‘Belly dance is being hidden in Egypt’: the performer hoping for Unesco heritage status

As the traditional dance is increasingly associated with nightclub culture, Amie Sultan seeks to change perceptions of the artform and those who perform it

As a trickle of tourists slowly returns to Egypt, the floating nightclubs along the Nile are back in business.

And belly dancers are once again in high demand. The glitzy late-night shows attract visitors from all over the world, and especially from the Gulf's Arab states, with dancers in revealing outfits performing with full traditional musical backing.