The History of Belly Dance Costumes
Belly dancing is a beautiful art form that has a rich cultural history. Although many different countries claim that they invented the dance, all can agree that it is an art form with centuries of history. The costumes associated with belly dancing also have a rich cultural history.
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Country of Origin
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Various cultures have claimed that they created the belly dance, including the Romans, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and the Turks. Some claim the dance is a traditional folk dance, while some say the dance has roots in religious performances. A belly dance costume is referred to as "bedleh" in Egyptian Arabic.
Parts of the Costume
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Each costume is a little different, and varies depending on the nationality of the dancer. Generally, the dancer wears a two-piece dance costume that leaves the arms, belly and parts of the legs bare. The costume is usually a bra top and a skirt. The dancer wears ornate jewelry, and often wears two separate scarves that have bangles or coins attached. One scarf in triangular, the other is rectangular. Sometimes a veil is worn in the Western world, but this not traditional.
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Caftan
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A caftan (a long, loose-fitting robe) is also worn for belly dancing, or as a robe worn by the dancer before she gets on stage.
DVD Appearances
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DVDs of Egyptian belly dancing celebrities have become the most visible way to study modern belly dance costumes.
Male Costumes
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Men have engaged in belly dancing in the court of Turkish sultans. Men wore large, loose-fitting pants, and performed shirtless or wearing flashy, form-fitting, belly-baring tops. Occasionally, men wore a turban or other headpiece.
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