Belly Dancing.

You’ll find that many hotels in Turkey host a Turkish themed night, in which it’s more than likely some belly dancing will feature. So, whether you’re thinking of going to Turkey and want to be prepared or just fancy learning a few new moves to impress your friends with this next bit of information should hopefully give you a helpful insight.

Turkish belly dancing is an especially liberating dance, with a flirtatious and un-restrained style. Against what the title would suggest almost every part of the body is featured. It plays on the natural movements of the female body, accentuating curves through isolating other areas, and emphasising the rhythm of the music most prominently with the hips. It is both energetic and sensual; an enigmatic representation of the mystique Turkey’s culture exudes!

The colourful bedlah style costumes that belly dancers wear also provide a vibrant entertainment atmosphere. This traditionally consists of a top that is usually a bra with a fringe of beads or coins on, and a skirt/ harem pants with a hip belt fitted over the top, fringed again with coins or beads.

For many belly dancers the zils (finger symbols) are an important added tool to the dance (but you don’t need to worry about that for now). Below is a video featuring one of the most famous Turkish belly dancers: Didem Kinali.

And if you want to get some basics down now then there are plenty of beginner’s steps on YouTube for you to have a go at. Here’s an example:

Belly dancing is a colourful spectacle to watch. It’s also a great form of exercise and a way to for a moment feel the spiritual energy of some Middle Eastern culture. If you get the chance, give it a go!