A comprehensive guide to the art of belly dancing • Covers the origins, mythology, and history of the Middle Eastern dance, including its physical and mental health benefits • Contains practical instructions with easy-to-follow photographs • Includes recipes for perfumes, cosmetic creams, and food from the Middle East Belly dance is pure sensuousness and has enchanted humans since ancient times. Yet beyond its erotic aspects, belly dancing offers many physical and emotional benefits. On the physical level it helps with muscle stiffness, autonomic nervous system disturbances, mobility of the abdominal region, and strengthening the back, which in turn enhances the body’s overall posture. Belly dancing also relieves menstrual problems and has been shown to be extremely useful during pregnancy and childbirth. On the emotional side belly dancing increases the libido and has enabled women to overcome self-esteem issues and regain healthy feelings of sensuality and sexuality.Belly Dancing covers all aspects of this ancient art, beginning with its origins and mythical connections to the moon goddess. The authors provide practical instructions and easy-to-follow photographs for the most important dance movements as well as guidance in costuming and related accoutrements. Additional information on foot reflexology and Indian chakras aid the further understanding of the art. The book also contains recipes for Middle Eastern perfumes, cosmetic creams, and food as well as suggestions for musical accompaniment.

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Dora Chambers volunteers to enforce proper conduct on the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition to earn the approval of the World Fair's Board of Lady Managers, and appease her socially ambitious husband. But Dora finds herself captivated by these exotic women and their enigmatic manager, Hossam Farouk--and discovers the truth about the desire and passion in her own heart...

Imagine having a team of belly dance mentors willing to coach you through your belly dance journey. You might want their help and advice on selecting music, venues, costume or props. Perhaps you would like to hear about the pit-falls and problems of dancing at each different type of events, or the correct etiquette for classes and workshops. Maybe you would like their thoughts on your costuming, or some tips on putting together a web site, or managing your social networking. All of this and more is covered in Becoming a Belly Dancer, from stage fright to retirement, ATS to Zar. Becoming a Belly Dancer is a stagecraft handbook that provides valuable information, learned-in-the-trenches tips, and guidance for belly dancers who are ready to take the step from student to performer, or from performer to professional. Sara Shrapnell, author of "Teaching Belly Dance" and Dawn Devine, author of "Cloth of Egypt" and 13 other belly dance and costuming books, including the bestselling "Embellished Bras" and the now classic "Costuming from the Hip", have collaborated to produce "Becoming a Belly Dancer". Between them, they have more than 50 years of combined experience as performers, teachers, dancers and costume designers. Alisha Westerfeld explored the established and upcoming talent of the Bay Area to bring her beautiful photography to every page of this project. International belly dance celebrity and costume designer Poppy Maya adds her own special brand of "Additional Awesomeness" to the book, and the input of a young dancer, currently making her living through belly dance. The authors hope to bring the warmth, support, and humor of a teacher in absence, a true friend and a trusted advisor who has only one main goal: you. They want to focus on helping you be the best prepared physically and mentally for the challenges of performing for friends, family, the dance community, and the greater society, both in person at public venues, and via media available on the internet. The book covers improving your dance skills, good practice habits, preparing physically and emotionally, critiquing, picking your music and venues and dancer etiquette. In addition, the book includes extensive sections on costume design and selection, sewing and no sewing costumes, accessorizing, hair and makeup and presenting to the world the very best belly dancer that you can be."Becoming a Belly Dancer: From Student to Stage" is a useful and inspiring tool that will help belly dancers to be ready for the big day, so they can dazzle, impress and wow with talent and style.

"Snake Hips" follows an Arab-American woman through her adventures in love and belly dancing.

Belly Dance Business 101 is ideal for performers who have already studied belly dance and feel confident in their ability to excel at gigs, but just need help in getting to that next level which is becoming a paid professional. In the book, Helen stresses the importance of handling yourself as a business and continually references back to general business practices when conducting yourself as a paid performer. This book covers subjects like branding, online presence, pricing, correspondence, professionalism, etiquette, and much more. While Belly Dance Business 101 is primarily written for those with an interest in belly dance, performers of all kinds can gain valuable knowledge from this book. Having also immersed herself in the performance industry as a singer, Helen draws parallels between the different fields within the entertainment business, and her formula for this guide is influenced by her industry experiences as a whole.

A complete background and guide to this ancient, erotic dance.

Focusing on Egypt during the period 1760 to 1870, this book fills in some of the historical blanks for a dance form often known today in the Middle East as raqs sharki or raqs baladi, and in Western countries as "belly dance." Eyewitness accounts written by European travelers, the major primary source for modern scholars, provide most of the research material. The author shapes these numerous accounts into a coherent whole, providing a picture of Egyptian female entertainers of the period as professionals in the arts, rather than as a group of unnamed "ethnic" dancers and singers. Analysis is given of the contexts of this dance--that was a legitimate performing art form in Egyptian society appreciated by a wide variety of audiences--with a focus on actual performances--and a re-creation of choreography.

Under pressure from her mother to lose weight in an exercise class, a sixteen-year-old Jewish girl rebels and joins a class in belly dancing where she finds independence, romance, and self-confidence--and an intriguing drummer named Sumir.

The Belly Dance Reader is an anthology of essays from many of the leaders in our Middle Eastern music and dance community. The contributors range from PhD scholars to hobbyists. This book is illustrated with hundreds of photos and artwork from current to vintage, including various sub-styles of the dance, gathered from around the world. Subjects covered include: An introduction, dancing at various ages and stages, history, costuming and appearance, regional and sub styles of the dance, theory and technique, as well as valuable resources such as Arabic scales and rhythms, glossary, maps and more.Belly Dance Reader ContentsSection 1 - An Introduction* Gamar a poem by Beatrice Parvin of the UK* Welcome to Bellydance by Najia* Belly Dance and Contemporary Dance Studies by Barbara Sellers-Young PhD* Reading Like a Researcher, Can You Trust Your Sources? by Mahsati* Orientalism, Zumarrad's Completely Non-scholarly Quick & Dirty Guide by Brigid Kelly* The Soul of Belly Dance, The Most Importatnt Thing is the Feeling by Alia ThabitSection 2-Dancing Through the Stages of Your Life* Teaching Children to Dance, Joys and Pitfalls by Martha Duran* A Dancer's Journey, From Beginner to Semi-Pro by Elianae Stone* The Teacher-Student Relationship, A Psychological Point of View by Izzah Isabelle Gagnon PhD* Bellydance Class... or Cult? Artwork by Leela Corman* Turning Pro, From Hobbyist to Star to Teacher by Lauren and Jillina* Boomerang Career, Life and Dance in the Land Down-Under (Pro to Teacher/Hobbyist) by Amera of Australia* It Ain't Easy being the Crone by Shelley MuzzySection 3-History* "Harem Girls", Dance in Historical Harems, Early 1700s - Early 1900s by Andrea Deagon PhD* The American Belly Dancer in Early Burlesque and Vaudeville Theatre by Catherine Mary Scheelar (married name here)* Belly Dance as a Performance, Historical Phenomenon or Logical Evolution? by Iana Komarnytska* Dancer Trading Cards- Artwork by Leela Corman, Stats by SausanSection 4-Biz* What a Band Needs, But Doesn't Always Get by Denise Mannion of Pangia* Dancing with Live Bands, The Little Book of Etiquette by Leyla Lanty* Selling your Dance, A Series of Elevator Pitches by Athena* Marketing Belly Dance for Fitness, Is It A Good Idea? by Mayada* Tip O' the Hat to Tipping, Practices of Appreciation by Samira SharukSection 5-Costume & Appearance* Raqqin the Retro, Vintage Costume Care by Princess Farhana* Omani Jewelry from the Collection of Nancy Hernandez Photography by Alisha Westerfeld* Practice Makes Perfection, Make up Artists Share Their Secrets by Davina ~ Dawn Devine* A Costume GallerySection 6- Regional Styles* Beyond Sequins, Meaning in the Movement by Yasmina Ramzy* The Rom, Nomads of the Spirit by Sierra (Sadira) Suraci* Romani (Gypsy) History An Introduction by Renee Rothman* The Zar, Dancing with Genies by Yasmin Hekesh* In Search of Zambra Mora by Dondi Dahlin* Improvisational Tribal Style, Constructing Self and Community by April Rose* The Ghawazi by Jalilah* Two Weddings and a Dancer, The Beledi and The City by Leila Farid* Zeffat Al 'Aroosa, Ritual Procession for the Egyptian Wedding by Sahra Carolee KentSection 7-Theory & Technique* Belly Dance Motivations, Context and Content of Performance by Jezibell Anat* Contextualizing, Giving Your Dance Context! by DaVid of Scandinavia* Performance Enhancement by Mahsati* How to Balance Anything! by Stasha Vlasuk* Improvising with Ease, Strategies that Work by Anthea Kawakib Poole* Shimmylab, Muscular Activation Patterns in Belly Dance by Venus Marilee Nugent* Are the Stars Out Tonight? Fitting Music & Dance to Your Gig by NajiaThe Backside* Maps- Sahra's Regional Dances of Egypt, The Mid East, Mediterranean, and North Africa* A Few Maqamat and Rhythms* References, A Bibliography Project, Bonus Material, Disclaimers, Errata* Gig Form* A Glossary of Common Belly Dance Terms* Contributors Bios* Photo Credits* Late Additions photos

Beautifully photographed live Belly Dance performances. Photographed during ten years with over 100 dancers. Author Martha Burns: "I wanted to recapture and share the dancers' inspiration and magic by means of visual images. I have been honored with Dr. Christiane Northrup writing my book's foreword, Alice Walker, Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, and Jalaja Bonheim allowing me to quote from their books and for their encouraging words. Belly dance is a misunderstood art. Through my book, I hope to illustrate belly dance's beauty and power, why belly dancers believe this movement is the mother of all dance and why they dedicate their lives to mastering this art form. Belly dancers celebrate their (and each others') power and femininity with profound respect and reverence regardless of age, color, or size. Many feel a divine feminine energy during their dance transforming them into Goddesses. We all bask in this feminine force; those of us watching also become Goddesses." www.BellyDanceBook.net