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Belly dance (Arabic: رقص شرقي, romanized: Raqs sharqi, lit. 'oriental dance') is a Middle Eastern dance[1][2][3][4][5] that originated in Egypt,[6] which features movements of the hips and torso.[2] A Western-coined exonym, it is also referred to as Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance.[7][8][9] It has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style; with the styles and costumes of Egypt being the most recognized worldwide due to Egyptian cinema.[10][11] Belly dancing in its various forms and styles is popular across the globe where it is taught by a multitude of schools of dance.[12]
^Reel, Justine J., ed. (2013). Eating disorders: an encyclopedia of causes, treatment, and prevention. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood. ISBN978-1440800580.
^Buonaventura, Wendy (2010). Serpent of the Nile : women and dance in the Arab world ([Newly updated ed.] ed.). London: Saqi. ISBN978-0863566288.
^Hammond, Andrew (2007). Popular culture in the Arab world : arts, politics, and the media (1. publ. ed.). Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo Press. ISBN978-9774160547.