Popular claims link the roots of belly dance to ancient Egypt and archaeology proves that dance was very important in ancient Egyptian life. The inevitable intermixing with surrounding cultures, makes it difficult to pin down one origin point for belly dance but Egypt is definitely a Mecca for the dance today and the Egyptian dance Raqs Sharqui is often considered synonymous to belly dance. Belly dancers making the first point have to be careful to not degrade sex workers, or the very roots of belly dance, while elevating themselves. Many dancers in the community have heard things such as "belly dance is not stripping" or "belly dance is sensual, not sexual" ad nauseam. The belly dance world may still have far to go when it comes to truly embracing, embodying and expressing true intersectionality.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 21, 2018 16:41 UTC