Brilliant Artist Re-Imagines Disney Princesses As Nubian Belly Dancers

Disney princess fan art gets a fresh twist here, with beloved characters reimagined through the elegance and detail of Nubian belly dance. The result is colorful, theatrical, and full of costume choices that make each princess feel surprisingly new.

Across these illustrations, the artist pairs different Disney figures with specific belly dance styles, from veils and wings to candelabras and tribal looks. It is a playful mix of fantasy and tradition, and the attention to detail is what makes the series stand out.

Scroll through the gallery and see which princess transformation steals the show.

1. “Maid Marian from Robin Hood and the Nubian Dance”

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2. Princess 'Kida' Kidagakash from Atlantis: The Lost Empire

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3. “Remember Gadget Hackwrench from Chip & Dale? This is her now. Feel old yet.”

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The series keeps getting more inventive with every princess.

4. Tiana carrying plates in Duke’s restaurant

“I had this image in my mind of Tiana carrying plates in Duke’s restaurant, and I was all OMG, this girl has such a good balancing point! Also, the candle’s light reminds me of fireflies going down the bayou, but let’s see the origins of Tiana:It is believed that Raqs as-Seneeya (رقص الصنية) developed out of the Moroccan Tea Ceremony. Tea is a very important staple of life. It is not just a drink but something you do. It means entertaining guests, talking with friends or family, and engaging in a long-standing tradition.

Source: MiddleEasternDance

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5. Snow White from Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

“Once upon a time, there was (me) a little girl who fell in love with belly dance. The first exotic dancer she heard about was the beautiful and mysterious Mata Hari (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle), but when she started her studies, she learned that Mata Hari wasn't exactly an Arabian dancer as she had always thought.Mata Hari brought to Europe a kind of dance she learned on Sumatra Island (Indonesia), where she moved with her husband because of his military career.But Mata Hari is the first dancer who fascinated me; her vintage and retro dresses were beautiful and evocative, so I decided to associate Snow White with her. I just think it's a perfect match! Hope you like it as much as I do.”blatterbury

6. Mulan As An Oriental Dancer

Finally finished Mulan as an oriental dancer. I know you were waiting for her! Her style is the Saidi, and if you want to know more about this ancient dance, please follow my links; you'll see "a whole new world".blatterbury

7. Disney's Cinderella as a Belly Dancer: Veil Poi

Veil poi is a tool introduced in oriental dance quite recently. It combines the classic veil or double veils with bolas commonly used in juggling shows.It's one of my favorite props, but very difficult to use. You need perseverance and dedication to succeed in using them perfectly and to create harmonious movements. Most of the time, you throw them in your face........blatterbury

8. Disney's Anna from Frozen as a Belly Dancer: Melaya Leff

It’s a folkloric dance that originated in Alexandria and takes its name from the wrapped cloak used as a prop during the dance. It’s a fun dance where the dancer plays the role of a young woman who flirtatiously engages in a "conceal and reveal" game with her wrap.I just imagined Anna dancing with her cloak/leff, playfully and joyfully flirting with Kristoff. It’s a pretty cute scene, isn’t it?blatterbury

Some of the costume choices are especially striking.

9. Disney Belly Dancers: Giselle from Enchanted

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10. Disney Belly Dancers: My Sword, My Fate

In a belly dance performance, I'm pretty sure Merida would use a sword.About this dance's origins, a common and interesting story tells how Ghawazee dancers of Egypt entertained the invading Napoleonic troops by dancing with their swords on their heads, stealing them from soldiers.blatterbury

11. Moana

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12. "There's only ONE dance for Punzie: The Khaleegy."

"Khaliji or Khaleegy is a traditional folkloric dance from the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, and the countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Why Khaleegy? Because hair is the main element used in the dance. Women let their long hair “dance” by moving it from side to side, back and forth, in circles, and making other figures."blatterbury

13. "Aurora. I think it's one of the most complicated designs."

"Fan veils are one of my favorite instruments; they express elegance but also pathos, and the effect of the silk veils wrapping gracefully around Aurora's figure is a perfect image."blatterbury

The artist clearly had a favorite kind of dramatic flair.

And speaking of performers getting restricted, this is why Danielle Fishel “couldn’t show her arms” in the final season of Boy Meets World.

14. "I choose the Baladi for Jasmine"

"Baladi is the folk style of Egyptian belly dance. It is more stationary than Raqs Sharqi, with little use of the arms, and the focus is on hip movements. Baladi dance has a 'heavy' feeling, with the dancer appearing relaxed and strongly connected to the ground.So, that's the definition of Baladi, but why did I choose this style for Jasmine? Baladi is a dance you do for your country, for your land. She's dancing for her land, for her beautiful and magical country, so full of history, beauty, and art. A country that has suffered, a country that has been hurt. She dances for her helwa ya baladi, for a country that many people have to leave to escape from war, but that they keep in their hearts with the hope of returning."blatterbury

15. "For Belle I choose the Shamadan (The Candelabra)"

"It's a very special prop for advanced belly dancers, not only because it's an extraordinarily heavy thing to balance on your head, but also because there's fire involved. It's traditionally worn in the zeffah (Egyptian wedding procession)."blatterbury

16. "For Megara I chose the Hagalla."

"What's the Hagalla? The ‘Hagalla’ is a woman’s folk dance step that originated in western Egypt/eastern Libya. Women (usually one girl, ‘el hagalla’) perform this one step, resembling something like a three-quarter shimmy or a merengue step, while men clap in accompaniment. It's a dance that women traditionally perform at weddings.The traditional costume for the dance would be a simple long dress with long sleeves, with a heavy unadorned scarf wrapped around the hips. For performances, the dress may be shorter (calf or knee length), the sleeves may be shorter, and the hip scarf may look more like a ruffled apron and may be fringed."blatterbury

17. "It's Esmeralda's turn! Her style is the Gypsy Belly Dance"

"The Gypsy Belly Dance is basically a fusion of folk dances of the 'Gypsy' people from Turkey, Spain, the Balkans, and Egypt with the 'classic' belly dance we know. In the 1960s, American belly dancers started incorporating Gypsy costume elements, music, and folk steps into their own belly dancing. There is often the use of props such as tambourines and finger cymbals."blatterbury

18. Elsa with Isis Wings

"Isis Wings" are instruments used in belly dance that symbolize the figure of Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess and mother of Horus.blatterbury

19. "For Pocahontas I choose a Tribal style"

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By the end, the whole collection feels like a fantasy crossover with real visual style.

20. "I give to Ariel the Raqs Sharqi style and the double veils as instruments."

"In the Middle East, the veil is a piece of a woman’s wardrobe. It is used to cover her hair and sometimes her face, and to protect her modesty. In Oriental dance, the veil is used to frame the dancer’s movement or can be worn as part of her costume. In a great veil performance, the veil becomes an extension of the dancer’s body. Brilliant, elegant movement fills the space around her in color and shape, as the fabric of the veil adds dimension to the performance."blatterbury

21. Shaabi Judi: “Do it big, do it right, and do it with Shaabi style!!!”

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It was interesting to be introduced to all these beautiful belly dancing styles through some of the most beloved Disney characters. It's definitely not something we are used to seeing, and it's always intriguing to see re-imagined versions of Disney characters.

Before you get too enchanted, see why this bride refused to share her secret dance routine with her cousin.