How to Belly Dance

Since I started my website I receive emails from people all over the world wanting to know how they can learn to belly dance.  The best way to learn belly dancing is from an instructor.  A teacher can work with you and make sure you are executing a move correctly.  You can ask questions if you feel your are doing something wrong.  I know I learn from watching, so it's nice to have someone in front of you demonstrating the movement.  But let's face it, this is not always feasible.  This is not an all inclusive lists of sources, hopefully this page will start you in the right direction.  Check back from time to time, I will be adding more information to this page as I find it.

Articles
Belly Dance Instruction on the Web
Books
Costuming
Finding an Instructor
Videos 
Veil Dancing
Zills

Articles

Core Belly Dance Moves and Steps - by Atea

Give Your Dance a Face Lift - by Jasmin Jahal

In Search of a Better Belly - by Jasmin Jahal

Learn How to Belly Dance - the Atea Method - by Atea

Zaramaya's Tips for Flawless Technique - from Zarasemporium website

Belly Dance Instruction on the Web - websites that offer instruction, lessons and papers on belly dancing.  

Aziza Sa'id's Lessons Online - two lessons are currently available, Hip Lift & Drop and Shoulder Shimmy.  Aziza Sa'id did an excellent job with the graphics.

Belly Dance Lesson Online - three lessons - beginning, intermediate and advance from Ankestamen's website.  Also included is a beginning cane choreography.

Cassiopeia's How to Execute a Bellydance Move - from how to belly dance online videos

Dance Movement of the Month - Aszmara highlights a different move every month on her page.

Egyptian Belly Dancing: putting moves together - 20 short video clips covering basic move, zills, putting it all together and costuming.   

How to Do Belly Dance Moves - explanation of how to do various belly dance moves and more from Shira's website.

Kawakib's Dance Tips - Instructional papers on the art of Oriental (belly) Dance for beginners through teacher levels

Movements Page - from Middle Eastern Dance page

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Books - there are more instructional books on this subject but they are out of print.  Check used bookstores and your local library to find more sources.

Search Amazon for instructional books on belly dancing

Intermediate Belly Dancing by Vicki Corona.   Provides a brief culture lesson on Saudi Arabia, describes how to do about 18 intermediate-level moves, offers a few finger cymbal rhythms, provides a structure for combining movements into a complete dance, and introduces what a dancer should know when beginning to perform for an audience.
Mass Market Paperback - 28 pages 1 Ed edition, Earth Dance International Publishing; ISBN: 1585130249


Nefertiti Presents...Belly Dancing "the basics"
a dedication to Nerfertit
by Sherry Jeffries (Ankestamen) Instructional aid, or just for fun! 40 page, GBC bound, flip style, illustrated book for learning basic belly dance moves. Detailed instructions on 20 basic moves, basic veil, floor work and zills.  

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Finding an Instructor - don't know where to look to find an instructor?  Here are a few suggestions:

• check your local yellow pages under dance studios or dance instruction
• restaurants in your area that have dancers
• your local city's Parks & Recreation department
• the Internet - several websites have a dancer or teachers directory - also email dancer's that you find on the Internet, they might be able to help
• colleges and universities - some offer noncredit classes that might include belly dancing if it is not offered as a credit course
• health clubs
• new age stores
• Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)
• if you see a dancer perform, ask, they will be glad to help - this could be at the fair, a grand opening, a festival, a singing telegram or belly gram, etc.

Veil Dancing - one of the most moving, flowing, expressive and prettiest part of belly dancing.  This is one of my favorite props to work with.

Articles

Dancing with a Veil - by Jasmin Jahal

The Great American Belly Dance Veil Routine - by Najia El Mouzayen (from the Gilded Serpent) 

Making a Dance Veil - from Ruric-Amari website

The Wonderful Art of Veil Dancing - from Dancers of the Desert website

Books and DVD's/Videos

Bellydancing with Veils - video by Cory Zamora

Double and Single Veil - instructional video with Joynan

Veil Dancing - clips of various dancers from You Tube

Veil with Aziza - instructional DVD with Aziza



Voi - instructional DVD with Amira

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Videos - this is a wonderful way to learn belly dancing.   Doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a professional dancer, you can learn from video tapes.  Don't think you can only learn from instructional videos, you can learn a lot from performance tapes also.  A video shouldn't replace an instructor, they are a great tool to use along with lessons.  If you don't have an instructor or classes in your area videos are the best.

One of the best sources to find belly dance video tapes is the Middle Eastern  Dance Video Sourcebook edited by Donna Carlton.  It's a wonderful resource for both instructional and performance videos.  The guide is updated every year in April.

The Internet is another good source.  Try to find websites that have video reviews.  This will help you in making a decision on what to buy.  Also ask dancers about the videos they like before you buy.  

Online auction sites, like eBay are a great source for purchasing belly dance videos.

Check out your local library to see if they might have a video to check out.

Also check out bookstores, (don't forget the web bookstores) and electronic stores, like Best Buys, that carry videos.

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Zills - also known as finger cymbals, and sagats.  These circular disks really add a lot to your dancing.

I posed a question on my website asking dancers, "Do you play zills when you dance?  I was amazed at the results, (see survey below).   I love playing zills and it adds so much to your dance, so I decided to add more info to this section.  Don't give up, keep trying you will succeed.

Articles

Basic Dumbek & Zills for Dancers - from Heavyhips website.  Includes zill patterns.

Finger Cymbals for the Beginning Student - by Miramar

How do I Clean My Zills? - FAQ from Aziza Sa'id's website

Rhythms & Cymbal Patterns - article by Jasmin Jahal

Zills - from the Middle Eastern Dance page.  Topics covered are history of zills, care of zills and zill patterns.

Books, Audio Tapes and Videos

Bellydance with Zils - instructional DVD with Elsa Leandros and Raquy Danziger

The Dancing Cymbalist - How to play music with finger cymbals & dance at the same time - by Jenna Woods

Finger Cymbal Fantasies - by Vicki Corona

Finger Cymbals for Belly Dance - instructional DVD, Tobias Roberson with Rachel Brice & Mardi Love

Hahbi 'Ru The Cymbal Dance Level Three - advance zill/dance routine, awesome! (scroll down the page to the video)

How to Play Finger Cymbals - video with Mesmera, beginning to intermediate (scroll down the page to the video)

Learn Finger Cymbals with Ansuya - DVD with Ansuya, beginning to intermediate

Wanna Dance Zill Workshop with Shamina - video for beginner to intermediate.

Z-Helene's Finger Cymbals for the Intermediate & Advance Belly Dancer - video with Z-Helene

Zills & Drums: thrilling, chilling zilling - CD by Armando (scroll down the page to the CD)

Zills on Fire: a finger cymbal workshop - CD and instructional booklet.  Page contains downloads of various rhythms

Zills with Zahira - Three's - DVD with Zahira, beginning to intermediate drills

Online Lessons

Online Finger Cymbal Workshop - find lessons, videos and books on how to play the finger cymbals. Great source from Shira's page.

Practicing with the Finger Cymbals (also known as sagats or zills) - article by Jasmin Jahal

Zills on Fire: the basics of music - learn about music tempo, pulse and zill patterns.  Check out the instructional CD and workbook at the bottom of the page.  

Zill Patterns

Arabic Segat Rhythms - by Karim Nagi Mohammed

Survey (1/04)

Belly Dance Survey

Do you play zills when you dance? [213 votes total] Yes (76) 36% No (12) 6% Sometimes (84) 39% Would never play them (1) 0% Never learned (18) 8% I can play zills but not while dancing (22) 10%

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powered by FreeFind       More about Yasmina Classes & Workshops Performance Schedule Shimmy Bliss Shimmy Bliss eBay Store Yasmina Spotlight Dancer/Troupe of the Month Viviane Spotlight Link Expert Villiage: video online belly dance lessons - (link is of search results for "bellydance") What's New 2 Workshops with Yasmina July 26th Updates to: Articles Videos   Learn to  Belly Dance for fun!!     with Halyma's Belly Dance Lessons on DVD Great gift idea! Available online and in Ottawa Stores now! Clean and clear instructions for the basics of belly dance for any fitness level - no previous experience needed! www.bellydancingforfun.com Halyma@bellydancingforfun.com phone: 613.241.3397 Aradia  of Las Vegas www.aradialv.com aradia11@aol.com (702)808-3430 Gypsy Chick Productions   is Proud to Presents…. Two Fabulous Instructors….  One Sizzling Summer of Belly Dance. Only in Sedona! Saturday, July 12 Sakti Rinek Drum Solo Workshop 1:00 - 4:00 Devi Yoga, Sedona  $55 ($45 by June 30)  This exciting drum solo workshop will feature dramatic isolation combinations and accents, various shimmies and layering with shimmies and hip articulations.  • Bazaar with costumes/props!    *************** Saturday, August 16 Yasmina Spicy, Playful, Fun Combos and More Need some new combinations to spice up your dance? Do you feel like you dance at the same speed all the time? In this workshop you will learn new combinations from the basic combo and adding layers to it to really spice up your dance. These combos are great for both cabaret and tribal dance styles. We will also work on slowing your dance down. Learn tips and techniques to add variety and spice to your performance. 1:00-3:30 Devi Yoga, Sedona $50 ($40 by Aug 1) • Evening Performance at the Rock Café $40 Together with The Gypsy Chicks! 6:30-8:30pm **************** For complete details please contact Holly: 928.300.4452 bodyandmindholly@esedona.net www.gypsychicksdance.com See-fit Body Stockings Your second skin   Designed to be worn under your costume,    in flesh, black or fishnet crystal Lycra. For more info please visit www.see-fit.com Dare to be Bare! allow these beaded heavenly adornments to carry your imagination to a place of joy and spirituality as you experience the mystical language of dance Even if you don’t dance barefoot – consider our lovely foot jewelry as a finishing touch to your photography session while in full costume.   Many of our designs are made with genuine Swarovski crystals that sparkle like the sun.  You’ll look like a Goddess!  And if you’re planning a beach wedding, be sure to take a look at our Beach Bride Collection Seaside Aqua  This pair of handcrafted barefoot sandals combines a mixture of faceted ovals, tiny hearts, rondelles and pony beads in ocean-inspired shades of aqua.  The design is accented with gold Bali rings, ovals and rounds.   (Also available with silver accents instead of gold.) A mother of pearl shell medallion graces the top Handcrafted on durable,  elastic cord An array of designs and colors to match your costumes Available in Small,  Medium & Large Custom designs welcome Jewels by Jan http://www.jewels-by-jan.com   Amira  International Emissary of Dance Original Videos, Music & Clothing For Your Belly™. Highest Quality 5-Star Rated Free Bellydancing Music Downloads www.amirasbelly.com   www.orientaldance.tv Carrie Konyha of Sedona, AZ Bellydance performer, instructor, choreographer. Voted Best Teacher in Sedona, Kudos 2007 Readers choice award Weekly classes in Sedona (beginning - advance),  Dance retreats, Workshops & Performances NATIONWIDE Traditional Raqs Sharqi , Tribal & Gypsy Fusion www.gaiadance.net  carrie@gaiadance.net  (928) 282-1587    http://thebellydancetrainer.com/   Shimmy Bliss Costuming Co. Tribal Belly Dance Supplies We receive in new items weekly so please  Check out our websites    www.shimmybliss.com or visit us on  eBay Would you like to see your ad here??  Check out the Ad Page for more info.