Belly dance, known in the Arab world as Raqs Sharqi ("Eastern Dance") or Raqs Baladi ("Folk Dance"), is an expressive Middle Eastern dance form centered on intricate torso, hip, and muscle isolations.
While Western pop culture often associates it primarily with cabaret-style entertainment, belly dance has deep historical roots as a social folk tradition celebrated across Egypt, the Levant, North Africa, and Turkey.
Photography: Walter E. L. Somers
