Folk Dance Styles of the MENAHT Region

MENAHT is a short hand way to say Middle East, North Africa, Hellenic (Greek), and Turkey. ​

Hello bellydance students! This post is going to list many of the folk dances of the MENAHT area. Thanks to the influence of various empires and the silk road I've also included Iran. Bellydance music and shows will often include references to many of these folk dances, sometimes in a tableau during the folkloric part of an Egyptian stage show, sometimes as a verse in an oriental entrance piece, sometimes in the name of an ATS move that subtly references one of the folk dances of that area. Knowing about the different folk dances and folkloric dances will enhance your appreciation for bellydance shows and MENAHT music. And who knows, maybe you'll even find a new dance that you want to learn to do!

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