Ottoman Empire and Turkish Style

The Ottoman Empire started in 1343 to 1922, when sultanate was abolished and Turkey become a republic.
The centre of the Empire was always the Royal Palace. The harems were part of the house where all women of the family stayed altogether. It was a place where non-family man was not allowed so they had the Eunuchs to guard the Sultan's harem. The harens was alweys huge with hundred of womend who were wives and cuncubines. Because the Ottoman Empire was muslin, music and dance was forbidden. However Rakkase is from the Ottoman Empire, they would dance in the harems women for women, they had to wear headscarves and conservative dresses. Although forbidden by religion, the government tolerate music and dance.
The females dancers would hardly apear to the public so for intertainment they had male belly dancers called Rakkas. The male would have more freedom. The history said there are two kinds of Rakkas: Kocek and Tavsan Oglan.The Tavsan Oglan would wear a hat and tight trousers and the Kocek would wear women's costume with long hair. Both use to dance in public celebrations and wedings.
Without women for these intertainments male dancers would take the post. They were dance and music trained and they dance sexy and provocative. Everything to attract the public they danced slow belly moves, acrobatics, playing metal symbals and using wooden stiks like cane. The boys ware very attractive, affeminate and they would dance as long as they can hide the beards. The boys was a good substiture for the Rakkase, women's belly dancers, however sometimes the public lost control sattering glasses, shouting and attacking the dancers.
The dancers were organised by agencies. All dancers would work to agents who find the performances and train them. The historian said there were over 3000 male dancers and 15 agencies in Turkey in that period.
In 1856 the male belly dancers were officially baned from Turkey during Mahmut II era. Many Koceks were forced to Emigrate to other countries and many went to Egypt.
There are still a lot male belly dancers in Turkey, in some areas they still dress as women. Nowadays they no longer work in agencies like in the Ottoman empire. The male belly dancers are as popular as female and they perform as part of the country folk and no as sexy as in the Ottoman Empire.
The idea of male belly dancers is purly from Turkey in the Ottoman Empire. It is still not acceptable in Middle Eastern countries to see male dancing affeminate and moving sexly their bodies. However it is acceptable folkloric dancers.