Belly Dance History

It is hard to say when "belly dancing" started and where.  I have created this page to help reveal it's mysteries.  I have gathered books, web sites, articles, anything I could find on this subject.  Also included on this page is information about the different styles of dance and types of dances.  This is not an all inclusive list of resources.  New items will be added when I run across them.  I hope you enjoy exploring this wonderful art form.

History
Types of Dances
Stars of Belly Dance

History

Articles - The below articles are linked from web sites.

About Bellydance - by Venus

The American Tradition of Belly Dance with Zambalita - program notes from a performance by Zambalita

Belly Dance - article from Private Tourist Guide in Istanbul website

Belly Dance Time Line - from learn-to-belly-dance.com

Dance Du Ventre: a fresh appraisal (part I) - by Leona Wood

Defining the Dance - by Jen Al-Amira

The Ethics of Ethic - article written by Morocco, from Morocco's web site.

Exactly What is Middle Eastern Dance - by Lady Blodwen Ferch Maergred

Fact & Fantasy About Belly Dance -  article from Private Tourist Guide in Istanbul website

The Forbidden Dance - by Lucy Pappas

History of Middle Eastern Dance - from BellydanceUK website

In Search of the Origins of Dance - from Andrea Deagon's website

The Oriental Dance - from Asmhan's page

Primer on Middle Eastern Dance Styles - Beginners are often confused about the many dance styles in Middle Eastern dance. Our dance comes from many countries, so there is great variety. The wide range of choices is one of the charms. There are general characteristics in each style, however, which differentiate them.

Roots - an article by Morocco, published in Habibi, vol.5, #12, from Morocco's web site.

What is Belly Dancing? - article from the IAMED website

The World's Oldest Dance; a history of bellydance (revised 2000) - by Joyful Dancer, Karol H. Harding

Books - Some of these books are out of print.  If you ever see them in a bookstore, flea market or on the web, buy them, they are priceless.

Check my booklist for more books on belly dancing.

"Ancient Egyptian Dances"  by Irena Lexova, Diane Bergman (Introduction), K. Haltmar (translator)
Excellent resource on the history, mystery and origins of belly dance. Has sections on purely movemental dance, gymnastic dance, imitative dance, dramatic dance, lyrical dance, funeral dance, religious dance, accompaniments of the dance, dance with musical instruments, movements of the legs, arms, and trunk, costumes of the ancient Egyptian women and men dancers, a note on the historical development of the ancient Egyptian art of dancing, and a note on the Egyptian dances, as performed by modern women dancers. 
176 pages, $7.95
Publication date March 2000
Dover Publishers, ISBN 0486409066

"Belly Dancing, the serpent and the sphinx" by Wendy Buonaventura. This beautifully illustrated book is a pot-pourri of myth, history, anecdote, travelers’ tales and accounts by belly dancers today.
Virago Press, London, 1983, ISBN 0-86068-279-X,
Out of Print

"Looking For Little Egypt" by Donna Carlton. This book is very well  written.  The author did a lot of research before writting this book.
Paperback (June 1995), International Dance Discovery Books; ISBN: 0962399817, $14.95

"The Oldest Dance" by Zarifa Aradoon.  Orgins and philosophy of Danse Oriental [commonly known as belly dancing].  Includes discussions of the dance as seen by foreign travelers. 
Dream Place Publications, CA, 1979, ISBN 0-930486-01-3, Out of Print

"Oriental Belly Dance "by Kemal Ozdemir. This book is from Turkey and includes the history of belly dancing, Turkish folk dance, modern and classical dances, Oriental dancers, Oriental dance music, costumes for oriental dancing, the masters of Turkish belly dancing and a guide to watch an Oriental dance performance to name a few.  The illustrations and photographs are awesome.  The book takes a long time to receive, but it was worth it. 160 pages, published by Donence Basim ve Yayun Hizmetleri, Istanbul/Turkey, ISBN 975-7054-11-9, $50.00

"The Rom: walking in the paths of the gypsies" by Roger Moreau. The author's account of his efforts to research the history of the Rroma, especially those aspects that are still not completely understood by modern-day Gypsiologists.
Paperback - 304 pages (September 1997), Key Porter Books; ISBN: 1550138685; $14.95

"Serpent of the Nile: women and dance in the Arab world" by Wendy Buonaventura.  Explores the history of belly dancing from ancient times through the resent.
Paperback - 208 pages Reprint edition (February 1998), Interlink Pub Group; ISBN: 1566563003; $35.00

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Web Sites - The below web sites touch on the history of belly dancing.

Belly Dance: history, heritage and memoirs -  from Soraya's web site.

History of belly dancing in the United States - by Jamial Salimpour.

The History of Belly Dancing - from Siovana's Belly Dance Page.

History of Middle Eastern Dance - from Cassandra Strands website.

History of Oriental Dance -   Books, music, FAQ's and articles about the history of belly dancing.  From Shira's website.

Hootchy-Kootchy - from StreetSwing.com dance history archive

Oriental Belly Dance - from StreetSwing.com dance history archive

Spiritdance - website deals with dance styles, costumes and instruments dealing with Raks Sharqi.

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Types of Dances

Web Sites - The below web sites touch on the different styles of belly dancing

Helene Ericksen - her website contains a lot of information, both in text and photos, of dances from various countries.

Some General Information on Middle Eastern Dance - There are many forms of "Middle Eastern" dance, if by that we mean any sort of dance originating or practiced in any of the Middle Eastern countries. Prominent among these many dances are a number of common qualities which describe a specific form of dance, and which differentiate it from Western dance in general.  From Sahnobar's web site.

Styles of Belly Dance in the United States - Overview of the different styles of dance within the U.S. Contains terminology, structure of dance, finger cymbals and type of dance moves to name a few.  From Shira's web site.

Floorwork

Discussion of floorwork - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Getting Down to Floorwork - article by Morocco, from her web site.  Published in Habibi.

Just Like a Snake: how to perform serpentine floorwork - article by Jasmin Jahal

Gypsy, Flamenco & Middle Eastern Dance

Origins Misunderstandings - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Hagallah

Hagallah - The folkloric dance of celebration known as the hagallah is performed by the settled Bedouin (bedu) of Mersa Matruh in Western Egypt and is often performed during the date harvest, which is the wedding season in that area.

Snake

Snake Dancing - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Snake Handling - General tips for optimum snake performance

Snake Info - General information from Maria's page.  Also included on this page, cartoons and a snake story. 

Snakeskin - Lynette from Snake Skin Studio informs her readers about snakes, also a photo gallery containing  artwork of ancient women & snakes.

That Snake Charmer Song - History of the "Snake Charmer" song.  You know the one, that very annoying sound that has nothing to do with the Middle Eastern Dance.  Listen to the song   recorded by Carl Stevens and His Circus Band and other artists.  From Shira's Site.

Trance

Guedra - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Guedra: the FAQ - by Joyful Dancer Karol H. Harding

The Zar - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

The Zar Revisited - by Me'ira

Veil

Dance of the Seven Veils and Salome - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Dancing with a veil - article by Jasmin Jahal

Veil - Information on American night club,  Tribal Fusion and Egyptian Raqs Sharqi viel work.  From Shira's web site.

The Veil and Oriental Dance - article by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat

Veil Dancing - FAQ's from Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide.

Stars of Belly Dance

Badia Masabni

Articles

• Badia Masabni - from Bellydance.org
• A Ride on My Magic Carpet - by Jasmin Jahal
•  Dancers of the Past - from Jodette's website
• From Badi'a to Abbas a look at Giza's Riverside Drive - 
  by Samir Raafat

Fifi Abdou

Articles

• Fifi Abdou: Egypt's most celebrated belly dancer
• Fifi Abdou - from Bellydance.org
• Fifi Abdou - from Serpentine website
• Sin Eaters: Sheiks condemn charity meals from belly dancers - from Cairo Bureau Chief Gayle Young

Mona Said

Articles

• Mona el Said - from bellydance.be website
• Mona el Said in Dallas - by Catherine E Barros

Video

• Mona el Said Performance Video, vol. 1

Nagwa Fouad

Articles

• Nagwa Fouad: Egypt's bellydancing legend
• Nagwa Fouad: hours of glory - profile by Soheir Sami
• Nagwa Fouad - from Bellydance.org
• Nagwa Fouad - from Hossam Ramzy website
• Nagwa fouad - filmography
  

Naima Akef 

Articles

• Naima Akef - profile from Belly Dance Museum
• Naima Akef - from Hossam Ramzy website
• Naima Akef - from Serpentine website
• Naima Akef: premiere star of the musical comedie of the Egyptian cinema - by Megda Maurice (translated page)
• Naima Akef - filmography

Video

• The Stars of Egypt - Naima Akef parts 1 & 2 from Hossam Ramzy

Samia Gamal

Articles

• La Danse Orientale - from Orientalys website (not in English)
• Samia Gamal - from belly dance museum website
• Samia Gamal - from Gobellydance.com website
• Samia Gamal - from Serpentine website
• Samya Gamal - from Hossam Ramzy website
• Samia Gamal - filmography

Video

• The Stars of Egypt - Samya Gamal from Hossam Ramzy
  

Souhair Zaki

Articles

• Sohair Zuki - from Serpentine website
• Soheir Zaki - profile from Belly Dance Museum
• Soheir Zaki - from Bellydance.org
• Souhair Zaki - Tribenet
  

Tahia

Articles

• Dancing to the Rhythm of Time - Youssef Rakha 
• Farewell to Tahia - by Edward Said
• In Loving Memory of my Idol, Tahia Karyooka - from Jodette's page
• Taheya Carioca - from belly dance museum website
• Taheyya Karioka - from Hossam Ramzy website
• Tahia Carioca - from Serpentine website

Video

• The Stars of Egypt - Taheyya Karioka from Hossam Ramzy
  

Websites and General Articles Featuring the Stars of Belly Dancing

• Atef Farag: a life in dance - interview by Debbie Lammam
• Beauty and the Beat - by Fayza Hassan
• The Golden Age of Egyptian Dance - article by Venus
• Photos of Dancers Then & Now
• The Stars of Egypt - from Hossam Ramzy page (select articles)
• Sikidim, Sikidim - from Al-Ahram Weekly
• Top Turkish Talent - article by Jasmin Jahal
• Who's Who in Egyptian Dance - from Rakscandi.co.uk website
  

Video Clips

• The Egyptian Castle - video clips of Samal Gamal & Naima Akef
• Mona el Said - You Tube clip

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