Egyptian dance is both a social dance, with men and women dancing for their own enjoyment at private family gatherings, and a professional art form and entertainment with mostly female solo dancers or mixed groups dancing at celebrations, for tourists and at theatres.

All the forms share a common language, a combination of fluid spine, low centre of gravity carried by strong legwork, intricate and expressive hip and torso movement, framed by flowing relaxed or expressive arms. The movements are centred around hips and torso with a subtly moving spine. The legs carry the dancer through space sometimes with contained earthy steps and at other times with a more expansive flow. The arms often subtly punctuate the rhythm and add intensely emotional qualities to the piece. The dancer creates an endless pattern of softly geometric and sinuous shapes punctuated by percussive hips to create an expressive whole, similar to the abstract patterns found in Arabic art. Depending on her skills the dancer can evoke a myriad of emotions, taking the onlooker on a visual and emotional journey.

As in Flamenco or Kathak the dance is closely linked to the music. Depending on the mood of the music and the dancer’s interpretation and her personal style the expression can vary from earthy exuberance with sharp powerful hip movements to a languid, fluid quality with subtle and intricate steps.

In rural areas there is a vibrant heritage of folk music and dance with various regional variations and influences. Here hopping steps and more complex legwork can be found, especially in the male stick dance from the Said. The Ghawazee with their complex music and vibrant earthy dancing work traditionally as performers at many local festivities.

With urbanization around 1900 a new style of music and dance often called Baladi, developed in the cities, successfully incorporating various western influences and new instruments into the music rooted in folk. Naima Akif, Suheir Zaki, Fifi Abdou amongst others are some of the main exponents of this dance style. The movements are often contained, danced with a strong emotional and feminine quality.

One of the major influences in the classical form of the dance is Samia Gamal (known through many Arab films in the 40's and 50's). She married western dance techniques with traditional Egyptian dance. With her beautiful carriage, her expansive use of space, floating spine and elegant arms she beautifully expressed the popular classical music of her time and paved the way for the modern development in the classical form that we find today with many dancers often incorporating elements of contemporary and other dance forms.

The style and standard of the female professional dancers found in the cities today can vary widely. Popular tastes and fashion have a great influence and dance styles change rapidly.

Over several decades Egyptian/Arabic dance has slowly become known in western countries with many schools developing their own style and philosophy and many individual dancers exploring new possibilites.