Since 1989, Cassandra Shore has been creating theatrical versions of Middle Eastern dance for the concert stage, almost always with a live orchestra consisting of male musicians. This weekend, however ...

Hypnotic music from the Middle East pulsates through the room. Hips covered in sparkly skirts sway to the beat. Naked shoulders move up, then down, caressing the air. Arms gracefully flow in and out ...

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Just as the Greek god Eros wanted to spread love, Jennifer Carpenter-Peak wants to share her passion for music and dance. “Sort of my whole life led to this,” Carpenter-Peak ...

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) (AFP) – In a fitness studio in Saudi Arabia, dozens of women sway to Arabic music as they practise belly dancing -- an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret. Despite ...

As belly dancing gains popularity internationally, young Egyptian performers are working to restore its reputation at home, pushing back against decades of stigma to reclaim the dance as part of their ...

SEQUIM — Laura Samperi-Ferdig has been studying belly dance since she was 8 and teaching since she was 16. “Belly dance is one of the oldest known art forms,” she said. “Its true name is Raks Sharki ...