The campaign "Stop Ballet within Bellydance"

This image was the most popular in the last months against Ballet within Bellydance.
One of the most polemic subject in the last years. There was no group, forums and groups of friends that wouldn't talk about this polemic mix of styles.

Ballet is part of bellydance since 1930's when Europeans influenced Bellydance adding Classic Ballet technique into this tribal and street style. The idea in that period was to professionalise the dance to be seen in theatres and musicals. Badia Bassabai, the dancer who opened the first Cassino in Cairo with public shows of Bellydance, also had added ballet into bellydance to be able to choreograph peaces to the public and make it more sellable.

Ballet for long time was necessary to develop technique, posture and add professionalism in belly dancing. Nowadays everyone is noticing there are too much ballet into Oriental Dance and even Folkloric styles, which most professionals don't agree. We can see some dancers, with ballet background with stiff arms and strong moves from ballet. But we also have to agree that these elements might be bringing more ideas, new steps and another way to bellydance. It worked in early 1930's why won't work now?

I do agree that Bellydance is a cultural dance and must be performed like its origins respecting the folkloric and historical side. However I believe all these new elements from ballet can contribute positively in our dance, considering that Ballet is the first form of technical dance ever registered.

The correct I would say, everyone should learn classic music if one dance want to play rock in roll and everyone should learn ballet if one day want to dance hip hop... Does that make sense???? What I want to say is that Classical form of art is always more complex, studied and precise and YES can contribute to folklore and popular styles of music and dance.

However, I have to agree with most of Facebook and Twitter comments saying that "When is too much is too much!!!"

Are you dancing bellydance or Ballet wearing Egyptian costume?

So, I believe classical art must be studied by everyone to understand art and learn to appreciate the beauty of it. However, once you decide to do bellydance, study it with love and all your passion. Integrate in your moves the passion of this culture and the love of these songs and only Belly Dance...