Tribal Belly dance: it's origins, it's evolution and it's future...?


Ouled Naïl dancers

Tribal dance in Algeria

The Ouled Naïl tribe of Algeria is now living from Biskra to D'jelfa. They have even a name of a mountain ridge on the map: "Montes des Ouled". After world war 2 they were wrongly accused of collaborating with the French who colonized Algeria until 1962.
Ouled Nail are a grateful source of inspiration for Tribal Style bellydance outfit.

Ouled Nail dancer

Their dance was sometimes done in pairs and with the use of a scarf or veil.
Ouled Nail dancer
French painter and writer Etienne Dinet did his first trip to Algeria in 1884. He fell in love with the country and finally to relocate to the Algerian town of Bou-Saada where he lived between the Ouled Naïl. His friendship with Slimane gave him a rare insight in the lives of the Oulad Nail.

If you've got any burning questions just give toss me an e-mail and I'll answer them.