Welcome to Raqs Atlas: The Global Home of Belly Dance

Belly dance is more than a performance style. It is history, music, movement, culture, creativity and community.

Across the world, dancers, instructors, musicians, researchers, festival organizers, costume designers and students contribute to an art form that continues to evolve. Yet the information surrounding belly dance is often scattered across social media profiles, old websites, private archives, event pages and personal stories.

Raqs Atlas was created to bring that world together.

Our goal is to build a global belly dance platform where people can learn, discover, connect and participate—whether they are taking their first class, researching dance history, searching for an instructor or building an international career.

One world. Countless dance stories.

Raqs Atlas is being developed as a combination of an encyclopedia, professional directory, news platform, event calendar, booking service and international community.

Here, visitors will be able to explore:

• belly dance history and cultural development
• dance styles from different countries and regions
• rhythms, instruments, songs and musicians
• legendary and contemporary dancers
• instructors, schools and studios
• festivals, workshops, competitions and performances
• interviews, features, reviews and travel stories
• professional booking opportunities
• community discussions, photos, videos and personal experiences

Instead of presenting these topics as isolated articles, Raqs Atlas will connect them.

A dancer’s profile may lead you to the teachers who influenced them, the festivals where they performed, the styles they specialize in and the music they are known for using. A song may connect to its singer, composer, rhythm, cultural background and memorable performances.

The result will be a living map of the belly dance world.

Discover the history behind the dance

Belly dance history is rich, complex and often misunderstood.

Different countries, communities and generations have shaped the dance in different ways. Raqs Atlas will explore the development of Raqs Sharqi, Baladi, Saidi, Shaabi, Khaleegy, Turkish Oriental, fusion styles and many other forms.

The Encyclopedia will include dedicated sections for:

• history
• styles
• countries
• rhythms
• instruments
• legendary dancers

Articles will be supported by clearly listed authors, sources, references and review information whenever possible. Because many historical topics have conflicting interpretations, Raqs Atlas aims to present context rather than reduce the dance to a single simplified story.

We want the platform to become a reliable starting point for students, teachers, performers, journalists and anyone interested in understanding the culture behind the movement.

Meet the people shaping belly dance

Every dancer has a story.

Some have performed on international stages. Some are building local communities in cities where belly dance is still growing. Others are preserving traditional knowledge, developing new artistic directions or introducing their students to the dance for the first time.

Raqs Atlas will feature profiles for:

• dancers
• instructors
• choreographers
• schools
• festival organizers
• musicians and orchestras
• costume designers
• photographers
• researchers and contributors

Professional profiles will be able to include biographies, styles, locations, languages, videos, upcoming events, awards, reviews and booking information.

The goal is not only to highlight the most famous names. It is also to make talented people from smaller or less represented dance communities easier to discover.

Explore festivals and events around the world

Festivals are one of the most important parts of the international belly dance community. They bring together teachers, performers, students, musicians, judges and organizers from different backgrounds.

Raqs Atlas will include a searchable global event calendar with festivals, workshops, competitions, gala shows, retreats and online events.

Users will be able to search by:

• country or city
• date
• event type
• dance style
• level
• price range
• online or in-person format
• featured instructors and performers

Festival pages may include schedules, workshop information, line-ups, competition details, travel guidance, galleries, reviews and archives of previous editions.

Discover the music behind every movement

There is no belly dance without music.

Raqs Atlas will include a growing music encyclopedia dedicated to songs, singers, composers, rhythms and instruments.

Visitors will be able to explore the stories behind famous songs, learn how different rhythms are structured and discover how music connects to particular dance styles and cultural settings.

Song pages may include:

• original and transliterated titles
• singer and composer information
• country and era
• rhythm and musical style
• cultural background
• explanations of meaning
• recommended dance interpretations
• links to official music and video sources

Whether someone is searching for choreography inspiration or learning how to recognize Maqsoum, Baladi, Saidi or Malfouf, the music section will help them listen with greater understanding.

A community built around knowledge and connection

Raqs Atlas is not intended to be a static archive.

Registered members will be able to follow dancers and other users, create lists, save music and events, leave reviews, comment on articles and participate in community discussions.

The Community section will include both:

• a chronological feed
• a featured feed highlighting valuable and engaging posts

Members will be able to share dance photos, videos, thoughts, questions and experiences from their own profiles.

Professional members will have additional tools for managing their presence, receiving booking inquiries and sharing selected products, services or educational materials.

We want the community to feel welcoming, international and useful—not like a popularity contest, but like a place where knowledge, creativity and genuine contribution are valued.

Learn, connect and create opportunities

Raqs Atlas will also help connect professionals with the people looking for them.

Through the booking section, users will be able to search for and contact:

• performers for private and public events
• instructors for workshops and festivals
• choreographers
• judges
• lecturers
• online teachers
• dance schools and studios

The Store will create space for merchandise, music, courses, festival access and selected products added by members of the community.

These tools are designed to support the people who keep the dance world active—not only through visibility, but through real professional opportunities.

Help us build the atlas

Raqs Atlas is being created for the global belly dance community, and its growth will depend on the people who contribute to it.

You will be able to:

• suggest a dancer, instructor or historical figure
• submit a festival or event
• recommend a song, rhythm or musician
• claim an existing professional profile
• propose corrections or additional sources
• contribute articles, memories and archival material
• join discussions and share your experience

No single person can document the entire belly dance world alone.

But together, we can preserve its history, celebrate its present and create new connections for its future.

Welcome to Raqs Atlas.

Discover the dance. Explore the culture. Connect with the world.

Visit raqsatlas.com and follow the journey as we begin mapping the global world of belly dance.