Folkloric Middle Eastern Dance

Much of the movement vocabulary contained in modern Belly Dance has derived from either rural or urban popular dances of the Middle East. These dances can vary significantly by region in regards to specialized costuming and props used. Often a bellydance performer may include a short section of folkloric dance in a larger multi-part performance set, sometimes complete with a costume change into folkloric dress. There exist several modern-day Middle Eastern dance troupes dedicated completely to authentic Middle Eastern folkdance performance in a theatrical setting.

Some popular Middle Eastern folkdances include saidi (rural Egyptian cane dance), shamadan performance (dance with an ornate candelabra balanced on the head, often reserved for weddings or special occasions) and debke (line dancing of which variants are widely popular throughout the Levant). In recent years, dances from North Africa and the Persian Gulf have also gained popularity.