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Why Did a Belly Dance Video Spark a Public Uproar in Egypt?| An original article by Avi Melamed.
Belly dancing is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the Middle East and is perhaps more closely associated with Egypt than with any other country in the region. Egyptian belly dancers became cultural icons, immortalized in folklore and in countless classic Egyptian films. Belly dancing remains a familiar feature of weddings, family celebrations, and other social occasions.
Yet, somewhat counterintuitively, Egyptian public opinion has been in turmoil in recent days following the circulation on X of a video showing a young woman—dressed in what appears to be medical attire, possibly a dentist or dental assistant—performing a belly dance in what was described as a dental clinic. Egyptian media initially claimed the video had been filmed in the city of Mansoura, prompting widespread outrage. The controversy became so intense that Egypt’s Ministry of Health opened an investigation, only to reach the surprising conclusion that the video had actually been filmed in Israel, not Egypt.
This is not the first time belly dancing has ignited public controversy in Egypt. In late 2025, renowned Egyptian belly dancer Dina announced plans to establish an academy dedicated to teaching dance traditions from the Middle East and Asia, including belly dancing. Her initiative triggered a heated public debate that ultimately reached the Egyptian Parliament.
This raises an obvious question: if belly dancing is so deeply rooted in Egyptian culture and folklore, why did both Dina’s initiative and the recent video provoke such a fierce backlash?
The answer lies in a profound cultural transformation that Egypt has undergone over the past several decades—a transformation that reflects growing tension between competing value systems and visions of society.
Opposition has come primarily from conservative religious circles, which portray belly dancing as a threat to public morality and argue that it contributes to the moral decline of Egyptian society.
Egyptian columnist Mahmoud Khalil offers a broader socio-political explanation. Reflecting on the Islamization of Egyptian society that began in the 1970s, he argues:
“The religiosity that spread across Egypt in the 1970s was more about outward appearance than inner substance. It was a religiosity of beards, galabiyas, miswak sticks, and small Qur’ans carried in one’s pocket.”
Khalil distinguishes between two forms of religiosity: one rooted in a genuine understanding of faith, expressed through ethics, conduct, and human relationships; and another centered on outward symbols, rigidity, intolerance, and closed-mindedness.
His conclusion is that this emphasis on external displays of religiosity often overshadowed a deeper internalization of religious values. Over time, he argues, this encouraged increasing social rigidity and ideological extremism, contributing to a broader cultural regression in parts of Egyptian society.
Returning to the viral video, was it indeed filmed in Israel?
The answer is yes. And the dancer is a dentist named Mariya Ganayev of Ukraine origin. She has been a professional belly dancer for 20 years. This story clearly proves the saying that art has no borders.
This article is also available as a Podcast: the AiTME Podcast. This Podcast was written and created by Avi Melamed, Middle East Intelligence Analyst and Founder of Inside The Middle East [ITME], an institute dedicated to apolitical, non-partisan education about the Middle East.
“This podcast is made possible by supporters like you. ITME is an independent, nonprofit institute committed to apolitical, intelligence-based Middle East education.
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Why Did a Belly Dance Video Spark a Public Uproar in Egypt?| An original article by Avi Melamed.
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