Geography and Middle Eastern Dance Culture/History

Geography of Africa, Europe and the Middle East



The Middle East is a large area - with so many different countries, religions, cultures and customs. It is larger than Europe - and we know how many different styles and genres of dance there are in Europe! The vast array of cultural traditions is why the people of the Middle East have created so many different, unique styles of fokloric dance, traditional dance and bellydance.

The Middle Eastern land mass is also known as West Asia. Originally the land masses were named from the European perspective (hence the terms 'Near East' and 'Far East' for central Asia. Morocco, Ageria, Tunisia and Libya are technically not Middle Eastern - they are in North Africa. They are situated west of Egypt and Libya. Study maps of the Middle East and Africa so you can visualise where the lands are and see which borders they share with other countries.

Morocco lies in the west in North Africa, Algeria, Libia and then Egypt are all in Africa. The Red Sea divides Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Palestine and Israel. South east of Saudi Arabia lie the Gulf States, and above, Iraq which borders Iran (formerly Persia) in the east. Above Iraq, Lebanon and Syria then resting in the north, Turkey. East of Turkey are Russia, Turkmenstan and former Soviet states and to Turkey's west are the Eastern European block of countries.


Map showing the Middle East and North Africa:
Countries where Middle Eastern cultural traditional dance evolved

There are a variety of very nique cultural dances from the Middle East. Styles of dance we now refer to as ether 'Folkloric dance', 'Oriental dance' or even 'Bellydance' evolved in several main areas in the Middle East. They were developed by the people of the regions either for festivities, cultural celebrations, entertainment or simply women's dance learnt in the home. Some countries are very large, like Egypt and have many regions and therefore a wider variety of provincial styles. Others are smaller and culturally more concentrated, like Lebanon. So the larger countries usually have more regions with different customs.

The main centres for traditional dance arts are Egypt, Turkey, Iran (formerlly Persia), Arabian Gulf, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Nubia and Sudan. Dance arts from Spain and India also managed to merge with Middle Eastern styles especially during times of cultural trade and exchange. Travelling gypsies from India brought many dance styles with them, now seen throughout the Middle East. In Andalusian Spain, the dance blends a version of Spanish Flamenco with Arabian dance. Nowdays, the Middle Eastern countries we identify styles of dancing with have different names and borders, but the former names associated with early bellydance from the pre-Islamic era were Sumeria, Babylonia, Arcadia and Mesopotamia to name a few. Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman and Ottoman rulership over the centuries shaped not only the geographical borders but with them, came the influx of various cultural arts.

Egypt, Africa and the Sinaii

Egypt's southern region near Sudan and Nubia is called Upper Egypt. This area is famous for it's Valley of the Kings and Queens and ancient temples. It includes the regions of Luxor, Aswan and El Saiid. Lower Egypt, in the north includes Cairo, right near the famous Giza Pyramids, Fayoum and Alexandria. Other regions are the Sahara and Western Desert. It may sound strange that the south is called 'upper' and the north 'lower'. This is because of the flow of the Nile - the Aswan area is closer to the source of the Nile, hence the term 'upper Nile'.From ancient pharonic dance, to the earthy baladi style of urban folkore from this century to modern Oriental, Egypt has a vast history of dance. There are many provincial styles of folkoric dance. In the modern bellydance genre that was extensively developed in Cairo, Egyptians call their style 'Oriental' or 'Raqs Sharqi' (meaning dance of the east). It has many modern fusion characteristics, inspired by Ottoma influences, European ballet and cabaret dance.

North Africa - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia

Morocco's coastal towns like Casablanca are very cosmopolitan, whilst Marakkech is an ecclectic mix of old village tradition and modernity. Tribal Berber traditions still exist in the Atlas mountains. Close to Spain, the Andalusian sytle of dance is a unique fusion of Moroccan and Spanish styles. Traditional dance styles from nearby Algeria and Tunisia are very earthy, and many like the Tuareg are performed on the knees. The dancers on the Algerian fringe, the Ouled Nail, were heavily decorated tribal dancers. This has inspired many modern tribal styles of dance in the west. The Majority of dances from the Maghreb are folkloric, yet in the touristic areas in Tunisia, bellydance is often seen.

The Ancient land of Turkey

Turkey - Istanbul and the Marmaris coastal areas are very modern and European influenced, while eastern Turkey has an Arabic influence and is more conservative. Selcuk, formerly ancient Ephesus (south of Istanbul), is where a celebrational, devotional style of 'temple' bellydancing developed two thousand years ago. Folkoric dance is popluar in Turkey, especially the 'Karsilama' with a special 9/8 rhythm. However in modern Istanbul, the bellydance is well known form of exotic entertainment. Turks call bellydance 'Rakkas'. Turkey is the world leader in production of brass cymbals or "zills', so they are a popular feature of Turkish dance.

Iran (Persia) and Iraq

Formerly known as Persia, Iranian dance is unique, and like its ancient poetry and fine silk carpets - refined and delicate. Since ancient times, women's dance flourished in the areas that are now Iran and neigbouring Iraq. The village dances include the 'Rice harvest' dance and even the 'Dance of the Drunken maiden'! Classical Persian dance was very popular in the pre-Shah of Iran days. Although now public performance is outlawed in Iran, Iranian bellydance can be very modern and uptempo. Iraqi classical music is known the be some of the best in the Middle East.

Lebanon, Syria and Jordan

This group of countries, formerly ancient Sumeria and Babylonia, the pioneering regions of writing and the arts, were prominent in the evolution of women's dance. Balbek, an ancient site of goddess worship in Lebanon is an example. Lebanon, Syria and Jordan have rich folk traditions - sometimes sililar, like the 'Dabke' group dance, which all three countries have versions of. Nowdays, the modern dance styles of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are very up-beat, and Lebanon especially features ultra-modern bellydance.

Arabian Gulf and Yemen

A giant stretch of land, the Arabian gulf has many traditional styles of dance. The khaleegee is the main dance styles from the gulf, and involves a flicking movement of the head and hair. The 'zaafen' is a popular folkloric group dance, usually done by men, and sometimes women, in Yemen - southern Arabia. Bellydance is enjoyed by many women in the gulf areas- even in Saudi Arabia, where it is not shown in public. In these stricter countries, it is done at home. However, nowdays the UAE cities are extremely modern with bellydancing featured in many hotels. Cultural khaleegee displays are often seen for events.