Origins.

Belly dancing was originally from Ancient Babylon in southern Iraq. Adnanite Arabs introduced belly dancing and drumming. Belly dancing was passed on from generation to generation. The drum beats people hear today are the same beats that the Arab tribal men used. Before the arrival of Islam the tribes in Arabia used to gather women in private gatherings or special occasions and perform the belly-dancing, while men from the tribe perform on the drum. Men used to have large feasts of food and wine and watch women while they were dancing.
After the Arrival of Islam, belly dancing was banned due to religious reasons. During the Ummayd and the Abbasid dynasties in Iraq, belly dancing was promoted as a trade by rich people. They used local poor women and, later on, slaves from other parts of the world, especially Persia, India/Pakistan and North Africa and had the local Arab women teach them how to perform the belly dance.
During the time of the Abbasid and the Fatimid dynasties, the Arabs settled in Egypt and passed on the belly dance. Since that time, the Egyptians adopted the dance and it was passed on through generations. Egyptians have been known for having good belly dancers.
There is also some evidence that belly dancing is a reworking of movements traditionally utilized to demonstrate or ease childbirth. There are numerous oral historical references, backed by commentary in The Dancer of Shamahka. This particularly relates to a sub-set of dance movements found in modern raqs sharqi.

Turkish belly dance today may have been influenced by Arab people before the Ottoman Empire as much as by the Egyptian and Syrian/Lebanese forms, having developed from the Ottoman rakkas to the oriental dance known worldwide today. As Turkish law does not impose restrictions on Turkish dancers' movements and costuming as in Egypt, where dancers are prevented from performing floor work and certain pelvic movements, Turkish dancers are often more outwardly expressive than their Egyptian counterparts. Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage as well. (However, people of Turkish Romani heritage also have a distinct dance style which is uniquely different from the Turkish Oriental style.) Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and particularly, until the past few years, their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say that a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer. Another distinguishing element of the Turkish style is the use of the Karsilama rhythm in a 9/8 time signature, counted as 12-34-56-789. Turkish belly dance costumes can be very revealing, with the belt sometimes worn high up on the waist and split skirts which expose the entire leg, although dancers today are costuming themselves more like Egyptian dancers and wearing more modest "mermaid"-style skirts. The Turkish style is emphasized further by the dancer wearing high heels and often platform shoes. Famous Turkish belly dancers include Tulay Karaca, Nesrin Topkapi and Birgul Berai.

The benefits of belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm, shoulder, and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build strength and independence of the fingers. Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as physical as the participant chooses. The art form tones the arms, strengthens and tightens the abs and obliques, and improves flexibility. As a form of exercise, it can burn as many calories as light jogging, swimming or riding a bike.
Belly dance is considered a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise, which is especially good for women, since it can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. There is minimal stress on knees and feet. Depending on the rhythms of the music and the repetitive body movements, participants can increase breathing and raise their heartbeat, which can assist in building cardiovascular strength.

Belly dance is a unique way to get in shape. According to Ali, the instructor in the studio, ”a single belly dance session works hundreds of muscles, burns calories and helps students to de-stress”. An hour of belly dancing can burn as much as four hundred calories. According to the American Council on Exercise “belly dancing has emerged as one of the hot new workout trends in recent years”.
The advantage of belly dance is that it is suitable for all ages and body types. Also the dance can be as physically challenging as the dancer or student chooses. Many belly dance styles teach the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. Dancing with the veil can help to build strength of the upper-body, arm and shoulder. Playing the cymbals can get fingers trained to work independently and build strength. Hip kicks, circles, rolls and body twists strengthen abdomen muscles. The long muscles of the back are strengthen by hip kicks, hip circles and making figure 8s. Belly dancing at low intensities increases metabolism. The dance is not only strengthens, tones and tightens the body, but also improves flexibility. It is also a good calorie burn exercise. In the Eastern medicine as well as in physical therapy, the center of the body plays an important role. In Eastern and Indian philosophy pelvic area is the source of strength and storage of energy. Exciting the pelvic area with belly dance movements allows for the vital area at the base of the spine to open, freeing the flow of energy in this important area.
The movements associated with belly dance strengthen the abdominal and pelvic region, preparing a woman for labor and birth with less pain and more celebration. Thus belly dancing could be used as a good pre labor therapy. Traditionally belly dance often was taught by wise women and includes a school course about pregnancy and birth. The pre- and postnatal research as well as the works of Frederic Le Boyer about gentle birth and Indian infant massage in the 1970s contributed to the decision to begin to place childbirth back into the hands of women.

Belly dance can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and offers just minimal stress on knees and feet. Research suggests that belly dance as a dance of the whole body is good and low stress training for women to prevent osteoporosis. Also the dance can assist in building cardiovascular strength. Professor Fobröse at the athletic academy in Köln, Germany, set out to “belly dance” research using electromyography, which had shown that regular belly dancing of about sixty minutes not only strengthens trapezius and abdominal muscles but also strengthens the heart and increases circulation.
The research of Anette Paffrath at the University of Hamburg involved experiences with belly dance by women with menstruation problems. The statements of the women showed a more positive approach toward their menstruation, sexuality, and bodies during the course of the class. The movements of belly dance are ideal for the mature body. All the organs affected by the hormonal changes of menopause are strengthened by increased blood circulation.
Women are once again looking to belly dancing to discover the beauty and power of their bodies and to receive the physical and emotional benefits that arise from dance. Practicing the dance tones the muscles, gives a great work out, enhances the posture, strengthens the lower back, and mobilizes the abdominal and pelvic regions. Belly dancing also relieves menstrual problems and has been shown to be very useful during pregnancy and childbirth. Belly dancing has enabled women to overcome self-esteem issues and increased their libido.