** Styles of Dance **
Under the broad term 'belly dance' there are many different styles that have grown and evolved over the years, each with its own style of costuming, choice of music and sometimes, with the use of props. Below I will briefly describe the main styles I am aware of, although there is also Lebanese, Persian, Iranian and Morrocan styles of belly dance, along with others, that I am not as familiar with.
Classic American Belly Dance - also known as cabaret-style, evolved from the Middle Eastern movie industry and nightclub scene. It is based around the same core moves used in other styles, but it is less disciplined and dancers often use veil work, floor work and zills (finger cymbals) in their solo performance. The dancer has the freedom to interpet the music maybe incorporating moves from ther dance forms such as ballet, hip hop/street in a subtle way. Dancers tend to wear a two piece costume, of a bra top and skirt or harem pants, and it is often very glitzy, heavy with beads & sequins along with a hip/coin belt.
Egyptian Belly Dance - this style, known as 'Raks Sharki' is generally more subtle and refined, with the dancer interpreting the music & interacting with the audience. Egyptian dancers don't tend to use veils or zills, and floor work is illegal in Egypt, as is showing the dancer's midriff! Costumes are either a one-piece dress or a two piece but with the addition of a body stocking. Dancers tend to perform with a live band playing Arabic music, with the emphasis being on improvisation and interpretation by the dancer.
Turkish Belly Dance - As I mentioned in the 'History of belly dance', Turkish style was 
heavily influenced by Romany Gypsy style of dance. It is generally more energetic, performed on the balls of the feet, in comparison to the flatter foot of the Egyptian style. Zills and floor work are used more widely, and the musis is fast, energetic and more modern. The costume is again usually a two piece, but the skirt is often more daring and more of the dancer's body is on show.
Rom/Romani Gypsy - This style of dance is fun, energetic, and more 'free flowing' than other styles and is said to have originated from northern India. in the 1960's belly dancers started incorporating the gypsy costume and folk steps into their belly dancing. Finger cymbals and skirt work is often used, as the dancers opt for full skirts and bright colours. The music can be quite different, often danced to a 9/8 rhythm.
Tribal Style - Tribal started in San Francisco in the 1960's when American dancers warmed towards a more ethnic & folkloric look, where they performed at street festivals and fairs. The costuming is taken from a blend of Asian, African and Middle Eastern styles. It is usually performed in groups who all dance in unison, meaning that movements are slower, simpler and more precise. Sometimes zills or swords are used as props. the dancers are more 'covered up' in their costuming, with an earthy, natural feel to the materials and colours used, with ethnic jewellery & heavy makeup and tattoos.
- ATS (American Tribal Style) - In the 1980's Carolena Nericcio formed a troupe called Fat Chance Bellydance (FCBD) which took tribal and added cues and transitions to enable a troupe to dance in an improvised formation with a leader for the other dancers to follow.
- Tribal Fusion - This is a modern take on tribal and fuses other dance movements with costuming similar to tribal style but with almost any genre of music.
Bollywood/Bhangra - Although not belly dance, many moves are similar in both dance forms. The idea that the Romani Gypysies brought their dance style from northern India may explain some of the similarities between Indian dance and belly dance. Since the 20th century, belly dance moves are often used in Bollywood films (Bollywood referring to the Hollywood movie industry in Bombay, India).
(Researched from bellydancingvideo.com &'Bellydance' book by Keti Sharif )