Belly dance has been enjoying some popularity among young females in recent years. You'll probably think of "bewitchingly dancing women who shake their hips wildly while exposing their bellies" now, but as a matter of fact, this is quite a misunderstanding. Belly dance, also known as oriental dance, is a blend of various folkloristic dance styles mainly from North Africa and Egypt, cultivated into a flowering performing art that s very much "alive". It's fun to watch it as a side show in a restaurant or bar, however this performance here features a handful of Japanese top dancers with a focus on contemporary belly dance as an art form.

By Maeda Keizo January 22, 2010