Resources
Educational & Entertaining Websites:
Morocco’s website - www.casbahdance.org. Great articles! Aunt Rocky has such a wealth of knowledge that she wants to share.
Shira’s website - www.shira.net. Shira has compiled a micro encyclopedia for belly dancers. This site contains history, styles, rhythm and music, costume patterns, a glossary, etc. etc. AMAZING SITE!
Yasmina’s website – www.joyofbellydancing.com. Articles, shopping, drum rhythms, etc.
Salome’s website - www.orientaldancer.net . News, forum, instructor directory, Arabic song lyrics, star interviews, dance articles, etc.
Youtube – www.youtube.com can provide you will hours of belly dance education & entertainment. Try searching for: belly dance, bellydance, bellydancer, belly dancer, Arabic belly dance, Turkish belly dance, oriental dance, oriental dancer, Egyptian raqs sharqi, Lebanese raqs sharqi, raks sharki, raqs sharqi, oryantal tansi, oryantal didem, oryantal dersleri, oryantal dansi, oryantal mezdeke, raks badadi, raqs baladi, American Tribal Style, ATS, Tribal Fusion, improv belly dance & Raks Souzana!
Dancewear:
Dancewear, including Hermes sandals can be purchased through a dance catalog or online. Some of my favorite dancewear websites are:
You can now purchase belly dance wear and costumes in Fairbanks at:
Space for Movement Studio, 410 2nd Ave. Dowtown Fairbanks (old Elbow Room) www.spaceformovementstudio.com, or email at info@spaceformovementstudio.com
Terri Massa at http://www.zarasbazaar.com/ or email her at zarasbazaar@hotmail.com
Hip Scarves:
Hip scarves can now be purchased through dancewear website, www.justforkix.com but they call them Hip Skirts instead of Hip Scarves. Be careful when ordering online because you don’t really know what your getting because you can‘t inspect it upclose. I’ve found that carefully going over each spot where there’s a knot with Fray Check (can be purchased at JoAnns Fabric) helps prevent unraveling and dramatically prolongs the use of your hip scarf. Hip scarves come in different sizes, so if ordering online, be sure to ask how big it is. Ideally, it shouldn’t be so big that you tie coins into a knot when putting it on. If you find a hip scarf you love and it’s a bit too big, it’s not going to hurt the hip scarf to tie the coins into your knot. Just be careful when untying it. Hip scarves are usually made from chiffon or velvet. Velvet is my new favorite because I found it doesn’t slip around (or off) as easily. You may also purchase hip scarves from me if I have enough students that want to buy them from me to justify placing an order.
Ebay – www.ebay.com type in belly dance.
Dahlal International - www.dahlal.com
The Belly Dance Store - www.audrena.com/TheBellyDanceStore.html select Sashes
Lost Treasures Egyptian Imports - http://www.lost-treasures.com/ select Belly Dancing then Hip Scarves.
Alimah’s Closet – www.alimahscloset.com
Artemis Imports – www.artemisimports.com
Moon Dance Belly Dance - www.moondancebellydance.com
Miss Belly Dance - www.missbellydance.com
Veils:
You can easily make your own practice veil by purchasing around 3 yards of fabric in length and 45 inches wide. You can also determine the correct length by throwing the veil/fabric over one arm and line up all the edges. The ends of the veil should fall somewhere around your ankle. Most advanced dancers prefer to use silk veils. Silk can be hard to manipulate because it’s so light (unless you get a little heavier weight silk) but the way it catches air and moves through the air is beautiful and its abilities for artistic expression are endless. A good quality silk veil can easily cost $30 – $60 so many beginners choose to purchase an economical high quality chiffon instead.. Different fabrics will move differently so try as many different kinds of fabric as possible to see what you like and will be easy for you to manage while practicing. Be sure to stay away from fabric that’s too heavy, even though it may look gorgeous. I like all my students to have at least one veil that matches their hip scarf. You can also purchase veils at any of the websites listed above or from me when I have them in stock.
Finger Cymbals (English), Zills (Turkish), Zagat (Egyptian), Sil sil or Sanouj (Arabic), Salasih (Farsi), and Kymbala (Greek):
Spend your money once:
A set of double slotted finger cymbals provide the best control. Single slot zills flop all over the place and make learning more challenging than fun. I recommend purchasing a high quality pair of Saroyan Mastercraft finger cymbals.
Elastic:
Use high-quality, flat elastic that is the width or just a hair wider than your slots. Be prepared to replace the elastic when needed. , elastic stretches and wears with use. A fluctuation in your weight will cause your elastics to fit too tight or loose, adjust accordingly.
Fit:
A set of finger cymbals consist of four, percussive hand held metal disks and should be placed on the thumb and middle finger, either between the nail and first joint, or over the first joint, facing palm-ward. If you are planning on doing veil or sword work first, you may push them farther down your fingers, or twist them to face backward. They can be discreetly rearranged when you’re ready to play. Once your finger cymbals are on, close fingers so that the edges of the thumb and finger match each other. With the finger cymbals together, wiggle them back and forth with your other hand, making sure they line up properly when played. Do the same for the other hand. Sew or better yet, safety-pin the elastics once you have them adjusted to the correct fit. They should be tight enough to discolor your fingers a bit after wearing them a few minutes. Painful finger cymbals are too tight.
Storage:
Use a soft bag that is just big enough to store your finger cymbals tightly. Air tarnishes and changes the tone of your finger cymbals. Larger bags allow cymbals to bang and dent each other. Heat and cold can shrink and expand metal.. Don’t leave them in your car.
Cleaning:
Finger cymbals can be cleaned by using a silver cloth, or remove the elastics and use Brasso or Bar Keeper’s Friend.
Muffling for practice:
Cut tips off of socks and edge with elastic or toe tie sock pantyhose around finger cymbals leaving elastics free. Put masking tape across the strike surfaces of each finger cymbal. You can double layer if you need to. Make sure it is masking tape – others will stick and the adhesive can change the finish of your finger cymbals.
Purchase:
Some stores won’t let you try out the finger cymbals before purchase because they don’t want to be left with a used instrument. If you have the chance to try them out, purchase a pair with a tone that is pleasing to YOU. Ask a couple of dancers who already have a pair if you can hear theirs to get an idea of the different tones.
For more information and to purchase Saroyan finger cymbals online visit: www.saroyonzils.com. To purchase finger cymbals locally, visit Space for Movement Studio at the above listed address or call Lara Lotze directly at (907) 457-8216 or e-mail her at alaskadancer@alaska.net
Music:
Space for Movement Studio, 410 2nd Ave. Dowtown Fairbanks (old Elbow Room)
Amazon – www.amazon.com Free shipping usually if you purchase more than $25. Amazon now has mp3 download available. Many albums can be purchased for less than what you’d pay on itunes. They may even have FREE music downloads! Search for Turkish Hits Vol. 1 and Rotana Presents: Music from the Middle East and get them now for free.
Itunes – Itunes has tons of belly dance songs and albums to download.
Barnes and Noble – limited supply locally or go to www.barnesandnoble.com
Borders – good selection in Anchorage or online at www.borders.com it takes you to Amazon which has teamed with Borders.
PE-KO International & Hollywood Music Center – www.pekorecords.com. They distribute to many other sources that sell Arabic/ Middle Eastern music
Maqam – www.maqam.com. Lots of great Egyptian/Middle Eastern music, DVD, instruments & musical instruction
Raks Souzana Studio (me), I have a handful of CDs in stock.
Artemis Imports – www.artemisimports.com. She has an amazing selection of music. Lots of the old classics. Her prices are high but she has an incredible knowledge of music.
***The suppliers of the music section above (except Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble) are very good at recommending music to you. Tell them what you like and they will guide you through the sea of music.
Books: usually available and cheapest from www.amzon.com. The last three books I’ve listed were recommended by the dancer named Morocco who I trust completely. The first book on this list contains an article written by Morocco.
The Belly Dance Book: Rediscovering the Oldest Dance by Tazz Richards. Anthology of articles written by members of the belly dance community on a variety of topics.
A Trade Like Any Other: Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt by Karin van Nieuwkerk. Excellent view of how Oriental dance evolved in Egypt as a performing art in the 20th century and explores the question of why entertaining is considered a low-class profession for women in Egypt.
Middle Eastern Muslim Women Speak by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea and Basima Bezirgan. Anthology giving insights into what women in Muslim countries really think and overview of the real loves of woman in the Near and Middle East.
Veils and Daggers: A Century of National Geographic’s Representation of the Arab World by Linda Steet. Steet’s analysis of the discourses of Orientalism, patriarchy, and primitivism in the magazine’s representation of the Arab world uncovers the ideological perspectives that have guided National Geographic throughout it’s history.