Raqs Sharqi

Raqs sharqi (Arabic: رقص شرقي‎, ; literally "oriental dancing") is the classical Egyptian style of belly dance that developed during the first half of the 20th century.

Based on the traditional ghawazi and other folk styles and formed by western influences such as marching bands, the Russian ballet, Latin dance, etc., this hybrid style was performed in the cabarets of interbellum period Egypt and in early Egyptian cinema.

The style is often considered the classical style of belly dance, although that term historically referred to the ghawazi style, and today covers a much wider range of Middle Eastern dance as well as Western styles developed from them.