Saudi Women Defy Stigma, Embrace Belly Dancing in Secret Sessions

As of November 10th, 2025, a fitness studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has become the unlikely setting for a clandestine gathering of women embracing the ancient art of belly dancing. Dozens of enthusiastic participants sway to Arabic music, shimmying barefoot and shaking their hips in a festive, "women-only party" atmosphere.

However, the women's identities and faces remain strictly guarded. Citing the deep-seated conservatism that still prevails in Saudi society, the participants refuse to reveal their real names or be filmed, fearful of how their families and friends would react. Belly dancing, despite its centuries-old roots, is widely seen as "something sexy" that no family or husband would accept.

The instructors, who go by aliases like "Oni" and "Roro", do not even describe themselves as dancers, but rather as "coaches" who have "transformed dancing into a sport." They emphasize the fitness benefits and stress-relieving qualities of the activity, rather than its artistic or cultural significance.

This underground movement reflects the complex and often contradictory attitudes towards women's empowerment in the kingdom. While Saudi Arabia has loosened some social strictures in recent years, allowing women to drive and shed their veils, deeply rooted cultural traditions and religious conservatism continue to shape societal norms. Belly dancing, with its revealing costumes and suggestive movements, remains a taboo that many Saudi women feel compelled to keep hidden.