Known in Egypt as Oriental dance or raqs sharqi (literally dance of the East) the phrase bellydance is most circulated in the West.

With its own vocabulary, expressing the emotions of the dancer evoked by the music, it consists largely of bouncing and shimmying hips, delicate hand gestures and fluid but powerful undulations
of the body. Incredible control, subtlety and strenght is what distinguishes bellydance from the more folkloric styles and takes many years of training to master.

The dancing of bellydance legends Samya Gamal, Naima Akef, Tahiya Karioki and others during the 'Golden Years' of Egyptian film industry formed the base for Egyptian bellydance.
Later dancers, who all rose to fame between 1960 and 1980, are Sohair Zaki, Mona el Said and Fifi Abdu and became as influential to the style.