belly dancing in pop culutre

Music videos that include dancers who are called "belly dancers" often upset professional dancers who do not consider these "jiggle-shows"[citation needed] proper dance, considering their often poor technique and overtly sexual moves. Many bellydancers find it offensive that people take such a beautiful art form and twist it to fit the style of modern pop culture. Professional belly dancers often prefer to call these pieces "belly dance inspired".[citation needed]

Belly dancing has recently been made widely popular by Latin superstar Shakira, whose dancing combines belly dance, Latino, and modern dance styles. Her part-Lebanese ethnic background highly influences her belly dance style and is closer to original belly dance.

R&B singer Aaliyah used the belly dance as her signature move, which she called the belly roll, and it was featured in many of her music videos. Other singers who have performed belly dance in their music videos include Beyoncé, Ciara, Rihanna, Nelly Furtado, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. Only Shakira has had professional belly dance training.