Oriental dance encompasses a vast territory, that of the Arab world, which is why there are multiple and varied pieces that make up this fascinating mosaic.
Commonly known as belly dance, Gawazy has its most ancient roots in the Mesopotamian period. What has reached us today is the kaleidoscopic result of its past: from ritual dance to social (popular) dance, court dance, not forgetting the strong influence of gypsy dance.
The gawazy (plural, gazya in the singular) were described by the first Europeans who arrived in North Africa and the Near East as gypsy dancers, performing in the street, dressed in scanty and scandalous clothing for the time, sometimes even bare-breasted.
Dance is a true profession for these women, so much so that their husbands act almost as managers and secure engagements for them, for example during family celebrations.
While the almee or awalim, "educated" dancers and singers who performed at court, could only dance in front of other women, the gawazy performed freely in front of a male audience.
The rotating and sinuous movements recall ancient fertility cults, such as that of the "Mother Goddess". Men were aware that everything that moved life was linked to reproduction, birth, the cycle of seasons, and nature: for this reason, many of the lifestyles of this dance are closely linked to femininity and were practiced exclusively by women.
