Egyptian Beledi also known as Raqs Sharqi, belly dancing, consists of movements that are executed throughout the body. The focus of the dance is the pelvic and hip area. It is, fundamentally, a solo improvisational dance with its own unique dance vocabulary that is fluidly integrated with the music's rhythm.

Belly dancers internalize and express the emotions evoked by the lyrics and the music. Appropriately, the music is integral to the dance. The most admired Belly dancers are those who can best project their emotions through dance, even if their dance is made up of simple movements. The dancers goal is to visually communicate to the audience the emotion and rhythm of the music. Raqs Sharqi translates from Arabic as "dance of the Orient" or "Oriental Dance". This is the oldest dance in the world. The dancers goal is to visually communicate to the audience the emotion and rhythm of the music.

Many see Belly dance as a woman's dance, celebrating the sensuality and power of being a mature woman. A common school of thought believes that young dancers have limited life experience to use as a catalyst for dance Sohair Zaki, Fifi Abdou, Lucy, Nagwa Fouad, and Belly Dancer Dina are all popular Egyptian dancers above the age of forty.

Despite the fame of female dancers, men often perform Raqs Sharqi as well, however, not in public in Arab countries.

'''Egyptian-style''' Belly dance is based on Baladi and later the work of belly dance legends Samia Gamal, Tahiya Karioka, Naima Akef, and other dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry. Later dancers who based their styles partially on the dances of these artists are Sohair Zaki, Fifi Abdou, and Nagwa Fouad. All rose to fame between 1960 and 1980, are still popular today, and have nearly risen to the same level of stardom and influence on the style.

Though the basic movements of Belly Dance (Raqs Sharqi) have remained the same, the dance form continues to evolve.  In Egypt, three main forms of the traditional dance are associated with belly dance: '''Baladi/Beledi''', '''Sha'abi''' and '''Sharqi'''.

Egyptian belly dance was among the first styles to be witnessed by Westerners. During Napoleon's invasion of Egypt (the campaign which yielded the Rosetta stone, leading to the translation of Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyphics), Napoleon's troops encountered the Ghawazee tribe. The Ghawazee made their living as professional entertainers and musicians. At first the French were repelled by their heavy jewelry and hair, and found their dancing "barbaric", but were soon lured by the hypnotic nature of their movements.

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