Belly Dancing has been around for centuries, but it is not for sure, as to where it originated. It still remains a mystery regarding the origin of Belly Dance but according to many beliefs it started amongst the Arab and African nations. Originally it was known as Oriental Dance. In Arabic it is known as raqs sharqi which is translated as dance of the east or dance of the orient. However, the roots of its origin traces back to various places such as the African tribes, Greek temple priestesses, Incas of South America as well as the Egyptian Pharaohs. As- of- now it has a global presence and is being performed throughout the world. It is being widely being shown in pop culture music as well as in performance shows in Vegas and other cities. Even though there are various forms of dances dating back to the ancient times, but belly dancing is regarded as one of the oldest and is considered more as a work of art than a dance.

 

Health Benefits
Lots of people around the world, who are new to this form of dancing like to know, is there are any sort of health benefits in belly dancing. The answer to this question is, any type of physical exercise, be it in the form of dancing, workout or training is bound to have some sort of health benefits. According to the experts, it provides a great deal of both physical and mental relief. By doing the basic belly dance steps, your body gets a good cardio-vascular workout, due to which your muscles get strengthened and the overall flexibility of your body increases. It is not only good for the young people, but also for the old as well. However, if you intend to start it, you must first consult a doctor. There are various types of belly dances and which form will be best suited for you can be known from your instructor. When it comes to the mental health benefits associated with it, it helps in improving the sense of well being, keeps the body in shape which in itself one of the best mental booster and helps in creating a positive outlook.

 

Different Styles of Costumes
There are many different styles of belly dance costumes available on the market. Each of these costumes is considered to be a part of the fun associated with it. The modern cabaret style costume is regarded as the most widely used and featured style. It consists of numerous variations such as a skirt fitted on the hip and running down till the floor, a hip belt as well as a bra top featuring some sort of decorations or jewels. Another popular style is the Tribal Belly Dance costume featuring various layers of heavy ethnic material as well as similar style of jewelry for providing a cultural or Gypsy appearance. For the beginners, there are simple styles of costumes that can be worn during practice but they also feature the Middle Eastern folkloric elements for providing an authentic look. These are only a few of them, if you want to know more about the various styles of costumes, consider using the internet as well as visit specialized stores having a vast collection of such types of garments.