What this dance deserves
This dance, like any art deserves our utmost respect.
When we have more knowledge about the dance we are able to appreciate it more and present from a
base of greater authenticity, whether we are dancing folkloric, cabaret or a fusion style.
Part of respecting the dance also lies in supporting each other in the community. Teachers do more
than teach, but also provide appropriate learning performance opportunities for their students. Teachers
mentor in the professional dance world if they are qualified and pass students on to others if they are
not. Students should be encouraged to study with different teachers as well as take workshops from the
wonderful travelling dancers we sponsor. Students and professionals alike must be able to hear and
heed advice and recommendations for improving their dance. Professionals communicate with each
other honestly and with professional courtesy and present a positive image to the public.
With that in mind I am starting to compile a list of helpful articles for students, hobbyists, semi-pro and
professional dancers. This is by no means a complete list and this in no way can replace having a
dance mentor and/or taking workshops on going professional.
If you have recommendations, please email me samira at samirashuruk dot com
last updated December 18th, 2007 a * indicates new addition
Delving into Performing:
Your First Performance by Shira
Dear Shira Column
How Can I Learn to Improvise? by Shira
Hobbyist Circuit By Salome
How to Become A Better Dancer Without Really Trying (Well, Almost...) by Arabella
Dancing to Distraction by Shira
To Cover Up or Not? by Shira
Salome's Interview with Hadia
Personal Assessment by Tasha
Belly Dance Politics
Where Have All the cover Ups Gone by Ashiya and Naajida *
Professional Guidelines that help all of us:
A Professional - Primer By Salome
A Professional - Dance by Salome
A Professional - Music By Salome
A Professional - Culture By Salome
What Makes a Belly Dancer's Blood Boil? by Shira
What About Tipping? by Shira
Beginning to Teach Belly Dance by Shira
How MECDA Began by Feiruz Aram
Rising to the Top by Zahira and Nerissa
Performance Tips by Selket
Professional vs Amateur, what is the Difference by Nisima
The Emperor's New Clothes by Yasmela
Ethics and Standard Practices by Anthea
How Much do You Charge by Nanna Candalaria
Classy or Tacky by Shira
Stick to Your Guns by Despina
The Politics of Dancing by Nadiyah
Cultivating The Image by Miramar
Y2K Belly Dance Standards by Jasmin Jahal
Guild of Oriental Dance in Minneapolis
Middle Eastern Dance Professional corner
Professional vs Amateur by Nisima
Dynamic Relationships in Dance by Anthea
How MECDA began by Feiruz
What Does it Take...? by Alyra
How to Give a Critique, tribe thread
Dance Etiquette by Chelydra
More Than being Paid by Chelydra
Ready or Not by Amira Jamal
Payment for Performance by Amira Jamal
How to Charge What You're Worth by Michelle Joyce
The Devil is in the Details Part 1 by Yasmin
The Devils Details part 2- The Cross Cultural Factors by Yasmin *
The Devils Details part 3- Girls from Women by Yasmin *
The Devils Details part 4- What Not to Do by Yasmin *
My Dance Careers Dark Side by Najia
Tips on Getting Tips by Zaheea
US Department of Labor: Dancers and Choreographers
Top Twenty Club Cliches by Artemis Mourat *
The Biz of Belly Dance Tribe *
Advertise Yourself by Angelique
Learning the Language of Belly Dance by Shems
Performing: Taking it to the Next Level by Piper *
How To Avoid the Executioner by Najia Marlez *
Western Dancers in the Middle East by Meissoun *
Outi of Cairo *
Basic History:
Roots By Morocco
"Belly Dancing" and Childbirth By Morocco
A Name, a Notion By Salome
Just Say No By Salome
A Brief History of Oriental Dance By Salome
A Professional - Style/History By Salome
Sol Bloom by Kharmine
Egypt's Belly Dance Superstars - Yasmin
Styles of Oriental Dance:
Faux or for Real? By Salome
Oriental Dance: It Isn’t Just For Women (and Never Was) By Tarik Sultan
So What Else Is New (or Old)? By Morocco
Why the Fuss Over Egyptian Style Music & Oriental Dance? by Shira
Styles Of Belly Dance In The United States by Shira
Shimmies- to use the Knees or not by Yasmin
A Professional- Style/Terminology by Salome
Turkish Dance, American Cabaret, Vintage Orientale by Artemis Mourat
Skirt Dancing by Artemis Mourat
The Elusive Definition of Tribal Belly Dance by Sharon Moore
Two Turkish DVDs Reviewed by Surreyya *
Egyptian Dance - Has it Crossed the Line by Amina Goodyear *
Taxim from a Dancers Perspective: Tarab or Tyranny? by Najia Marlyz *
Finding a good teacher, being a good teacher:
A Competent Teacher By Ne-Kajira Jannan
Find a Teacher page by Shira
Stuck in a Beginner Rut? by Shira
Why Does My Teacher Refuse To Help? by Shira
Teaching Styles: A Letter to the Editor In Defense of Demanding Teachers by Yasmin
Class Etiquette Develops Character by Jasmine Jahal
Dance Class Etiquette by Miramar
Teaching Ethics or How to Find a Good Teacher
I Dance, You Follow by Leila *
Opening a Belly Dance Studio by Keti Sherif *
NEW! Separate page - Dance Travel and Cultural Interest
Dance Specialties:
Getting Down to Floorwork By Morocco
The Veil And Oriental Dance by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat
The Finger Cymbal Dilema: To Learn or Not to Learn by Yasmin and Artemis Mourat
Shemadan Dancing by Lucy Smith
Tips & Tricks For Swords by Shira
Troupe Transitions With Props by Shira
Makeup and Costuming:
Shoes or Barefoot by Shira
Tips & Tricks For Belly Dancers: Costuming, Make-Up, Hair by Shira & Others
How to Avoid Costuming Catastrophes by Jasmine Jahal
Your Performance Bad by Michelle
Kohl: Drawing the Line by Dawn Devine *
Music and Lyrics:
Egyptian Music
Basic Rhythms for Cabaret Belly Dance Routine By Mary Ellen Donald
Oriental Dancer.net / Salomes Lyric's page
Oum Kalthoum, the Voice of Egypt by Yasmin
Belly Dance Music in the US - Rashid
Copyright Laws for Dancers - Yasmin
This dance, like any art deserves our utmost respect.
When we have more knowledge about the dance we are able to appreciate it more and present from a
base of greater authenticity, whether we are dancing folkloric, cabaret or a fusion style.
Part of respecting the dance also lies in supporting each other in the community. Teachers do more
than teach, but also provide appropriate learning performance opportunities for their students. Teachers
mentor in the professional dance world if they are qualified and pass students on to others if they are
not. Students should be encouraged to study with different teachers as well as take workshops from the
wonderful travelling dancers we sponsor. Students and professionals alike must be able to hear and
heed advice and recommendations for improving their dance. Professionals communicate with each
other honestly and with professional courtesy and present a positive image to the public.
With that in mind I am starting to compile a list of helpful articles for students, hobbyists, semi-pro and
professional dancers. This is by no means a complete list and this in no way can replace having a
dance mentor and/or taking workshops on going professional.
If you have recommendations, please email me samira at samirashuruk dot com
last updated December 18th, 2007 a * indicates new addition
Delving into Performing:
Your First Performance by Shira
Dear Shira Column
How Can I Learn to Improvise? by Shira
Hobbyist Circuit By Salome
How to Become A Better Dancer Without Really Trying (Well, Almost...) by Arabella
Dancing to Distraction by Shira
To Cover Up or Not? by Shira
Salome's Interview with Hadia
Personal Assessment by Tasha
Belly Dance Politics
Where Have All the cover Ups Gone by Ashiya and Naajida *
Professional Guidelines that help all of us:
A Professional - Primer By Salome
A Professional - Dance by Salome
A Professional - Music By Salome
A Professional - Culture By Salome
What Makes a Belly Dancer's Blood Boil? by Shira
What About Tipping? by Shira
Beginning to Teach Belly Dance by Shira
How MECDA Began by Feiruz Aram
Rising to the Top by Zahira and Nerissa
Performance Tips by Selket
Professional vs Amateur, what is the Difference by Nisima
The Emperor's New Clothes by Yasmela
Ethics and Standard Practices by Anthea
How Much do You Charge by Nanna Candalaria
Classy or Tacky by Shira
Stick to Your Guns by Despina
The Politics of Dancing by Nadiyah
Cultivating The Image by Miramar
Y2K Belly Dance Standards by Jasmin Jahal
Guild of Oriental Dance in Minneapolis
Middle Eastern Dance Professional corner
Professional vs Amateur by Nisima
Dynamic Relationships in Dance by Anthea
How MECDA began by Feiruz
What Does it Take...? by Alyra
How to Give a Critique, tribe thread
Dance Etiquette by Chelydra
More Than being Paid by Chelydra
Ready or Not by Amira Jamal
Payment for Performance by Amira Jamal
How to Charge What You're Worth by Michelle Joyce
The Devil is in the Details Part 1 by Yasmin
The Devils Details part 2- The Cross Cultural Factors by Yasmin *
The Devils Details part 3- Girls from Women by Yasmin *
The Devils Details part 4- What Not to Do by Yasmin *
My Dance Careers Dark Side by Najia
Tips on Getting Tips by Zaheea
US Department of Labor: Dancers and Choreographers
Top Twenty Club Cliches by Artemis Mourat *
The Biz of Belly Dance Tribe *
Advertise Yourself by Angelique
Learning the Language of Belly Dance by Shems
Performing: Taking it to the Next Level by Piper *
How To Avoid the Executioner by Najia Marlez *
Western Dancers in the Middle East by Meissoun *
Outi of Cairo *
Basic History:
Roots By Morocco
"Belly Dancing" and Childbirth By Morocco
A Name, a Notion By Salome
Just Say No By Salome
A Brief History of Oriental Dance By Salome
A Professional - Style/History By Salome
Sol Bloom by Kharmine
Egypt's Belly Dance Superstars - Yasmin
Styles of Oriental Dance:
Faux or for Real? By Salome
Oriental Dance: It Isn’t Just For Women (and Never Was) By Tarik Sultan
So What Else Is New (or Old)? By Morocco
Why the Fuss Over Egyptian Style Music & Oriental Dance? by Shira
Styles Of Belly Dance In The United States by Shira
Shimmies- to use the Knees or not by Yasmin
A Professional- Style/Terminology by Salome
Turkish Dance, American Cabaret, Vintage Orientale by Artemis Mourat
Skirt Dancing by Artemis Mourat
The Elusive Definition of Tribal Belly Dance by Sharon Moore
Two Turkish DVDs Reviewed by Surreyya *
Egyptian Dance - Has it Crossed the Line by Amina Goodyear *
Taxim from a Dancers Perspective: Tarab or Tyranny? by Najia Marlyz *
Finding a good teacher, being a good teacher:
A Competent Teacher By Ne-Kajira Jannan
Find a Teacher page by Shira
Stuck in a Beginner Rut? by Shira
Why Does My Teacher Refuse To Help? by Shira
Teaching Styles: A Letter to the Editor In Defense of Demanding Teachers by Yasmin
Class Etiquette Develops Character by Jasmine Jahal
Dance Class Etiquette by Miramar
Teaching Ethics or How to Find a Good Teacher
I Dance, You Follow by Leila *
Opening a Belly Dance Studio by Keti Sherif *
NEW! Separate page - Dance Travel and Cultural Interest
Dance Specialties:
Getting Down to Floorwork By Morocco
The Veil And Oriental Dance by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat
The Finger Cymbal Dilema: To Learn or Not to Learn by Yasmin and Artemis Mourat
Shemadan Dancing by Lucy Smith
Tips & Tricks For Swords by Shira
Troupe Transitions With Props by Shira
Makeup and Costuming:
Shoes or Barefoot by Shira
Tips & Tricks For Belly Dancers: Costuming, Make-Up, Hair by Shira & Others
How to Avoid Costuming Catastrophes by Jasmine Jahal
Your Performance Bad by Michelle
Kohl: Drawing the Line by Dawn Devine *
Music and Lyrics:
Egyptian Music
Basic Rhythms for Cabaret Belly Dance Routine By Mary Ellen Donald
Oriental Dancer.net / Salomes Lyric's page
Oum Kalthoum, the Voice of Egypt by Yasmin
Belly Dance Music in the US - Rashid
Copyright Laws for Dancers - Yasmin
