Belly Dance, or Dance Orientale, has very inexact origins.  As part of fertility rituals, this exotic dance was a common denominator of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and India.  During this period of time, matriarchy was practice and it was believe that women had magical powers because they could create life.  For this reason, it is believe that these dances where performed by women offering the sensual movements of their bellies and hips to gain the favor of the goddess of fertility and earth.  Today, some people in North Africa and the Middle East still practice Belly Dance during labor.

The search of new exotic cultures, customs, and landscape, in Middle Eastern and African’s countries, resulted in given Raks Sharki the name we use today: Belly Dance.  Raks Sharki or Dance Orientale is characterizing by the movement of hips, turns, and the isolation and control of head, thorax, arms, and hips.  Also, we have Raks Baladi (Folks Dance) which is a more elemental dance where there are hips movements but not much traveling steps.

Until then, Belly Dance had been performed in small places and as private affairs.  However, this change when in Cairo was open in 1926 the first party club, where performances by sensual dancers where in the repertoire.  Casino Badia or Madame Badia’s Cabaret was the center for what we know today as Belly Dance.  Badia Masabni was not only the owner of casino Badia, but she was also the creator of mixing elements from other dance forms like ballet with Dance Orientale, looking to attract an European audience. 

One tradition where this dance was known as a popular dance was elevated by Badia to a more professional level.  She also expanded the repertoire of the belly dancers and the use of the arms with more fluids movements like the snake arms; and the use of the space to dance.  The dancers became more sensual and cheerful.

As Badia Masabni gave Belly Dance today´s sensuality and eroticism, Hollywood was helping to give a bigger impact of Dance Orientale in the world with the introduction of the two pieces costume, which identify today’s belly dancers, and the use of veils in the dance.

The secret of Belly Dance is that never goes out of vogue and everyday has more fans.  Men and women equally work towards the practice of this dance and to maintain its place in the world of dance.  We never end the quest for the exotic, the sensual, and the forbidden.

Pole dancing has very old origin in England.  It comes from the maypole, which at the beginning was a fertility and sexuality ritual.  It was performed to honor the pagan god named The Horned One. Hence, the maypole was a symbolic phallic symbol.   Later, the maypole evolved into the worship of Mother Earth, giving this ritual a more acceptable aspect.  It was very popular in England until around the end of the 1800’s.

Emigrants in the new world carry this tradition of the maypole in to the United States.  And just like basketball and baseball, pole dancing was created in United States.  During the early day the Great Depression, traveling fairs become very popular entertainment. 

They had small tents with a stage, where dancers were feature as the main attraction.  While performing erotic dances, the dancers would shake and grind their bodies sensually while using the poles, which were holding up the tent, for support.

Pole dancing was first performed by a dancer named Princess Pat.  She worked for One Eye Tommy Fallon and Mom Fallon.   And the first recorded pole dance show was by Belle Jangles, who worked in an Oregon club called Mugwump was in 1968.

Pole dances become increasable popular en Canada during the 1980’s.  >From Vancouver comes what we see today in strip clubs and gentleman’s club.  And spread all over the world and as far as China. 

Today, pole dancing is not only for strip clubs and gentleman’s club, women embrace their sensual selves and enjoy taking classes to learn to perform a pole dance and other erotic dances.  However, most women don’t run home to dance for their man. 

Pole dancing is an escape from daily life where women take time for them and enjoy their sexuality.  This way of thinking outside the box creates friendship between women of all kind of social economical status.  Pole dancing is here to stay, not as a ritual, but as a new expression of dance.