Belly dance history

Necla Batir, Nejla’s given name, was born in Romania in either 1927 or 1932. Her family was Tatars, a Turkic ethnic minority dating back to the 12th century. Young Necla showed an aptitude for dance and grew up dreaming of stardom. As soon as she was able, Nejla moved first to Istanbul where she performed in nightclubs, honing her skills. She was booked to appear in the 1947 movie “Kerimin Cilesi” where she appeared as a dancer in the background.

Belly dancer song

Belly dancing controversy

Belly dance origin