(12 Apr 1997) Arabic/Eng/Nat

The exotic art of belly dancing - long the domain of sultry Middle Eastern temptresses - is undergoing a foreign invasion.

In the Egyptian capital Cairo, Western women are now considered the hottest movers and shakers on the dance floor.

However not everybody is happy - Egyptian dancers say they are missing out on contracts and have declared war on their Western competitors.

Blonde hair and pale skin aren't usually associated with belly dancing.

But in some Egyptian night-clubs Western women are now considered the favourite attractions.

Not everybody welcomes the change.

Egyptian dancers say they are being pushed out of the market and have declared war on their Western competitors.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"When foreigners started coming to Egypt and taking over our jobs, we ended up without jobs so this is why its like war against them"
SUPER CAPTION: Olfat Hassan, Egyptian belly dancer

Egyptian men may prefer blondes, but many in the industry say Western women do not understand the language of the songs.

Egyptian entertainer Samir Sabri was the first to employ foreign women.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The difference between the local girls and the imported girls is the knowledge of the language which helps them to express easier the meaning of the song with their eyes, with their hands with their bodies. An American girl doing belly dance, she might not know what Aum Kalthoum is saying in her song or what Abdel Halim Hafez means, when he says why do you blame me that I fell in love with you. She does not know that."
SUPER CAPTION: Samir Sabri, Egyptian entertainer

Western women have dismissed this accusation of cultural ignorance, saying Egyptian women are simply jealous of their success.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The opinion that we as foreigners cannot dance like they dance, but I think that's not true, I can imagine that they are afraid about losing their market field, because at the moment foreign belly dancing in Egypt are starting to get popular and popular"
SUPER CAPTION: "Selima", Dutch belly dancer

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In any form of dancing you can find professional and you can find non professionals. It doesn't matter belly dancer or Russian dance or its country. It doesn't matter.
SUPER CAPTION: "Elina", Russian belly dancer

But while Westerners may well be the toast of the stage with locals, tourists still prefer the exotic.

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