The art of belly dance is making highly controlled and isolated hip and body movements look playful and demure, while framing the body widely with extended graceful arm gestures. Posture is critical, and stance must be narrow and close in, to avoid looking "ducky". 3,000 years of technique has evolved the belly dance to a high art form. There are paintings of belly dancers on the walls of the tombs of old Egypt.
If done without technique, these moves can look crude and offensive. When performed correctly, and right ON the music, it is a fascinating ancient art, and offends no one, while amazing all.
Lebanon and Egypt are the centers of the dance worldwide. There is an old saying that "one has to have lived in one's body for at least 35 years to make it truly do what you want."
Thus, the world's best belly dancers can be from 16 on up to ladies in their 50s.
In Cairo, the best of the best have their own 20 piece bands that back then up, and they can make up to $50k a night, like rock stars.
The dance can be performed bare bellied, or completely covered, in long dresses, slit up both sides with a fringey hip band low on their hips.
It is a dance of health, strength, and sensuality that ALL women can learn and enjoy.
It dates back to pharaonic Egypt, and is performed these days by women all over the world.
I was a professional belly dancer and teacher for 20 years, and enjoyed it tremendously.
Compliments to Shakira, she has blended an ancient classic dance into a modern video beautifully.