The term "Arabic dance" is often associated with the belly dance.[3][4] However, there are many styles of traditional Arab dance[5] and many of them have a long history.[6] These may be folk dances, or dances that were once performed as rituals or as entertainment spectacle, and some may have been performed in the imperial court.[7] Coalescence of oral storytelling, poetry recital, and music has a long-standing tradition in Arab history.[8] Among the best-known of the Arab traditional dances are the belly dance, the ardah, and the dabke.[9]