is very popular at national celebrations and weddings.
2.Performed by theater professionals dance art.

Belly dance / belly dance.
Belly dance is an Arab national dance. Western name for a dance technique common in the Middle East and Arab countries. On the Arabic it is known as Raqs Sharqi, in Turkish as Oryantal dans, i.e. "oriental dance". The peculiarity of oriental belly dance is in its plasticity.

Belly dance
BellyDance is a combination of hip, abdominal and shoulder movements. This dance combines the powerful life-affirming energy of body movements and the bewitching magic of the rhythm of oriental music. A significant role in this dance belongs to facial expressions, gestures, artistry.
The history of belly dancing is rooted in the distant past. Some experts believe that it is The Ancient East became the motherland beautiful dance, called belly dance (translated from French means "beautiful dance") or belly dance. There is an assumption that this is either Egypt, or Mesopotamia, or India. The territory of distribution of the dance is vast: in ancient times, belly dance was danced in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylon and the Central Asian states. In 1500 BC The Egyptians brought bayadères from India to the court, who brought elegance, flexibility, and sophistication to the Egyptian dance. The gypsies also made their changes to the dance, in whose dance there are many rhythms, passion and energy. The ancient Greeks and Turks made an invaluable contribution to the formation of belly dance.
Today, belly dance has conquered not only the East, but also the West. Western choreography introduced its elements into folk dance belly, but this did not spoil the dance at all, modifying and ennobling it.

According to one version, belly dancing arose due to a comical accident. A street dancer was performing in one of the squares of the eastern city, and a bee flew under her skirt. The girl began to wriggle, trying to get rid of the insect bothering her, and the audience liked her movements so much that the next time they asked her to dance without fail in the same way, with her stomach. According to another version, belly dance was a purely harem dance. In order to get the location of her husband, the wife of the Sultan had to be able to attract his attention and for this purpose she performed an erotic belly dance. It was not by chance that the belly dance received such a name - "belly" is life, which means it is a dance of life. The concept of "life" is associated with a woman - a mother and with the earth. That is why the belly dance is directly connected with the development of the cult of the Goddess of Fertility, the Mother Goddess. Different peoples called this goddess differently: Anahita, Isis, Ishtar, Aphrodite. This cult was widespread in many ancient states. For example, in Egypt, the Babylonian kingdom, in India. Rituals in honor of the gods were accompanied by music and dances, which not only glorified these gods, but also reflected their functions, and the dance is the most means of expression to depict any activity. If we talk about the belly dance, then it reflects the process of conception, gestation and, finally, birth. That is why it is perceived so erotically. In the future, belly dancing became an entertaining element in everyday Eastern culture, eventually losing its religious significance.

What is belly dance? It's about being a woman...
There is no doubt that oriental dances have the strongest energy. In the process of learning to dance belly dance, a woman will be able to learn a lot about herself, to identify and solve hidden psychological problems. You will "straighten up", open up, stop slouching. Pain in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine will decrease. Headaches will disappear, joints will be strengthened. Belly dancing helps to form excellent coordination and improves posture. active work hips trains the muscles of the abdomen and strengthens the abdominal press. During the dance, a woman experiences a unique pleasure from movements, the joy of life, love for the world around her. Belly dancing strengthens health and prolongs youth, changing a woman both externally and internally.

GHAWAZEE
The Gavezi are a gypsy tribe that settled in Egypt. The first significant mention of Gaveizi dates back to the 18th century. When the Gavezi were expelled from Cairo in 1834, they settled in southern Egypt. Their music, dance and cultural attributes are markedly different from what the Saidi people, who have historically inhabited the area, are known for. The dance uses cymbals. (Style Naima Akef.)

BALADI
Beladi in Arabic means "homeland" or " native city". In Egyptian slang it sounds like Oriental Shaabi. The Belladi dance was danced in many villages throughout Egypt. It was usually danced in the house of a woman and for women. Mostly it was the movement of the hips. Hand movements were quite simple and unsystematic. They danced barefoot. The traditional dress for the dance is a white dove with a kerchief on the hips and a shawl on the head. Shaabi is a style that is very popular in Egypt, especially in the central part of old Cairo on Muhammad Ali Street, where many famous artists were born and live now. This is the style of such famous dancers as Nagwa Foad, Fifi Abdu, Zinat Olwy.

KHALIGI
Khaliji in translation means "bay", and in dance world this word refers to the music and dance style from the Persian Gulf / Arabian Peninsula region: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman. This group of dances is performed by women and emphasis is placed on the beauty of the dancer's costume and hair. Movements include crisp, quick shoulder shakes, clapping of the palms in varying rhythms, and different steps. The traditional dress for this style is abaya (fustan khaligi).

NUBIA
Nubia, known in antiquity as the kingdom of Kush, stretches south from Aswan to the capital of Sudan, Khartoum. The Nubians, darker than the Egyptians themselves, have their own language, culture and traditions. Aswan is the sunniest place in Egypt. It is located in the south of the country, and was in ancient times a border town. Life here flows slowly. It's nice to take a walk along the promenade or take a boat on the Nile, sit in a restaurant near the water, listen to old Nubian music. Nubian dance is a group dance. Colorful costumes, a special unusual rhythm. People from Nubia are very cheerful and love to dance together. Hundreds of people gather at weddings and they all dance together.
Nubia is the name of a city and district in southern Egypt. Nubia is located on the border with Sudan. Nubian dance is a group dance. Basically it is the movement of the hips. Nice hand system. A special unusual rhythm, mostly fast (similar to the Khaliji rhythm). Dof (tambourine), Khus (reed plate) are used as accessories for dancing. Nubian dance is very cheerful and original. It has a lot of jumps, claps. The position of the body in the Nubian dance is not found in other folklore styles of Egypt: the center of gravity is strongly shifted forward, peculiar movements such as chest upstrokes, interesting hand movements.

SIWA
Siwa is one of the Arab Bedouin dance styles. On the border with Libya and Africa, in the Sahara desert, among the mountains is the Bedouin settlement of Siwa. Until recently, Siwa was the most inaccessible of the oases in Egypt. It is also one of the most unusual oases. The inhabitants of Siwa have their own culture and customs, they speak the Berber language, which is different from Arabic. Most of the women wear traditional clothing and silver jewelry. In Arabic, the name of the settlement “wahet siwa” sounds like “an oasis in the city”. Siwa is the name of the city and the people. In the dance, the main emphasis is on the movement of the hips. This style of dance has a narrow circle of professionals. The traditional clothes for this style are knee-length pigeons + harem pants, a headscarf covering half of the face. Women love to use a lot of hand accessories (as do Gulf women).

ANDALUSIAN
Andalusia was the name given to the southern part of Spain, which was occupied by the Arabs for 800 years. This dance was formed there and acquired the characteristic features of flamenco. By the way, one of the versions of the origin of the word flamenco - from the Arabic "fallah man gu" - a singing peasant. This style of dance is performed accompanied by beautiful, rhythmic music and at the same time soothing, respectively in a costume that emphasizes the ease of each movement.

DABKA
Dabka is an incendiary folklore dance from Lebanon, an indispensable element of folk festivities from antiquity to the present day. Dabka is a predominantly male dance (but there is also a female version). It is also performed in Syria, Palestine and Jordan, and is considered very popular in many countries of the East.
Often it can be seen in the men's circle at the holidays. The dancers clasp each other by the shoulders, make numerous jumps, make stomps with their feet. Women also take part, but quite rarely. The movements are energetic, and the music itself is cheerful, listening to which you yourself want to start dancing.

ALEXANDRIА (Eskandarani)
Alexandria Egypt's second largest city, Alexandria has Mediterranean rather than Eastern features. The spirit and culture of the city is different from the rest of the country, although it is only 225 km from Cairo. Translated into Arabic, Alexandria sounds like “Eskandarani”. Eskandarani dance style is very cheerful, incendiary and playful. Traditional clothing for this style is the dress and cape (Melaya). Melaya is part of the national dress of the women of Alexandria.

SHAMADAN
In Egyptian slang, the name of this style sounds like
"Avalem". The full name is "Raqs el Shamadam" - a dance with a candelabra. It has long been danced in Egypt. A large patterned chandelier with lit candles is carried by a dancer at a wedding, illuminating the young people's way to a happy family life. The art of isolated movements of the hips, chest and the softness of the step when a girl dances with a candelabra are amazing - after all, it must be motionless! Only it is necessary to think over the suit very carefully so as not to light it and not spoil it with dripping wax. The traditional costume for this style is harem pants + a top or a long dress with a tight top and a wide bottom. Initially, the Shamadan dance was exclusively ritual - a dancer with a lantern or a candelabra on her head performed a dance, lighting the way for the newlyweds to their new home. This was a kind of blessing and wish for a happy married life. Over time, the dance with candelabra turned into a show, and at the wedding procession (Zeffa), the dancer was replaced by children with candles. But even now, Shamadan is ordered for a wedding, if it takes place in a club or restaurant - then the young people symbolically pass in front of the guests, and the dancer with a candelabra illuminates their path.
The main thing is to correctly calculate the time and size of the candle. The candle should burn a little longer than the dance lasts. Therefore, it makes sense to detect before the performance exact time dance and candle burning time. This is especially important for wedding ceremony- according to Eastern beliefs, if the candle went out in front of the young, this promises them misfortunes in family life or the imminent death of one of the spouses.
When it comes to chandelier decorations, it all depends on your personal taste. Shiny glass pendants and hangings will add brightness and mystery to the dance, throwing glare of light into different sides. Moreover, with the help of decorations, you can make the chandelier more stable - for this, the bulk of the accessories should be placed closer to the base and center of the chandelier.
AT recent times dancing with fire is prohibited at competitions due to the danger of fire, so Shamadan is increasingly moving into the category entertainment shows in restaurants and clubs, and of course remains a ritual wedding dance for residents of Egypt and Arab countries.

FARAONIC DANCE
Seven thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians already knew how to dance, and this is captured on their frescoes and on the walls of all ancient temples. “Until now, we do not know exactly how the ancient Egyptians danced, but we can suggest how they started the dance phrase and how they ended it, drawing inspiration and imagination of the current Egyptian choreographers, we create movements and connections based on what we saw on these ancient frescoes” . (quote from the book “Dance in Egypt” by Mr. Nabil Mabrouk, a well-known master choreographer and lecturer on the history of oriental dance).

tabla
It is impossible to imagine the East without the Arabic drum called Tabla. The sound of this instrument can be heard wherever you are in the East: On the street, in the bazaar, in a cafe, on a ship, at any Arabic wedding…..
Tabla is the most popular and famous arabic instrument. This instrument is the heart of oriental music and dance. Extremely loved and adored in Russia. Maybe because the sound of this instrument resembles the beating of a heart… If we talk about its exact origin, it is unclear. In addition, they say that the tabla was created in India, and is an Indian instrument, but in order to bypass all these disputes, it will be enough to say simply and correctly - the tabla is an instrument of the East. By the way, the most famous musician who played the tabla was Ravi Shankar.
As we have already said, the tabla is a drum, and if you have already visited, for example, Arab and other Eastern countries, then you have probably heard its sound everywhere - on the streets, in the bazaars, and on ships, as well as its You can't help but hear at an Arab wedding. The inhabitants of the East are very fond of dancing to the magical sounds of this drum, and this dance has exactly the same name as the instrument to which it is performed - tabla.

Dance with a SHAWL (scarf)
This is one of the most theatrical dances requiring acting skills. A scarf is also a background to emphasize the beauty of the body and movement. This is what hides, then to open.
It is very important for the dancer to feel the scarf not as part of the costume, but as part of her body.
There are many types and forms of scarves: Malaya, Gulf and others.
The scarf is so clearly associated with oriental dance that it seems as if it has always been in it. However, historians cannot find ancient roots for this type of dance. The Egyptians say that the scarf may have even come from Russia. In the 1940s, the ruler of Egypt, Farukh, invited the Russian ballerina Ivanova to teach his daughters the art of ballet. Ivanova taught a famous Egyptian dancer named Samia Gamal how to walk beautifully with a scarf and some movements with it, and the scarf took root in Egypt. Western dancers work with the scarf in great detail, wrapping themselves in it and revealing themselves seductively. A fairy tale is alive in the European mind: East, harem, bodies beautiful women hidden by expensive fabrics... The Egyptians themselves use a scarf only to go on stage, and after 30-60 seconds they throw it aside. Western style seems tasteless to the eastern public and is too reminiscent of a striptease. Russian girls work in a kind of intermediate manner.

Dance with cymbals (Sagata)
Cymbals are one of the most ancient musical instruments in the form of two pairs of wooden or metal plates. The dancer uses their sound as musical accompaniment to your dance.
Sagats (or cymbals) require a good knowledge of traditional music and rhythmic patterns. Sagats are distant relatives of the Spanish castanets, only they are made of metal. The performer manages not only to dance, but also to accompany herself with the ringing of sagats. You can also add your own rhythm to the music by playing the tambourine or tambourine.

SABER DANCE
This is a rather difficult dance. The contrast looks very interesting: a feminine belly dance and a formidable edged weapon of eastern warriors. However, the girls do not make fighting movements with a saber, they usually use it for beautiful balancing on the head, stomach or thigh.
People like to believe that in ancient times, women who accompanied men on military campaigns entertained them with a weapon dance at night in tents. Western explorers are bringing us down to earth again. Say, everything went from the painting of the 19th century French Orientalist Jerome, which depicted a girl with a saber in a dancing pose. Of course, we will think as we please, but we must know that neither in Egypt, nor in Turkey, nor in Lebanon is the saber very popular with dancers. But there is a male saber dance, where the saber is waved, but never balanced either on the head or on other parts of the body.

Dance with FIRE
Continuation of the cult of fire. Scented oil candles or lamps may be used. As a rule, they dance with thick bright candles. The lamp with a candle, reminiscent of Aladdin's lamp, also looks great in the dance.

Dance with the SNAKE
A less common dance is the snake dance. It is rather difficult to dance with such an “attribute”. It takes great skill, courage and experience with the snake.
The snake can keep the girl company in the dance. To see what it looks like, you can refer to the movie "From Dusk Till Dawn", where Salma Hayek dances with an albino python. Of course, this was again invented by the West, greedy for small effects. Perhaps when we also have so many dancers that they have to compete for jobs even by such means, snakes will also get some distribution.

SAIDI ORIENTAL
Many nationalities live in Egypt, but the hottest and most dangerous people Egypt is the Saidi people. They live along the Nile from the city of ASYUN to the city of ASWAN, in the southern part of Egypt. The men of this area of ​​Egypt are very fond of beautiful mustaches. They specially grow and care for them, because big and long mustaches are a sign of prosperity and wealth, especially if weapons, gold and 4 wives are attached to the mustache.………… There is a saying that sounds like this: The most beautiful (cool) man in his mustache can land an eagle.
Saidi - this word refers to everything related to the Said region in Egypt. The Saidi style can be danced with or without a cane.
Asaya: Asaya is the Arabic term for walking sticks. This dance came from Southern Egypt from a region called Said or Upper Egypt. Traditionally in this area, men carried long bamboo sticks with them, which they used as weapons. Gradually, a special male dance, Takhtib, was formed, in which a battle on sticks was imitated. Women adopted the style of dancing with a cane, but made the dance easier and more playful, and made a separate style - raks el asaya (dance with a cane)

The magic of bewitching movements, becoming, grace, languid bliss and passion, all this is an oriental dance that triumphantly conquered many European countries. It also happened because todaybellydance is available to almost all women who visit modern fitness clubs. At present, both housewives and business women understand that liberated plasticity, gait, posture, are finally just good mood the most important thing in our life. And it is oriental dances that help to understand your body and feel feminine and desirable.

A bit of history

The birthplace of belly dance is ancient Egypt. According to legend, belly dance originated and was performed only in the temple of the goddess of love and fertility, Isis. Later, the dance began to be perceived not as a sacred ritual, but as a spectacle that delights the eye. According to historians, the local nobility presented Napoleon who conquered Egypt with four hundred dancers as a gift, who had to entertain the French soldiers. Perhaps, then the tradition of giving Arabic dance as a gift was born.

Subsequently, belly dance absorbed elements of gypsy and Spanish dances, hand movements became more expressive, and the dance itself became more dynamic and complex. rethinking sacred meaning dance, its followers believed that the performance of the movements brings happiness and good luck. There are several styles of belly dance: Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish, but modern teachers prefer to combine various styles to make each lesson varied and accessible even for beginners.

Technology features

Belly dance includes three parts: taksim, actual dance and shaking. Taksim is the slow part of the dance. The dancer makes movements with her body, practically remaining in one place. The dance itself is performed to faster music, consists of many arabesques and waves. Shakes are small quick movements that create the effect of vibration of the abdomen or buttocks, although this is due to the movement of the knees. When performing shaking, a constant rhythm must be observed.

The peculiarities of teaching dance in a fitness club are that the principles of building connections and explaining movements are taken from aerobics, only the lesson is based on the technique of classical bellydance. The activity goes non-stop. People do not stop even for a second during an hour, not forgetting that dance is primarily an aerobic exercise. And in order not to get confused and enter the correct rhythm, links and explanations are built from simple to complex. Then even beginners do not feel like "strangers at this celebration of life", and they can repeat everything.

Of course, liberation in belly dancing is the most difficult thing. But, overcoming our “ossification”, gently working on ourselves without violence, with love for our own nature, dissolving in the mood of the dance, we are gradually changing internally as well. It all starts with accepting yourself and, first of all, the features of your figure and appearance. Namely, this conscious attitude is the basis of female charm and attractiveness.

About figure shaping

There should be no illusions here: just doing bellydance, you will not automatically lose weight and create a perfect figure. Yes, dancing is the most natural of the activities, but at the same time, it’s a fairly similar load. We cannot engage in dancing all the muscle groups necessary for a balanced, harmonious load on the entire body. For example, in oriental dance, the back of the thigh, the gluteal muscle practically do not work, the triceps, that is, the back of the arm, are not loaded ... Therefore, if you want to have a harmonious figure, the muscles need to be pumped up additionally. In addition, being thin is completely optional: the body must be, the main thing is that muscles “play” during the dance, and not fat. But this is achieved by practice.

Padvantages

Mastering the basic dance moves is not that difficult. Their effect is guaranteed. Being engaged in oriental dances in the club, women claim that after each training they feel all the versatility of the load on the body. We list the most obvious advantages of such a load.

Effect:

After a month of classes, the condition of the spine improves significantly; women “straighten up”, open up, stop slouching.

Cause:

During classes, not only willy-nilly, you have to keep your posture, but also make smooth bends and “waves”, which has a beneficial effect on the spine. In addition, the flexibility of the joints is noticeably developing, and this is the key to youth.

Effect:

Classes in belly dancing have a beneficial effect on the complexion.

Cause:

The point here is to improve the functioning of the intestines, which functions after classes are much more productive than without them.

Effect:

Belly dancing awakens femininity, has a positive effect on reproductive function. Many people say that belly dancing helps them cope with ovarian dysfunction.

Cause:

In the process of dancing, blood circulation increases, and especially in the pelvic organs. Slags leave the body, and, as a result, inflammation of the appendages disappears. 6-12 months of belly dancing classes relieve menstrual cramps, due to which many women have to sit on pills. Also, belly dancing is exercise stress on those muscle groups that are not involved in our daily life, but are necessary for a woman for her main function given to her by nature - bearing and giving birth to a healthy child.

And of course, let's not forget about self-awareness, the joy that the dance itself brings. Performed to pleasant oriental music, it requires even rhythmic breathing, which reduces stress levels, because rhythmic breathing affects the pleasure centers and releases mood-enhancing endorphins. And of course, through dance you can learn to express your sensuality. After all, it is not for nothing that professional dancers say that the main thing in belly dancing is not strict adherence to the canons, but improvisation, emotions and mood.

When and where did oriental dances appear?

When we say "oriental dances", we certainly mean Arabic dances. Arabic dance the abdomen has many roots. The origins of oriental dances can be traced on the frescoes of the ancient temples of Mesopotamia. The frescoes have been preserved beautiful images dancing people. Frescoes, whose age dates back to about 1000 years before the birth of Christ, are also found on ancient Egyptian temples. It is believed that these frescoes describe the ancient ritual dance dedicated to fertility and the birth of new life.

The priestesses who danced in the temples spoke to the spirit of the Great Goddess through their dance. It is possible that some of the movements of their dance have been preserved in those oriental dances performed by modern dancers.

Ghawazi (translated from the Egyptian dialect - strangers) performed an oriental dance on the streets and, as a rule, did not differ in education.

Avalim were dancers who received a special dance and musical education. Avalim knew how to play various musical instruments, were well versed in poetry, could perform poems and songs of their own composition, like the geisha of medieval Japan.

The styles of oriental dance of Gavazi and Avalim were quite different. Some experts who study the history of oriental dances believe that such dances were a ritual preparation for childbirth. In those days, there were no hospitals, painkillers and other medicines to facilitate the process of childbirth, so you had to give birth as nature intended.

Another direction of oriental dances is known as Beladi. Translated from Arabic, this word means "homeland" or "hometown", which reflects the great popularity of the dance among the peoples of Egypt. At first it was a women's dance performed only for women. The main characteristics of Beladi are a variety of hand shapes that do not have a clear connection and a system with swaying reeds. In general, the dance made a vivid impression.

Instinctively, women turned into a ritual those movements that strengthened and toned the muscles and thereby facilitated childbirth. It is easy to see that many belly dance moves are centered in the abdomen or pelvis. As a combination of muscle tension and relaxation, they train the internal organs and tone the abdominal muscles. Wave-like movements actually involve those muscles of a woman that push the baby out during childbirth.

Other researchers believe that high dances originated in Central Asia and such a dance had a sacred meaning, it was part of the ceremony of worshiping the female maternal principle.
For example, abdominal movements are mentioned in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. They were used for the purpose of meditation and transition to a new astral level.

The ritual of oriental dance was held on the occasion of the birth of children, and the dance itself gradually spread in the countries of the Near and Middle East, as well as in the Mediterranean.

In Greece, with the help of belly dancing, the sick were healed, accompanied by loud music and screams. The Indians brought smoothness and softness of movements into it, the Turks enriched it with complex and unusual rhythms, and the gypsies gave it passion.

In the Harmony club in Mytishchi, learning from experienced masters, you can master the art of dance to perfection.

Smooth movements of the hips, undulating vibrations of the abdomen, a mysterious smile, grace and plasticity of the dancer drive the audience crazy, immerse them in the bliss of the sensuality of this exciting spectacle... And this has been going on for more than 11 thousand years... Belly dance - this is a way of expressing one's admiration and praising the maternal principle of the women of Central Asia. It is even more likely not a dance, but a form of meditation, a ritual with a deep sacred meaning. In a similar way women praised women in childbirth on the occasion of the birth of a child. The dance immediately interested representatives of other peoples and gradually began to spread to other eastern countries and the peoples of the Mediterranean. Due to the fact that different peoples interpreted belly dance in their own way, its meaning changed for each nation. Some put their concepts of astral perception of the world into it, others - healing properties. Some peoples used it to enrich their internal culture. The gypsies who lived in the east effectively incorporated belly dance into their national dances, filling it with their unusually beautiful and charming movements, overflowing with the passion inherent in the gypsy people. The only people who remained indifferent to the belly dance were the Islamic people, whose confession did not allow them to focus their attention on such moments.

Storybelly dance
Initially, dancing was not inherent in everyone. They had a ritual character and were performed by shamans in their rituals. Ordinary people, participating in actions, also had the right to make these movements. The abundance of customs and their accompaniment to many processes of everyday life led to an ever greater penetration of dance into everyday life. Appearance instrumental music moved the dance from the category of mysticism to the category of ways of entertainment or revealing positive emotions. They danced everywhere: both after a successful hunt and to celebrate the victory and to accompany the wedding ceremony. Often dances expressed negative emotions. It was believed that in this way one could turn to God so that he would remove the burden from the soul of the dancer. Further development dance art took place under the influence of Islam, which passed to the territory of modern Turkey with the Seljuk and Iranian culture. During the formation of the Ottoman Empire, belly dance continued its development in Istanbul, where it acquired its final form. When Islam became the main faith in Turkey, the canons of which prohibit women from showing a half-naked body unfamiliar men, dances formed a rather unusual branch - male dances performed only by men. Women's belly dance acquired some modesty in outfits, which excluded a number of movements and made it more restrained. But regardless of who makes the dance movements, each of them is based on the expression of desire and passion. Therefore, it is oriental dances that are considered the most erotic, and even sexy. For modern Turkish dances a huge impact provided various European currents. This led to the emergence, along with traditional religious movements, of new sports and modern variations. Historical movements can now be observed in isolated settlements rarely visited by foreigners and only at holidays and ceremonies. Tourists, as a rule, can observe only the basics of traditional dance, without the whole palette of diversity. Now, as before, oriental dances in Turkey are very popular, which gradually crosses the borders of the state and is gaining more and more large territories. European culture starts to take on some features oriental cultures including dancing.

The legend of the origin of belly dance
There is a legend associated with the appearance of belly dance. A bee flew under the clothes of the young dancer, confusing the heated body, anointed with oils, with a fragrant flower. The girl, in order to get rid of the annoying insect, wriggling her whole body, began to vigorously twist her hips and make movements with her stomach ... Researchers have established a connection between many dance movements and the movements of a woman in childbirth, which indicates its basic function of supporting childbirth. In the East, where girls were married very early, belly dancing was taught first. The specificity of the dance is in the constant dynamics of relaxation and tension of certain muscles, which helps a woman synchronize her movements and labor pains, and alleviate pain during childbirth, increase plasticity pelvic floor and joint mobility. East Dance has many roots. It existed even in the pre-Islamic and pre-Christian era, and even before Judaism. Its origins can be traced in the frescoes of the ancient temples of Mesopotamia (Western Asia), on which images of dancing people have been preserved. Ancient Egyptian temples have similar frescoes. It is believed that they describe an ancient ritual dance that was performed at ceremonial festivities dedicated to the birth of children and the harvest. Gypsy tribes had a great influence on belly dance. The Gypsies traveled through India, the Middle East and Europe, temporarily settling in Spain. It is not difficult to trace the similarities between Indian and Middle Eastern folk dances. Middle Eastern dance is also the progenitor of modern flamenco. Islamic countries, where harem relationships traditionally existed, shifted the emphasis in dance from worship of the maternal principle to seduction. Belly dancing for numerous women in the harem served as a way to win the attention of the owner. There is evidence that 3.5 thousand years BC. the art of oriental dance, traveling along with nomadic tribes, also came to the ancient Slavs. The Proto-Slavs changed the nature of the dance. It already has a slightly different ritual meaning: the wife, dancing this dance for her husband every year on their wedding anniversary, remained just as desirable, young and beautiful after many years. About 300 years before the advent of Christianity, the Slavic version of this dance began its journey back to Asia. Having got modified again to Turkey and to the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, for almost 400 belly dance kept its sacramental meaning of "dance for the only man", but then some dancers began to perform it for money. So the ritual version of the dance began to lose its esoteric meaning, and over the next 350 years it became known in all the countries of the East, in India, Ceylon, Japan, Afghanistan, as well as in Africa, Europe, and the Far Eastern lands. In the 80s XIX years centuries, belly dance has become widespread in Europe. The dancers of that time, as a rule, performed in long dresses, the hips were emphasized by a scarf. In the 50s of the 20th century, Islamic sentiments intensified in Egypt, which led to a tougher attitude towards belly dancing. In the Middle East, two new dance centers managed to form - one of them was Bahrain, where there were no strict rules regarding belly dancing. Libya became the second dance center. At the same time, in Turkey, belly dance developed more in the cabaret style, the costumes of the dancers were more open and seductive than in other styles.

Historical roots of belly dance
Belly dance is a laudatory hymn to Woman, Sensuality, Motherhood. This is the dance of Life, filled with deep feelings that accompany the birth of a new soul. Preserved through the millennia, Belly Dance is reborn in the modern world along with the need of every woman to realize her true nature. The art of this dance, which has its roots in the depths of centuries, reflects the ancient cults of fertility, abundance and love. It is with the rites of worship of Egyptian Isis, Greek Aphrodite, Babylonian-Assyrian Ishtar, embodying the image of the Great Mother Goddess, that the emergence of this ritual dance is associated. Belly dance is the most ancient dance of the Earth. Therefore, it has many directions, styles, types. Many peoples of the world have influenced and still influence the development of this dance.
Ancient Egypt considered the birthplace of belly dance. Geographical position Ancient Egypt was such that it was a rather isolated state, so for a long time the dance was formed only by the Egyptians and other peoples did not influence it.
In ancient Egypt, the art of dance was highly valued. There were many different types of dances in it: ritual, harem, military dances and dances that were danced just for fun. The images of dancers and dancers that have survived to our time testify to how the dances were performed. In ancient Egypt, the dance was quite diverse, there were much more movements than in the “traditional” belly dance. Hands were generally "soft", flowing, open, but there were also characteristic jerky, geometric movements with clenched fists. Over time, Ancient Egypt began to be more influenced by neighboring countries: Syria, Palestine, Nubia, Sudan, Ethiopia. In 1500 BC. The Egyptians brought bayadères from India to the court, who brought elegance, flexibility, and sophistication to the Egyptian dance. After the New Kingdom period Egyptian civilization began to fade, more and more exposed to the invasions of neighboring countries, and in 30 BC. e. Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.
gypsies. The merit of the gypsies is that they were a kind of connecting link between different cultures. Traveling around the world, they left traces of their culture and absorbed the flavor of the culture of the country through which their path lay. The Gypsies left India around 420. AD and proceeded through the countries of the East to Europe, stopped in Andalusia, where they found people close to their liking. In Andalusia, the flamenco style was born - a mixture of Arabic, gypsy, Jewish, Spanish and other dances.

AT Ancient Greece there were many religious ceremonies during which people danced. Dance was an obligatory part of the worship of such gods and goddesses as Dionysus, Bacchus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter and many others. Greek dance was characterized by energy, even fury, often accompanied by screams, rather loud musical accompaniment. Dance was considered a means of healing from various ailments of the body and spirit.
IX-X centuries in India associated with the heyday of temple architecture. At the temples, ritual dancers necessarily existed, who were considered very revered people, had houses in the best quarters of the city and did not pay taxes on land. Each dancer had an excellent musical, choreographic and linguistic education. It was believed that the dancer was married to a temple deity, so she would never be a widow. For Indian dance hand movements are very characteristic, each gesture has a certain meaning, therefore the dancer does not hold the cymbals in her hands during the dance, the cymbals are attached to various parts of the body.
Turkey. To understand the nature of Turkish dance, one has to look into history. The Turks settled on the Central Anatolian Plateau, then they began to conquer nearby lands, move further into Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Ottoman Empire was formed, which for a long time united representatives of various civilizations and peoples. Therefore, there were several thousand folk dances that intertwined with each other, and it is impossible to say that there was a purely Turkish dance. In Turkey there were religious dances, folk dances and even very spectacular performances were staged. Turkey has made a great contribution to the art of dance in the form of the invention of complex and interesting rhythms. Islam's bans on dance affected mainly dancers in large cities, settlements, but practically did not affect folk dances in isolated villages, so even now in remote villages you can see the dance as it was many years ago.
Europe. Napoleon opened Egypt to Europe. In addition to many archaeological values, Europeans, along with Egyptian culture, generally saw a belly dance.
USA. In 1893 Saul Bloom brought oriental dance to America. Since at that time there were quite tough morals and everything that was connected with the body was considered indecent, then Saul Bloom managed to shock the audience with a perverted presentation of oriental dance, which he called belly dance. Since then, the name, as well as the association of this dance with striptease, unfortunately, has stuck.

Styles and trends
Saidi. Saidi is a cane dance. It originated in an area of ​​Egypt called Said, where shepherds and warriors lived, who used bamboo canes as weapons. Women, on the other hand, reborn these warlike movements into a beautiful energetic dance.
Dance with a headscarf. This is one of the most theatrical dances, requiring acting skills. A scarf is also a background to emphasize the beauty of the body and movement. This is what hides, then to open. It is very important for the dancer to feel the scarf not as part of the costume, but as part of her body.
Gulf dance (khaliji). This dance is performed by the peoples of the Persian Gulf countries. Khaliji is an incredibly subtle, lyrical dance. Costumes for this dance open only part of the face and hands. The basic step of this dance imitates a camel ride.
Dance with cymbals
Cymbals are one of the most ancient musical instruments in the form of two pairs of wooden or metal plates. The dancer uses their sound as a musical accompaniment to her dance.
Saber dance. This is a rather difficult dance. It is said that in ancient times, when seeing off their husbands to war, women carried a saber on their heads - this is how this dance originated. And they say that dancing with a saber, a woman demonstrates her defiance.

Belly dance until the 19th century
Until the 19th century, oriental dance was performed in the family circle and on family holidays. Weddings, circumcisions, bar mitzvahs and other similar events could not do without this dance. Sometimes a professional dancer was hired. Since these were mostly family festivities, strangers and strangers rarely got to see this dance. Beginning in the mid-1800s, trade fairs became popular. Dancers from the Middle East began performing in Europe. The first oriental dance show was held in Paris in 1889. The expression "Danse Du Ventre" ("belly dance") was coined in 1893 by Saul Bloom, impresario of Midway Plaisance and the "Street in Cairo" exhibition at the Columbian Trade Fair and Chicago World's Fair. He did this deliberately to excite the twisted imagination of the Victorians of the day, who were willing to pay any price to see something "obscene" in their minds, and then they could go home and pretend to be shocked. Mr. Bloom's calculations were correct, and he earned enough funds to finance his future congressional elections, which he subsequently won. As a result, the name stuck, thus contributing to this interpretation.
In the 1880s, Europeans began to take in the charm of the East. Writers such as Gustave Flaubert and artists such as Jean-Leon Gerome traveled to the Middle East and North Africa for inspiration. Tourists visited this region to gawk at the exotic landscapes and people. The colonial armies of England and France occupied several countries in the region. From the 19th century and into the first decades of the 20th century, professional dancers in Egypt are divided into Ghawazee and Awalim. Ghawazee were gypsies who usually performed in the streets or courtyards, often with lower-class audiences. The Awalim were more respected than the Ghawazee. They could not only dance, but also sing, play musical instruments and read poetry, they were often invited to the homes of the rich. Until the 30s. 20th century, dancers were more likely to perform in homes or cafes. Then, in Cairo, a Lebanese girl named Badia Mansabny opened night club Casino badia, which was decorated in the style of European cabarets. The varied program featured oriental performances in the form of dancing, singing, musicians and comedians, various European numbers, and even a daytime family concert. Officially performed in rather small venues, Raks Sharki had to adapt to big scenes. European dance choreographers working for Badia Mansabny helped train the Oriental dancers, adding elements from other dance schools, especially ballet. At the beginning of the 20th century, Cairo became a major city with a third of a million inhabitants, of which 20% were non-Egyptians. Most of the foreigners in Cairo were merchants. The Baladi style has evolved along with the urbanization of the population. When the villagers came to the city, they were exposed to the influence different countries and the result was a change in dance style. The Baladi style, influenced by the West and the dances of Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Persia, India, other countries of the Middle East and perhaps through contact with Ghawazee, developed into a new dance known as Raks Sharqi. The new dance was a mixture of styles and costume details, adapted for an individual female performance. People often say "women's solo dance", distinguishing it from folk dances, usually group dances. A dance with a lot of hip movement is associated with Baladi, and the center of movement moves up to the torso.

Varieties
There are more than 50 styles of oriental dance, there are also directions:
- Egyptian school - a more chaste version of belly dance in closed outfits with smoother movements.
- Arabic school (khaliji) - hair dance, which got its name from the characteristic waves of loose hair.
- the Turkish school is more sensual, the costumes are more frank, dances are accepted on the table, communication during the dance with the audience.
The belly dance was influenced by the Arab folk dance dabka (a collective hopping dance similar to the Celtic jig).
Accessories . In some types of belly dance, accessories may be used:
- cane (saidi dance, related to the male military dance takhtib)
- tambourine (nubia shamanic dance)
- the fire
- sabers
- sagats (metal discs)

Costume
The belly dance costume has a name - bedla. Its classic elements are the bodice, belt and wide skirt, often with a slit at the hip. The costume for the conservative public includes a covering veil for the abdomen, arms and hair. Instead of a skirt, harem pants can sometimes be worn. The whole costume is decorated with beads, rhinestones, monists or pearls. Decorations play a big role, as they attract attention, captivate the eye and give the dance a flavor of oriental meditativeness. The skirt can be wide (sun, semi-sun) or straight, with one or more cuts. The bodice and belt are embroidered with sequins, beads, etc. Fringes and pendants decorated with sequins and beads are sewn to these parts of the costume. And this is not accidental, because in oriental dance the emphasis is on isolated movements of the hips and chest, therefore the costume is decorated in such a way as to emphasize the movements, to strengthen them. The costume enhances the fabulous impression made on us in oriental dance. In the traditional belly dance costume, the belly is left open to show the actual belly dance, but there is another type of costume - this is a long dress, closed with a scarf tied around the hips (this is how the Egyptians danced). Dance shoes deserve special mention. Traditionally, belly dancing is danced barefoot, but today, when belly dancing has become a kind of variety show, dancers wear high heels. But for training it is better to use Czechs, soft dance shoes, and, even better, to train barefoot.