There are two main types of Turkish dance-Turkish “Oryantal” belly dance and the folkloric Turkish Romany “gypsy” dance. Modern Turkish Oryantal dance as it is currently performed today has been heavily influenced by Egyptian classical style belly dance, so it’s hard to define a “purely” Turkish style, but Turkish style of belly dance definitely has its own unique style and “flavor”.

Generally, Turkish style has a more bouncy and energetic feeling which is influenced by the music which is of a 9/8 time musical signature. This “uneven” rhythm gives the dancing a more upbeat feeling with the movements performed more on the soles of the feet with a higher center of gravity. Turkish belly dance has a more unbridled energy to it-joyous, spontaneous, fiery and assertive.

There can also be sharp and aggressive hip movements, strong arms with a straighter line and powerful pelvic lifts. Turkish belly dance is also known for its “floor work” which is belly dance movements performed on the floor. This is very characteristic of Turkish style and is one of the things that it is known for.

Another thing that Turkish dance is known for is a move called the “Turkish drop” where a dancer very quickly and dramatically drops to the ground by bending at the knees causing the thighs and back to lay flat on the ground. After the drop, the dancer will transition into doing floorwork using slow and sensual movements like undulations, figure-8’s, shimmies and backbends.

Turkish belly dance can be very athletic and incorporates a lot of movements that require incredible flexibility like backbends. It is also common to see skillful and frequent use of finger cymbals (“zagat”) in this style of dance.

The other popular style of Turkish dance that you are likely to see is called Turkish Romani style and it is a unique style of folkloric dance. It is also called “gypsy” style and very few people teach and perform this authentic style, either inside or outside of Turkey. The dance is very different than Turkish Oryantal style, emphasizing a lot of strong pelvic movements and has a very earthy and grounded feeling.

You will see a lot of hand movements such as fists hitting different parts of the body like the shoulders and hips and gestures illustrating different aspects of everyday life like doing the laundry or playing an instrument. Turkish Roman style is always danced to the 9/8 rhythm and it gives a very earthy and folkloric feeling to the dance. If you get an opportunity to learn this style, definitely do it as it is a very fun and unique!

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How to Choose the Belly Dance Style Right For You:

In the following series of posts I will be describing the different belly dance styles to help guide you in your choice as to where to begin in your exploration of belly dance. But be open minded and realize it is just that-a start. If you don’t connect with a particular style or teacher, just try something else! There is almost always a good fit for everyone-it’s just a matter of finding it.

I also think that music plays a huge role in choosing what style you would like to dance to because it’s what inspires you to want to dance in the first place! If you don’t like the music, it’s not likely you will want to dance to it.

In addition to describing the different styles I have also given you some sample videos to watch of some of the top dancers representative of this style. As they say, a picture says more than a thousand words. And in this case this moving picture will allow you to see and hear what makes each style different and unique.

It’s also really important to emphasize that the descriptions of the various styles are not black and white and it is by no means intended to be a comprehensive or authoritative guide on the belly dance styles. Volumes can be said about each style, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with those details.

My intention is to give you a general sense and overview to better guide your decision as to what style of belly dance to try first. In this world of global influence there can actually be a lot of cross-over and each style of belly dance isn’t “pure” or live in a vacuum. But unique flavors and differences can be seen between them and that is what I would like to highlight for you.

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Egyptian style belly dance is also called “Raks Sharqi”- an Arabic term meaning “Dance of the East” or “Dance of the Orient”. When people think of belly dance, it’s likely they have a picture in their minds of this style. Raks Sharqi, or Egyptian style belly dance, is the most popular style of belly dance today and is the style most commonly taught and performed around the world.

It has had the greatest impact and influence on belly dance and is considered by many to be the “authentic “style of belly dance. What many people recognize as the classic belly dance movements come from Egyptian style of belly dance. Belly dance in Egypt underwent significant transformation throughout the years, from being essentially a folkloric style of dance to being in mainstream cinema, in nightclubs and on the professional stage.

As you will see from the section on the history of belly dance, Raqs Sharqi developed from the folkloric style of dance of the common Egyptian performed in everyday life, called “beledi” style dance, to the refined artistic dance form called “Raqs Sharqi” which was fit for the stage and was theatrical with strong influences from classical ballet.

Egyptian dance is characterized by its elegance and refinement with an emphasis on feeling. Compared to other belly dance styles, the movements are characterized by being smaller, more controlled, refined and “interior”, using deep internal muscles.

Classical Egyptian dancers place a great emphasis on feeling-deeply feeling the music and expressing the emotions of the music through their body movements. Because modern Egyptian dance is also heavily influenced by classical balletic movements, there is a strong element of graceful arms, floating movements and an emphasis on fully utilizing the stage space.

Finger cymbals, or “sagat” are not used in Egyptian style dance because dancers typically perform with a band that already has a sagat player. Floor work is never performed (at least in Egypt) as it is considered inappropriate and is actually prohibited by law.

Raqs Sharqi can be either improvised or choreographed depending on the setting in which it is performed. If it is being performed in a nightclub or hotel, it is usually improvised, while if it is being performed on stage it is usually choreographed. Whether it is improvised or choreographed, the overall feeling is that of one movement flowing seamlessly to the next, intense emotional expression of the music and great technical skill of all the belly dance movements.

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