Beledi" comes from Arabic and means "my people" or "my town". It's mostly an Egyptian style and has moved from a traditional country belly dancing costumes to become the urban beledi, a much more glamourous for of dress. It all depends on the fit, the fabric, the decoration and the accessories
The basic beledi dress can be loose fitting or darted, sleeveless, short or long-sleeved. The sleeves can be narrow, bell shaped, ruffled or even bat-winged. It usually has side slits from the knee or just below the hip. The fabric can be anything from plain cotton to sparkly lurex or see-through lace.It can be decorated with sequins or beaded . It is really like a fitted caftan slit up one or both sides. It's usually combined with a triangular headscarf. Many Egyptian folk dances such as cane and basket are performed in the beledi.
Baladi dress in its cabaret form is used as an alternative to bedlah. The dress is often made in clingy lycra with beading, cut-outs and a fringe. The long sheath style of the dress is combined with a beaded hip scarf or fringed belt. The cabaret style fabrics are more glamorous sparkly stretch laces, sheer knits, or even velvets.
Baladi or beledi is urbanised folk dance and music. It originated in the 1900s when people moved into to the cities and brought their music and dance with them. The music gradually became more sophisticated and instruments such as the accordian and saxophone were added. Baladi dance is more polished than folk, with showy costumes and
a wider variety of steps. The arms tend to frame the heart and hips, or are placed on the head.
It is just a basic fitted sheath dress so any kaftan dress or similar can be used as a pattern. You can cut the neckline as low as you like but a small strap across the back of neck will help to avoid shoulder slippage while dancing. It could just pull over the head if you cut it lose. Otherwise a zip could be placed at back or the side.
The beledi dress can be a good choice if you need to cover stretch marks or scars. If your figure is good the dress can be form-fitting.
It also works well to camouflage a tummy if you cut it a bit looser. Beledi dresses are ideal belly dancing costumes for larger figures.
