Belly dancing has become popular around the world not so much for its culture and esoteric appeal but as a keep-fit regime or weight-loss workout. However this month in Shanghai, hundreds of belly dancers from all round the world will be in town to party and compete, not to lose weight or just exercise.

Belly dancers from some 60 countries are expected to get together from August 12 to 17 in Pudong New Area for the fourth Dance for Unity Festival, which is being hosted by Belly Dance China (BDC).

In the past three years, BDC has staged festivals in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province and this is the first time the festival has been seen in Shanghai. Already more than 200 have signed up to take part in the world's biggest belly dance competition.

Belly dance contestants in last year's belly competition Photos: Courtesy of Li Meilin

At stake is a $12,000 prize which will be handed to the belly dance king or queen of the festival. The contestants will be judged by 16 masters from all over the world and these experts will also take part in workshops and training sessions during the festival.

Source of controversy

One of the features of the festival will be the appearance of men belly dancers - male dancers are still a source of controversy for many in the belly dancing world. Although there is evidence that men were a part of the tradition in ancient times, nowadays there is debate about whether their costumes and dance styles should be different.

Li Meilin, the manager of BDC, said belly dancing spread to Europe and the US from the Middle East in the late 19th century. Today it is practiced all over the world, and the shimmering, rhythmic, abdominal movements, often accompanied by exotic Arabic music and performed by beautifully costumed barefoot dancers, are instantly recognizable.

For the Chinese belly dancers who will make up the majority of the contestants at the festival, the festival is a rare opportunity to take part in an international competition. Because belly dancing arrived in China later than many other countries, few of the homegrown dancers have had a chance to see or compete with international masters of the form.

"Few Chinese dancers have been able to travel abroad and experience the genuine Middle Eastern styles. This is a great opportunity for them to show themselves to the world,"Li said.

The only Chinese belly dance master, Guo Wei, will be in the spotlight at the festival. Guo is regarded as the finest belly dancer in China and is now famous for his television appearances.

Chinese belly dancer Guo Wei

Up till 2003 Guo had studied Indian dance forms and jazz ballet, but then he decided to specialize in belly dancing, a style of dance few people in China were aware of then. "It was the music, the culture, the history and the customs of Arabia that attracted me more than belly dancing at first, but I took it much further," Guo said.

Although men do perform belly dancing abroad, in China a few years ago a male belly dancer was almost completely unheard of and in the early days of his career Guo attracted a lot of criticism and abuse. He was called "an eccentric" and students who had enrolled in his belly dancing classes refused to stay when they discovered that a man was the teacher.

"Male dancers need skill, perseverance and patience so that they can show everyone that this is a true performance art not just hype," Guo told the Global Times.

Totally different

Another of the five male belly dance masters appearing at the festival will be Oscar Flores, from Argentina. "Speed, strength and flexibility are the characteristics of male dancers - their dance styles are totally different from women," he said.

Argentina male belly dancer Oscar Flores

In some traditions in olden days belly dancing was a male-only affair because culturally women were not meant to be seen displaying themselves. Today belly dancing enthusiasts say it gives men physical, emotional and psychological boosts and gives the dancers new ways to express themselves and discover their own sensuality.

For Flores belly dancing is a perfect mix of feelings, sensuality and technical skills. "It is a dance that lets you display your inner movements, it lets you fly to the music and express your emotions, your feelings and your artistic awareness - it allows you to be yourself."

He had praise for the upcoming Chinese male belly dancers. "They are brave, amazing and creative. The modern Chinese form of belly dancing is in its first stage of evolution and I bet that in the future, the Chinese male belly dancers will rock and conquer the world of belly dancing."