It is believed that Bellydance, or Raqs Sharki, began in Ancient Egypt cir. 8000BC(originally known as the land of KMT) as a cultural expression introduced to young women during their writes of passage into womanhood.

Over the years, Bellydance evolved, after invasion of the Hyksos, things changed in KMT, and the dance became something to "entertain" instead of something to connect women with their inner goddess. Women were sometimes captured and forced to entertain, or were a part of a harem wherein that was their life's work to serve the sultan.
Nomadic people who were influenced by Egyptian culture carried the dance throughout the world, reaching as far as modern day Turkey, Greece, India, and Morrocco. Some even believe that the dances performed in the Polynesian islands have some relationship since many movements are very similar.

Today, Bellydance has evolved much and has influenced many women worldwide. It is beautiful that over so many thousands of years, women are coming back together in classes, haflas, at showers and in gatherings to empower themselves with the vibrations of the hips, signifying female power and beauty. Let Bellydance be a blessing upon your life in any way possible, and keep shimmying!

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http://www.bellydancecostumes.com/aboutourcostumes.htm 

Indian Kathak Dance is one of many classical dance forms origniating in India.

Of North Indian origin, Kathak dance began as a way to expressively tell stories. In the dance, poses, hand positions, and facial expressions accompanied by singing and live music are used to tell a story.

Kathak was influenced by Persian dance, as well as by Arabic dancers, and so evolved to become different than the other similar Indian classical dances.

Today Kathak is a popular dance form, representing many years of cultural evolution. It is a beautiful dance that involves not only body movement, but full expression of the soul of the dancer.

For more information visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathak 

http://www.iiikdm.org/khatak_dance.html

Passion Bellydance is an evolution to the traditional form of Raqs Sharqi, which included dance using hip, chest, and arm isolations, abdominal movements, shimmies, etc. Props were not introduced until the influences from Mediterranean cultures.

To make the art form more extensive and exciting, Bellydancers add props to their performances. Some examples are: candles, swords, canes, fans, spoons, veils, Isis Wings, Shemadans...the list goes on as dancers become more and more creative.  These props are not to be confused with the traditionalism of the art form, but they are an example of how in dance and all walks of life, art compels us to constantly create new things to enhance our lives. Bellydance is life for many women.