Enhance your moves

Belly dancing gear is no longer only for the pros. Amany Abdel-Moneim leads the way down the yellow brick road of sequins

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Considering a Shakira scarf under an array of belly dancing attire; Sagat add rhythm to your dancing gear; Nancy Agram in her now famous galabiya

Ruby, Nancy Agram, Naglaa and other young Arab singers have taken a generation of young women by storm; their provocative video-clips motivate a desire to own colourful beaded scarves, slinky galabiyas and traditional belly dancing costumes.

"When Ruby appeared in her first video-clip wearing a belly dancing costume on the street many women started to think seriously about getting a similar costume for themselves," said 69-year-old Haj Badr Tawfiq, owner of a shop selling musical instruments and belly dancing suits in Khan Al-Khalili. Tawfiq told Al-Ahram Weekly that a 25-year-old housewife recently came in to his shop to buy a costume only to prove to her husband that she is sexier than Ruby.

Amm Saleh, who has been dealing in such paraphernalia for 40 years, said that "90 per cent of the market for beaded dresses and scarves used to be tourists but now the local market is growing."

Your very own belly dancing outfit has now become de rigeur for the young women attending a henna party or a "women's only" night.

"Belly dancing runs in the blood of every Egyptian woman," assured 50-year-old Tahani Mohamed, the proprietor of a shop in the Khan. "The majority of Egyptian women can belly dance marvelously," she added.

The passion has always been there but today there is a need to dress the part as well. "I believe there is a drastic change in local market demands. Before only artists or tourists were interested in buying belly dancing gear, now many young girls have become keen to add a belly dancing costume to their wedding accessories."

Laila Mahfouz is 23 years old and newly married. "Belly dancing costumes have become one of marriage's essentials," said Mahfouz. She said that her friends circulate the latest video tapes of belly dancers so that they can practice new dance moves to match their get up.

However girls buy scarves for other reasons than celebrating parties. "I think these scarves are perfect to wear over a swimming suit," said Passant who is 15 years old. "My friends and I come every summer to the Khan especially to buy the latest coloured and beaded scarves," she added.

Inspired by the idea of an Arabian Nights atmosphere, Tania, a 20-year-old Italian tourist, was bargaining over the price of a sequined traditional belly dancing suit. "I love oriental dancing very much. I am learning some steps to teach my friends on my return home," said Tania as she bought a "Shakira scarf" (a scarf to be tied around the hips dripping in noisy sequins) for her best friend in Italy.

"The foundation of the belly dancing costume is the bra and the belt," said Umm Mahmoud, a costume designer. She went on to explain that belly dancing costume designs differentiate according to number of layers that make up the bra and belt. "Mainly the oriental gear is made up of a bra and one-piece belt, a skirt which may or may not be attached to the belt and a veil."

Sixty-five-year-old Galila Mahmoud was accompanying her daughter to buy a beaded dress for her henna party. Women's only belly dancing sessions are nothing new, she says. "Ordinary family women used to set aside a day of the week where they meet, dress up, listen to music, dance and eat rich food," she recounted. "These occasions are also a good opportunity for many mothers to pick and choose brides for their sons."

She believes that the recent introduction of belly dancing outfits to such evenings merely enlivens the tradition.

Amm Fathi insists that some of his best customers are veiled women. Twenty-seven-year-old Seham is both newly married and veiled. "Veiled women have the right to express their femininity to their husbands or among female friends," said Seham. Seham's sister, conceded that, "yes I am veiled, however I feel no harm in wearing a belly dancing costume for my husband or even to have fun with other girls."