Long before parents lost their minds after seeing a young man from Tennesse named Elvis Presley swiveling his hips on TV, there have been many much more expressive and suggestive forms of dance around for centuries. One such dance is called Belly dancing or “Arabic Dancing.” It’s a style of dance that’s said to have originated in Egypt and focuses on complex movements of the torso. The term “Belly dance” is actually a translation of a phrase in French called “danse du ventre,” which was coined back in 1964 as a crude nickname for an Orientalist-style painting called “The Dance of the Almeh” by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme.
Today, Belly Dancing is a big industry in America, with different styles found all over the world, and it’s become a fun way for many folks to exercise. There are even specially designed workout routines that combine elements of belly dancing with calorie-burning workout moves. However, there are some who argue that the practice is built on a long-standing practice of exploitation, stereotyping, and the objectification of middle eastern women, likening the practice to non-Native American people dressing up and performing their traditional dances. Nevertheless, belly dancing is still very popular in America, and in this video, Ellen Degeneres has a little fun by inviting a Belly Dancing teacher to demonstrate a few lessons.
Image via YouTube
As the teacher starts showing Ellen a few moves, you can see the host awkwardly trying to mimic her slow rhythmic movements. Eventually, Ellen decides it’s time for a little wardrobe change and comes back in a revealing (but not really) belly dance Halloween costume. Watching Ellen shaking it like Shakira will leave you in stitches!
Image via YouTube
Check out Ellen’s new moves in the video below.
