There are several famous dance performances around the world that are highly entertaining: the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the Alcatraz Show in Thailand, and lavish dinner and show experiences in Las Vegas, USA. When you visit the United Arab Emirates, however, you will find a traditional setting amidst the unfiltered beauty of the desert, rather than a glitzy show with splendour and loud music taking the grand, flamboyant stage. The dazzling belly dance shows during the evening desert safari tours with BBQ dinners are one of the most sought-after experiences by Dubai visitors. Not sure what to expect when you book a belly dancing show in Dubai desert safari? Read on to get a gist of the belly dancing experience on your Dubai tour.
About Belly Dance
This mesmerizing dance has been enticing audiences for many years in the Middle East.
Belly dancing is an elaborate dance performance featuring graceful dancers in colourful, shimmering costumes who perform in sync with a doumbek player and singing orchestra. This is usually how celebrations in social gatherings were held back in the day in the Middle East.
Traditional dancers wear the Arabic costume ‘bedlah' which is an ornate top and harem pants or long slit skirts along with a bejewelled belt of sequins and tiny bells. The costume is further enhanced with a veil, coin belts, and extravagant headgear. During the show, dancers include additional props in their choreography, such as cymbal playing or candelabrum balancing.
The music accompanying the dance is often traditional Middle Eastern tunes with catchy rhythms that make it hard to resist tapping your feet along. The highlight of the dance is the solo artistic duel between the talented dancer and a doumbek player matching every dance move with the right beat. Today, it has gained immense attention from all over the world and is one of the most gorgeous forms of dance shows visitors want to witness when they come to holiday in Middle Eastern destinations. It is frequently featured in the Desert Safari tours in the Middle East and is especially a famous inclusion in the Dubai Desert Safari tours. It has become so popular that it has been promoted as a form of dance workout in many Western countries as well.
History of Belly Dance
The idea of dance shows as entertainment has been a long age-old tradition. It has been witnessed throughout history right from Persian Durbars or Egyptian celebrations. Belly dancing was first performed in Egypt way back in the 4th century making it one of the oldest forms of dance in human history. Back then it was called ‘raqs sharqi’ meaning 'dance of the east'. The word ‘belly dance’ was first used by Sol Bloom at 1893 Chicago World's Fair and over the years it has evolved in a myriad of choreography styles. It is believed that the dance was conceptualized in order to celebrate femininity. With time, the dance style gained popularity and made its way to Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Syria, where it was instilled as a traditional art form. Today it has crossed boundaries as belly dancing is not only performed in the Middle East but also in countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It is known worldwide as one of the most enchanting dance forms of the Middle East.
Type of Belly Dance
The dance eventually emerged as a truly global art form as it spread to different parts of the world, evolving and absorbing features from other cultures. Now, it has become an integrated part of many desert safaris and the belly dance desert safari Dubai is one of the most popular tours in demand for Dubai visitors. The belly dance show in Dubai has also evolved and today has a fascinating variety to enthrall viewers. Some of the popular versions of belly dancing are:
Traditional style
Egypt is considered the home of belly dancing and the choreography performed in the Egyptian style of belly dancing ‘Raqs Sharqi’ forms the basic moves. This style is known for its fluid movements and intricate hip drops and exudes grace and elegance with dancers often using traditional costumes, veils and props to enhance their performance, creating a mesmerizing visual spectacle. This type of belly dance in Dubai desert safari is not just a dance but a storytelling medium and dancers express emotions and narratives through their movements.
LED Light Belly Dance Show
Talk about watching a sound and light show in the desert! Watch the Arabian desert camp bedazzled as dancers swirl and sway in LED-lit colourful costumes. The belly dancers add a scintillating charm with their illuminated costumes amid the pitch-black Arabian desert ambience and stir the setting alive with gracious moves and foot-taping beats of modern and traditional fusion. This is Dubai’s way of bringing to the desert safari its innovative touch to a cultural recreational affair.
Fire Belly Dance
This is a contemporary form of belly dance where the element of luminescence emanates from fire-lit props. The choreography of flowing movements and hip drops elegantly fuses the element of fire-lit wheels, headgear and hoops. In stark contrast to the quiet, dark atmosphere of the Dubai desert, the performances infuse the traditional Middle Eastern dance with a dash of flames and electronic beats.
Dubai Desert Safari Tours with Belly Dance
As a tourist, when browsing a website looking for things to do in Dubai, the Dubai desert safari is undoubtedly on the list of options. If you do more research on desert safaris, one of the main attractions of the evening entertainment is belly dancing performances. Belly dancing is performed as a way to introduce people to the Arabic heritage because it is closely related to Middle Eastern culture. Although belly dancing has always been connected to a performance during an exclusive social event, Dubai deserves credit for popularising the dance among tourists as it is included in the Desert Safari Tour as one of its cultural offerings. This dance show is unique as it is not performed in an auditorium but in an open space, right in the middle of the desert under the starry Arabian sky.
FAQS
Is the belly dance show suited for kids to watch in Dubai desert Safari?
Dubai desert safari experiences are family-friendly tours as it is more about the cultural experience. It's a vibrant and colourful performance that showcases traditional Middle Eastern dance. The dance is a professional art form and graciously modest hence it is quite suited for kids. Along with belly dancing, you might also enjoy fire shows, Tanoura dancing, and a hearty BBQ dinner under the stars.
How long does a belly dance performance last?
A belly dance show in Dubai desert safari starts in the evening hours and usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes.
Do all desert safari tours in Dubai include belly dance shows?
Belly dancing shows are held after the sunset as the dark, sublime ambience enhances the effect of the dazzling performance on the viewers. So, only desert safaris that extend into the evening and overnight desert safaris have belly dance shows in their tour inclusions.
Conclusion
Despite its evolution, belly dancing still holds onto its traditional roots, keeping alive the spirit of the ancient art form. The folklore, music, and traditions of the Middle East truly embody the essence of belly dancing and immerse viewers in the rich medley of Middle Eastern culture. The belly dance Dubai experience adds a touch of flamboyant modern creativity to the age-old dance form that keeps the revered Middle Eastern tradition alive to this very day amid modern Dubai visitors.