Bellydance Styles Summary Outline

A. Folkloric Styles
     1. From Egypt
          a. Saidi and Raks el Assaya (usually with a cane or stick)
               aa. Tateeb (men’s version)
          b. Beledi (“dance of the people” or “country” dance)
          c. Shamadan (candelabrum)
          d. Melaya Luff (from Alexandria)
          e. Falaheen (“farmer’s” dance)
          f. Nubian (Afro-Egyptian, from southern Egypt)
          g. Ghawazee (Egyptian “gypsies”)
          h. Hagallah
     2. From North Africa
          a. Zar (exorcism-type trance dance)
          b. Guerda (joyful trance dance)
          c. Tunisian
          d. Morroccan Tea-Tray dance (usually performed by men)
          e. Schikhatt
     3. From Turkey
          a. Kashlimar (many styles)
          b. Tanoura (Sufi dance)
     4. From Lebanon
          a. Dabkeh (line dance)
     5. From Saudi Arabia
          a. Thobe Nashal
     6. From Iran
          a. Classic Persian (many styles)
          b. Bandari
          c. Baba Karam
     7. From Greece
          a. Chiftitelli (fast urban popular dance)
     8. From South-East Europe
          a. ChoChek (“gyspy” style)
B. “Oriental” Styles
     1. From Egypt
          a. Raks Sharqi
          b. “Golden Era” Bellydance (20s -50s)
          c. Modern Raks Sharqi
     2. From Turkey
          a. Danse Orietale
     3. From Lebanon
          a. Raks al Lubani
     4. From America
          a. “American Cabaret” or “Vintage Orientale”
     5. From Argentina
          a. Danza Arabe
C. Fusion Styles
     1. American Tribal Style Bellydance
     2. Improvisational Tribal Style Bellydance
     3. Tribal Fusion
     4. Gothic Bellydance
     5. Fantasy Bellydance (performance art-esque)
     6. Bollywood
     7. Spanish-Arab Fusion or Zombra Mora or Andalusian
     8. Samba Oriental
     9. Latin Oriental
     10. Tango Oriental
     11. Ballet Fusion
     12. Jazz Fusion
     13. Hip Hop Fusion
     14. Lyrical Fusion