Lebanon’s Dancing Queens: Celebrating Belly Dancers From the 80s and 90s
Meet Lebanon’s iconic belly dancers, who transformed traditional dance into theatrical, unforgettable performances in the 80s and 90s.
In the 80s and 90s, Beirut’s nightlife featured live music, hotel shows, and stages with talented belly dancers. These dancers weren’t just entertainers, but elevated the style from hotel shows to theatrical productions, adding narrative, costume, and creative flair.
Belly dance has long roots in the Middle East, but Lebanese dancers added theatricality, storytelling, and fusion styles. A notable example is Amani, born Angel Nabil Ayoub in 1970, who was given her stage name by her family when she pursued Oriental dance professionally.
They elevated this style of dance from hotel shows to theatrical productions, adding narrative, costume, and creative flair.
Author’s summary: Lebanon's belly dancers transformed traditional dance into theatrical performances.