Changing Times

The popularity of belly dance ebbs and flows with the times.
Without the popularity of Shakira and others promoting the music and dance of the Middle East, with a political climate biased against anything Middle Eastern and a puritanical stance taking hold of the country, belly dance seems to be waning among the public.
Ten years ago, belly dance classes were overflowing, and clubs featuring dancers were growing. Times have changed.
The number of belly dance classes being offered seems to have dwindled. The demand for belly grams and dance performances has quieted. Regular dancing venues are few and far between. Even Arabic clubs seem to be hiring fewer dancers. I've noticed this scarcity, even with popular dancers not working or leaving the profession. 
Sure, the diehard students and dancers will continue to attend workshops and seminars, though I notice a decline in the number of these as well, as the market appears to be shrinking.
It seems that as the country isolates itself, it is losing its melting pot of cultures. Sadly, Middle Eastern dance is falling by the wayside.