The Experience celebrates diverse cultural arts and dance. In this section, we profile Bellydance, as our founder, Sophie Mei is dubbed as “the most famous bellydancer in the UK” (ITV Yorkshire) and, Bellydance is the fastest growing form of dance in the world.
Time to get moving - the benefits
Bellydance is ideal for every level of fitness as it is a low intensity workout yet, can improve stamina, endurance and flexibility.
Education
Learn about Middle Eastern Culture, Arabic Language and most of all, the music!
Body
Bellydance helps maintain and achieve core stability, which helps improve posture, prevents injuries and develops the abdominal muscles.
Mind
Bellydance and exercise helps boost mental wellbeing, reduces stress and anxiety and releases endorphins.
It is believed by many that this dance started as an ancient ritual dance for fertility and childbirth. It is traditionally done by women and in front of other women.
Until the Ottoman reign over Egypt, when there was a surge of tourism and soldiers, this lead to some women performing the art form as a way of earning money.
The ruler at the time did not approve however, this did not stop Orientalist painters depicting women in fantastical harems and scenes. The painters were not allowed into the harems themselves so as you can imagine, some of the images are exaggerated.
The dance spread across Europe in the 1880's and by the 1890's, the worlds fair introduced Middle Eastern dance to the western world. 'Raqs Sharqi' (Arabic for Bellydance) was coined 'dance du ventre' by the French and later nicknamed 'Bellydance' to entice the Western world to this ancient art form.
There are lots of variations of 'Bellydance' from traditional Egyptian to more contemporary Turkish. There are strong influences of African dance such as Saiidi and Khaligee folkloric styles.
Today, it attracts men and women across the globe and recently, there has been a boom in Asia. International Bellydance festivals, teachers and classes have helped raise the profile of the dance as well as, the increasing profile of the international troupe - Bellydance Superstars, who have risen to fame over the past eight years.
More people are embracing the art form as well as experiencing the fascinating Middle Eastern culture.
"Bellydance is about a woman dancing on stage on her own, at one with herself." (Sara Farouk, Egypt) Traditionally women wear a Galibeya (a long dress) with a Shimmy belt (Scarf) around their waist. Hollywood has since 'glamourized' Bellydancing and, most performers now wear exquisite cabaret costumes- a two piece - bra and skirt which tends to be adorned with sequins and coins. Sophie Mei bellydanced her way to fame by reaching the final stages of Britain's Got Talent 2008. Simon Cowell declared that Sophie has "absolute star quality."
Sophie began dance and drama training from ten years-old and when she was 14, she discovered bellydancing in a local community centre. She joined an Arabic dance group – Sahar Wal Farashat until the age of 18 when she embarked on a solo career.
Since Britain's Got Talent, Sophie has traveled twice to Egypt to film documentaries on the art of Bellydance, as well as starring in numerous Asian music videos and appearing on local and national television, radio and print.
She was awarded a certificate in Music Therapy and a JWAAD Teacher training certificate in Arabic dance.
Sophie continues to perform across the globe at festivals, corporate events and private functions. In 2009, she set up Sophie Mei Schools which provides dance (Bellydance, Street, Zumba and Bollywood styles) and drama classes, workshops and parties.
