For Practice, Performance, or Instruction

For those new to the world of belly dancing, getting a costume for belly dancing may seem like a daunting task. But putting a belly dance costume together couldn’t be easier. There are just a few simple things to remember when choosing or making a costume.

Read more on Assembling a Belly Dance Costume…

It’s fun, you will never know ’til you try!

Many people get the wrong idea about what belly dancing is and who should participate in it. There are many myths and untruths surrounding the art of belly dancing, which convinces many people to avoid trying out belly dance. The truth is that anyone can have a good experience with belly dancing.

Read more on Can Anyone Learn Belly Dancing?…

The Vibrant Music of the Middle East

Belly dance music is a broad genre of music and includes music from Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries. The type of music to use while belly dancing depends on the style of belly dance and whether the person is performing, practicing, or just belly dancing for fun or as a hobby. Read on to learn about some of the basics of choosing belly dance music.

Read more on Choosing Belly Dance Music…

About Belly Dance, introducing
background information of general interest

From our colleague Adiba

Belly Dance Props

Belly dancing, which is the westernized version of the traditional Arabic dance called raqs sharqi, has evolved over time and encompasses many dance styles. In many of those  styles of belly dancing, props are used to enhance the dancing and make it more interesting and enjoyable. These are some of the basic props that may be used while dancing:

Read more on Belly Dance Props…

About Belly Dance, introducing
background information of general interest

From our colleague Adiba

Belly Dance Costumes

Arabic belly dancing has changed over the years. The dance form, beginning as a traditional and enjoyable pastime for women in the Middle East, has evolved and incorporated many of the styles and ideas from western culture. This is very evident in belly dance costumes. From traditional to a mixture of modern, described below are several costume styles that are popular among belly dancers today.

Read more on Belly Dance Costumes…

About Belly Dance, introducing
background information of general interest

From our colleague Adiba

Belly Dance for Health

The Arabic belly dance is a traditional dance originating in the Middle East. Though many people in western culture equate belly dance with a seductive style of dance, belly dancing actually began as a folk dance used to celebrate and enjoy time together. Belly dance can be used today for enjoyment and can also be used to increase overall health.

Read more on Belly Dance for Health…

The biblical story of Salome and John the Baptist, gruesome, dramatic, and sensational, is very familiar to many, if not most, in the Christian world even to those who do not actively support the religion.

Read more on The Dance of Salome and John the Baptist…

Read more on Gypsy Dancers and the Belly Dance…

Raqs Baladi and Raqs Sharqi, the Oriental dances

From their origins in the Middle East, ‘Raqs Baladi’ and ‘Raqs Sharqi’ are the two main forms of the dance that we in the English-speaking western world refer to as the Arabic Belly Dance. or as just Belly dance, an unfortunate but firmly accepted label even though the dance involves so much more body and limb movement than just that of the belly area.

Read more on The Oriental dances…

Most of us, not living in the Middle East, probably picture in our minds the Arabic belly dance as we know it from its more commercial environments, as it is seen in our western world in cabarets, television, film, print-media or in the growing number of dancing classes that teach the Oriental (belly) dance

Read more on Arabic Dance, Women entertaining women…