Belly Dancer

Saif Al-Huriya, Morocco-born belly dancer from Chile, is one of four belly dancers living in Egypt that I shot for photo stories. With the dream of further-study on belly dance, Saif spent up his savings in Egypt and left the country with disappointment, saying that "Male dancers are more difficult than the female to survive in the industry." The world-famous dance called Belly Dance or Oriental Dance is not only a performance for tourists, but also a popular form of entertainment for the locals in Egypt. A belly dancer's life is rarely known outside the community where the majority of the population is conservative. The dance, oftentimes requires revealing costumes and suggestive moves, stands in contrast to many who believe it is taboo.