Life as a Belly Dancer in Egypt

Cairo's belly dancers are facing a life of misery and discrimination, a report claims.

The probe by leading US daily USA Today found that many dancers have trouble with both promoters and ordinary Egyptians alike. 

US dancer Diana Esposito - who goes by the the stage name Luna - tells of the daily struggle of being a dancer in Cairo in the report.

"When you speak with any Egyptian and they do not know that you are a belly dancer, they treat you very nicely and very respectfully," said Amora Shams, a Spanish belly dancer. "But the moment that they find out that you are a belly dancer, they change their tone of voice, they stop looking at your eyes. They start looking at the rest of your body."

She claims that because of this many dancers are forced to lead double lives, keeping their work secret from even close friends. In 2009 Esposito was left reeling when her landlord kicked her out of her apartment after discovering her job.

Meanwhile, Scottish dancer Lorna of Cairo, claims that many of the problems come from promoters themselves.

"If you're straight and talk serious business, they think you're aggressive, and they don't want to know you," she said. "You don't actually get the job — I hate it."

Many claim that the craft has the same connotations as stripping in the USA. Allegra Pena - better known as Aleya of Cairo - claims that it is this association which causes misery for many dancers.

"It has the same kind of connotation," she said. "But it's a weird thing because they really love you."
Earlier this month prosecutors summoned Armenian dancer Safinaz for allegedly insulting Egypt by wearing a costume with colors of the nation's flag. However Egyptian doctor Oday Noman told reporters that there were two sides to the story.

He said, "Belly dancing is something that is part of our culture — as it's been for a long time. Most celebrations include a belly dancer."