Discover the World of Belly Dance
The global encyclopedia and network for dancers, instructors, organizers and everyone who loves this art form.
The Atlas Journal
Trending news and stories
Stories · 18 September 2026
Tahtib: Egypt’s Living Art of the Stick
Is it a dance, a game, or a martial art? Tahtib is a little of all three - and that is exactly what makes this Upper Egyptian tradition so fascinating. Here is how to recognize it, understand its cultural roots, and see the difference between community Tahtib and the staged stick dances belly dancers often encounter.
By Raqs Atlas team
Stories · 17 September 2026
Baladi: How to Hear, Feel and Dance an Egyptian Progression
Baladi is one of those words you meet everywhere in Egyptian culture - and in dance, it opens the door to a wonderfully grounded, musical conversation.
By Raqs Atlas team
Stories · 16 September 2026
Best Belly Dance Veils for Beginners: How to Choose the Right Veil + Recommended Options
A good veil should feel like an extension of your movement, not something you have to fight. This beginner-friendly guide explains the most important differences between silk, chiffon and other lightweight fabrics, how to choose the right size, and what to look for before buying your first belly dance veil.
By Raqs Atlas team
Calendar
Upcoming festivals and events
Cairo, Egypt · 9–15 July 2026
Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival
One of Cairo's best-known international Oriental dance festivals, built around Egyptian dance workshops, gala performances and intensive study with Egyptian and international teachers.
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Almería, Spain · 2026
Almariyya Fest
International Festival of Arabic Flamenco and Oriental Dance created by Rocío Danza, combining workshops, contests, coaching, colloquia, shows, parade elements and hybrid in-person/online participation.
View festival →
Nicosia, Cyprus · 11–13 December 2026
Alraqs Festival Cyprus
International Oriental dance festival in Cyprus with master teachers, workshops, gala programming, competition, welcome events and a dance bazaar.
View festival →
- 22 August 2026Baladi Improvisation LabOnline
- 12–13 September 2026Drum Solo IntensiveBelgrade, Serbia
- 12–18 October 2026Cairo Nights Festival 2026Cairo, Egypt
Directory
Featured dancers and instructors
Dancer · Ukraine
Verona Kemet — Veronika Kremenskaya
Verona Kemet is a Ukrainian Oriental dancer who has become increasingly visible through international competitions, festivals and teaching engagements. She trained extensively with Egyptian and international master teachers while developing within the…
Bucharest · Romania
Ruxandra
Ruxandra is a Romanian dancer whose formal background includes study at the Floria Capsali Choreography High School and later performing-arts education. Her broader movement training encompasses ballet, contemporary dance, Romanian folklore, Latin dance…
Dancer · Egypt
Ahmed Refaat
Ahmed Refaat is an Egyptian folkloric dancer and choreographer with more than three decades of professional experience. He began dancing around the age of nine at the El Gezira Youth Center, where he trained under Egyptian teachers including Mokhtar Mustafa…
Cairo · Estonia
Maris
Maris is an Estonian dancer who began studying Oriental dance in 2005 and started teaching several years later. Her professional ambitions eventually took her to the Middle East, where she worked first in locations including Sharm El Sheikh and Dubai. She…
Encyclopedia spotlight
Learn the art form
Turkey
Turkish Oriental
The Turkish branch of the dance: faster, bolder, with Romani influence, 9/8 karşılama rhythms, floor work and zil (finger cymbal) virtuosity.
Egypt
Drum Solo
The percussive finale of a routine: dancer and tabla player in open conversation, accents made visible.
Egypt
Shaabi
Street-smart popular dance of working-class Cairo — direct, humorous and tied to shaabi music's blunt poetry, later feeding into mahraganat.
Legend · Canada
Hadia — Jocelyn Chouinard
Hadia, born Jocelyn Chouinard, was a Canadian performer and educator whose career spanned almost four decades. She began dancing as a teenager and eventually entered professional nightclub performance in Vancouver before expanding her studies internationally…
Legend · United States
Bert Balladine
Bert Balladine was one of the most influential male figures in the early development of belly dance in the United States. His background included circus, ballet and theatrical performance before he encountered Middle Eastern dance during travels that included…
Legend · Egypt
Hoda Shams El Din
Hoda Shams El Din was an Egyptian dancer and actress of Armenian heritage who became part of the country's Golden Era entertainment scene. She studied at an Armenian school in Cairo before entering the professional performing world. Director Niazi Mustafa…
Music
Songs and rhythms
Scene in focus
Belly dance in Egypt
The historical heart of raqs sharqi. From the Cairo nightclubs of the 1920s and the Golden Era film studios to today's Nile-side stages, Egypt shaped the vocabulary, music and star system of the dance.
Schools
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