"Shake It, Baby…"Arising in the Middle East, belly dancing is much more than just shaking the tummy. In fact, when women belly dance, they use their entire body, including the head, hair, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, hips, bottoms, legs and feet.

The dance has first appeared in Egypt though the exact time of its appearance still remains unknown.  Other Middle Eastern countries also have this tradition, but Egypt is the first country which comes to mind when you think about the dance. It can boast of having such famous dancers as Lucy, Dina, Fifi Abdo and many others.
The most important part about the dance is the suit, which has first appeared in Egypt in the 30s of the previous century. The foundation of the belly dance costume is the bra and the belt. Skirts and veils are also common, but in most of the cases they are not decorated with beads, plastic coloured gem stones and sequins.
When choosing a belly dance costume, it is recommended to pay attention to several factors:
a)    The fabric must be of high quality and well woven with no skipped stitches;
b)    The colours should go with your skin and hair, otherwise the costume will not produce the same effect on the audience;
To keep the costumes in good shape, please remember to:
a)    Lay them out after wearing. The sweat will vanish of you let them air out for a few days;
b)    Store them in pillowcases, as they are breathable. Some dancers recommend to store the chiffon skirts and the veils in plastic bags;
c)    You can also use a steam iron to take all the sweat out;
d)    Do not sit around in them, as this may crash the beads.
Belly dance suits are sold in the Old Market and in the various shopping malls of the town. The prices vary, starting from 250 EGP and going up to 800 and more.