In Egypt, ballet and belly dance represent two distinct yet culturally significant forms of expression, each with its own history, challenges, and societal interpretations. Belly dance in Egypt may have had roots reaching into ancient Egypt where depictions on temple carvings of rhythmic movements suggest a cultural connection to fertility and communal ritual. Folk traditions later evolved through performers like the awalim—well-educated women who entertained elite households—and the ghawazee, public dancers who popularized the form in the 18th and 19th centuries, creating a foundation for the modern dance to emerge. In the late 1920s, Badia Masabni opened her renowned Casino Opera in Cairo, where she combined Western choreography, orchestral music, and theatrical staging to transform folk performance into the glamorous raqs sharqi, launching superstars like Samia Gamal and Tahiya Carioca into the national spotlight and defining the dance’s Golden Age in cinema from the 1940s to 1960s. To explore belly dancing more, we spoke with Sarah Stern, a passionate belly dancer, and Nenet Nazmy, a dedicated ballerina. Their stories reveal broad cultural dynamics on how different art forms are perceived and celebrated in Egypt. Sarah Stern: Embracing Belly Dance Sarah…
Celebration and Scrutiny: Understanding the Differences Between Ballet and Belly Dance in Egypt
August 25, 2025
By Belal Nawar
Senior Journalist
