Egypt's Belly Dance Superstars
1920s - 1990s

The Golden Age of belly dance began in 1926, when a well-known Syrian dancer by the name of Badia Masabni opened the first European style cabaret on the banks of the Nile. This hard headed businesswoman single handedly transformed the sha'abi dance of the ghawazee into the floating butterfly we now know as "al raqs sharqi." The following women were unique cabaret artists of the last century who shone among the countless women performing the dance in the Middle East. See a wonderful clip of them:

Classic Belly Dancers

For more about the history of belly dance please see the booklet that accompanies Dancing with Genies.

Click here for information on Yasmin's movie workshop about these wonderful ladies.