ISTANBUL—In the dimly lighted and smoke-filled corners of this ancient city, the erotic art of belly dancing is enjoying a masculine makeover.

Dressed in skirts decorated with coins and shimmering tassels, male belly dancers are back in vogue, jerking their hips and trembling their abs to hypnotic Turkish rhythms. Known as “zennes,” the performers were once a mainstay at the courts of Ottoman sultans, but they have been largely out of sight for decades. Their renewed popularity comes amid a broader revival of Ottoman-era culture that has spread to television, fashion and politics.

Lithe, athletic and often sporting designer stubble, zennes can now be seen dancing at clubs and private gatherings—birthday parties, weddings, circumcision ceremonies, traditional bridal showers and even to “celebrate” a divorce.

Their costumes are almost identical to those worn by their female counterparts: bejeweled belts, flowing satin skirts and cloaks made of sheer fabric, which extend with their arms like wings. One exception: The men don’t wear brassieres.

Zenne Segah, a chiseled 26-year old dancer, cut his teeth in Istanbul dive bars but last year performed for crowds in Germany and Cyprus. He has also bagged a nightly slot at Istanbul’s Club Chanta, a velvet-clad dance hall packed with strobe lights, stiletto heels and disco balls. On a neon stage, he dances two short sets each night, dressed in yellow satin and glitter and jiggling in a way that might make Beyoncé blush.