Raqs Sharqi, often transliterated as Raqsi Sharqi, means eastern dance in Arabic and refers to the Egyptian style of belly dance developed in Cairo in the early twentieth century. It blended traditional folk movements with influences from ballet and ballroom seen on stage and in early Egyptian cinema. The accompanying music became central to the form, structured to support improvisation and expressive interpretation. Today the style remains widely performed internationally, and its distinctive rhythms are shared online for choreography, classes and cultural performances.