Music
Gypsy Caravan & Friends: “Migration” & “Awakening” (I use these in class A LOT)
Phil Thornton & Hossam Ramzy: “Immortal Egypt” & “Eternal Egypt”
(Hossam Ramzy does a lot of belly dance music on his own as well. Traditional Egyptian & cabaret.)
Steve Flynn / Uncle Mafufo / Sirocco find them at www.visionarydance.com
Bellydance Superstars Vol. 1 & 2: various artists, some traditional, mostly modern music
Oojami: “Bellydance Breakbeats”
Turbo Tabla: “Bellydance Overdrive” traditional music meets hip-hop flavor
Arabesque: various artists, modern kind of techno feel
Arabic Groove: various artists, modern kind of pop style
Electric Gypsyland: various artists, fun blend of traditional gypsy music w/ modern mix
Solace (Jeremiah Soto)
Dinletir: “Music from Rania’s Exotic Workout” very techno
Domba!
Or whatever you like. I use a lot of Egyptian and Arabic styled music in class, but other cultures
you may look into are Greek, Turkish, Flamenco, Gypsy, Afghani, Lebanese, various African, the list
goes on and on. YOU CAN BELLY DANCE TO ANYTHING WITH A BEAT OR A MELODY!!! (I love
throwing in Beastie Boys and other hip-hop because of the strong bass downbeats! )
INSTRUCTIONAL Videos
Rania’s Bellydance workouts: “Hip Hop Hip Drop”, “Cardio Shimmy”, “Pure Sweat”,
“Bellydance Boogie”
Dolphina: “Goddess Workout” 4-part series including one on zills and one on veil
Bellyqueen’s Bellydance Jam: This is a great value, usually retailing about $19.95
includes instructional video AND practice music.
Atea & Friends: “Bellydance: Magical Motion”, “Slow Moves” and “Fast Moves”
Kathy Ferguson: “Belly Dance for Fun & Fitness”
Delilah Flynn: “Absolute Beginning Belly Dance” and “Delilah’s Bellydance Workshop” available at
www.visionarydance.com
GAIAM yoga series: o.k., so these aren’t belly dance videos, but I really enjoy the gentle,
holistic approach these folks seem to offer
Also recommend videos by IAMED (International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance,) Fat
Chance Belly Dance, Nadia. . . I’m not a big fan of the Veena & Neena series or Jeanine Rabbit.
Performance videos
Watching other belly dancers is probably the best, most fun way to learn new movements, get new
ideas, etc. Here are just a few suggestions. . . .
Delilah & Sirocco – Live & Wild (pretty much any Delilah videos – she is my goddess! )
Bellydance Superstars includes Rania, Ansuya, Suhalia Salimpour, Rachel Brice & more
Fat Chance Belly Dance “Tatooed One” American Tribal Style by the pioneering group
IAMED Awards of Belly Dance www.bellydance.org
Hollywood Babylon / Bellydance Divas/ Bellydance at its Best
Costume suppliers
Next Millennium Book Store 2308 N. 72nd St., Omaha
Coin jewelry, some skirts & tops, MUSIC & BOOKS, zills, scarves, videos
Basinah, custom designs, talk to her at class.
Gems & Jewels 2765 Arlington Ave., Lincoln, 402-435-3910
Gretchen makes a lot of beautiful costumes, carries jewelry, martial arts gear & more
Cartouche, Kansas City, www.theegyptianstore.com
Judy’s Creative Costuming, 22024 Swope Ln., Sedalia, MO 65301
www.angelfire.com/mo3/judycreativecostume e-mail or write for catalog
Unicorn Belly Dance Supplies, 3361 S. Corona, Englewood, CO 80110
www.unicorn-bds.com write or e-mail for catalog
eBay has lots of glorious stuff at any given time, watch out for shipping costs, though.
Some web sites
www.learn-to-belly-dance.com
www.doscasasproductions.com
www.terirosario.com - (Fantastic artist)
www.visionarydance.com (Delilah’s site)
www.bellydance.org (International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance
www.raniabellydance.com (Rania’s site)
www.shira.net (LOTS of info at this site)
www.fcbd.com (Fat Chance Belly Dance)
www.serpentine.org (Artemis Mourat’s site)
www.bollywhat.com (Bollywood, Indian films)
www.shimmyshimmy.com
http://tribes.tribe.net/divasoma - tribe.net site for Diva Soma
http://people.tribe.net/divasoma - Magdalene's profile on tribe.net
http://tribes.tribe.net/raniafans - tribe.net site for fans of Rania
www.emerald-eye-photography.com - official photographer for Diva Soma
Recommended books
Many titles are available at Next Millennium Book Store. If not on hand, ask Charlie if it can be
ordered.
How to Be the Belly Dancer of Your Dreams by Kathreen Saab
BellyDanceBook.com
Sacred Woman, Sacred Dance by Iris J. Stewart, ISBN 0-89281-605-8
Grandmother’s Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and . . . by Rosina Fawzia Al-Rawi,
ISBN 1-56656-326-7
A Woman’s Book of Power by Karen Andes, ISBN 0-399-52372-3
Serpent of the Nile: Women & Dance in the Arab World by Wendy Buonaventura
ISBN 1-56656-300-3 (BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, very informative)
Oriental Belly Dance by Kermal Ozdemir, ISBN 975-7054-11-9 (little more on risqué side)
When the Drummers Were Women by Layne Redmond, ISBN 0-609-80128
Drumming the Spirit to Life, Let the Goddess Dance by Russell Buddy Helm Includes
drumming CD, ISBN 1-56718-432-4
Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art that Tones. . . by Rania Bossonis Includes music CD
Body Outlaws Edited by Ophira Edut, not a belly dance book, essays on body image
ISBN 1-58005-108-1
What Your Mother Never Told You About S-E-X by Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., ISBN 0-
399-52853-9 Frank information on women’s health, one section describes “exercises” that are
pretty much things we do in belly dance class!
Skinny Legs & All (a novel) by Tom Robbins, not a belly dance book, but does include a description
of “dance of the seven veils”. A little crass at times, but gives interesting insight into world
events.
The Belly Dance Book
***Also look for new books by Tamalyn Dallal, Carolena Nericcio, and Dolphina***
Ishmael, My Ishmael, The Story of B and Beyond Civilization by Daniel Quinn, these books
have nothing to do with belly dance, but I love them and think everyone should read them!
The Red Tent (a novel) by Anita Diamante
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes