Most of the tracks feature warm, full orchestration while some of the tracks are semi-modern and dynamic. A type of lute which has evolved over tie, the roots of this can be found in ancient Persia and Egypt. It is now one of the most popular and loved sounds, its form originally ranged from two to seven strings with varying depths to the pear shaped body. There are more than a few instruments that are unfamiliar to Western countries, at least in the forms they take in the middle East and surrounding regions. Some of these are very ancient in form, having been found in the tombs of Egypt. Many are those commonly found in country regions everywhere.
Belly Dancing -- a.k.a. "Raks Sharki" or "danse orientale" -- is among the oldest continuing classical folk dances in the world, evolving from the fertility cults of ancient society. Associated with both religious and erotic traditions, it is traditionally danced barefoot, and with its emphasis on abdominal muscles and movement of the chest and hips, is designed to be performed primarily by women. The music accompanying the dance is most influenced by the rhythms inherent in near- and middle-Eastern music, although contemporary belly dancers are increasingly open to the influences of Western music as well.
Folkloric routines will be featured in belly dance stage shows in the Middle East and elsewhere. The term "belly dance" is a westernized name that originally referred to traditional Middle Eastern dancing. The earliest forms of belly dance were the Egyptian ghawazi dance during the 19th century, and Raqs Sharqi, an Arabic dance of the 20th century.
Middle Eastern or Eastern bands took dancers with them on tour, which helped spark interest in the dance. These included a Turkish dance, and روبي - قلبي بلاستيك Crissie Sheridan in 1897, and Princess Rajah from 1904, which features a dancer playing zills, doing "floor work", and balancing a chair in her teeth. The popularity of these dancers subsequently spawned dozens of imitators, many of whom claimed to be from the original troupe. Victorian society continued to be affronted by the dance, and dancers were sometimes arrested and fined. The dance was nicknamed the "hoochie coochie", or the shimmy and shake.
Several belly dancers in Egypt are leading a campaign to preserve their traditional dance from whom they describe as intruders that have sexualized the dance performance. From the sexual act to conception, to birth, the center of activity and emotion is the belly. Though she remains relatively stationary, she is always in motion. Undulating, twirling, shimmying and swaying, she can express the range of human emotion with dignity and grace.
To express herself well, a belly dancer needs a certain amount of concentration and discipline. As far back as the ninth century, a great belly dancer was defined to Caliph Mu' tamid as one who had "loose joints and a great agility in twirling and swaying her hips" (Dance Perspectives, pgs. 7, 8,). Alla Kushnir – She is one of the greatest belly dancers who, with a happy disposition, seemingly goes crazy when she starts performing. She is the most resourceful of all modern belly dancers and was taught this art by Tarik Sultan.