PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

• For Students
  • Classes, Teachers, & Practice
  • Continuing the Journey
  • Reviews of Books & Videos for Beginning Students
• Belly Dance for Health & Fitness
  • Taking Care of Yourself
  • Health Benefits of Belly Dance
  • Belly Dancing and Your Weight
  • Healthy Travel for Belly Dancers
• Performance: Sharing Your Dance With Others
  • Starting to Perform
  • Uniting Mind, Body, & Spirit On Stage
  • Dealing with Bloopers
  • Using Middle Eastern Music
  • Other Things to Consider
• The Dancer's Life
  • Relationships & Attitudes of Others
  • Have Hip Scarf, Will Travel
    • Healthy Travel for Belly Dancers
    • Other Travel Topics
  • Other Lifestyle Topics

• Belly Dance Tips & Tricks
• The Online Finger CymbalWorkshop
  • General Finger Cymbal Advice
  • Reviews of Instructional Books & Video
• Dear Shira
  • On Being a Belly Dance Student
  • Hot Topics
  • Costumes, Makeup, & Appearance
  • How to Belly Dance
  • Going Pro
• Costume Corner (separate page)
• The Business of Belly Dance
  • Dance Career Planning
  • General Business Skills
  • Performing for Money
  • Teaching

Classes, Teachers, & Practice

• Learning To Belly Dance: Where To Find Instruction
• When Teachers Are Scarce
• Dear Shira: Can I Still Learn Belly Dancing, Even If I'm Overweight? From the Dear Shira advice column!
• Dear Shira: Am I Too Old To Learn How To Belly Dance? From the Dear Shira advice column!
• To All Students, Regarding "Loyalty" to Your Teacher. By Amanda Niehaus.
• The Beginner's Guide to Finding Bellydance Music. By Arabella.
• How to Structure a Belly Dance Study/Practice Session at Home
• Learning to Belly Dance from Videos
• Evolution of Class Attire for Middle Eastern Dance. By Vashti. Added June 22, 2012.

How to Do Belly Dance Moves

By Shira:

• Belly Rolls
• Backbends
• Forward and Back Shimmy
• Walking Shimmy
• Squeezing Glutes
• Expressive Arms

By Arabella:

• Turn, Turn, Turn
• Exploring Figure Eights
• The Camel Walk - Way to Move!
• Whirl Like a Dervish!
• The Mysterious Zar - What Is It? What Can It Do For You?

By Zabel:

• The Importance of the Pelvic Floor

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Pixie Vision Productions, Glendale, California.

Choreography & Improvisation

• How to Improvise. By Shira.
• How to Learn Choreography. By Shira.
• Hints for Remembering Choreography. By Arabella.
• How We Spend Class Time: Choreography Versus Improvisation. By Shira.
• Opinion Poll: Choreography or Improvisation?

Continuing the Journey

• Dear Shira: Stuck in a Beginner Rut?
• A Dancer's Journal
• Belly Dance Costuming: A Basic Beginner's Costume
• Your First Performance
• Dear Shira: From Plateau to Next Level

Reviews of Books & Videos

• Belly Dancing For Health And Relaxation
• Nefertiti Presents... Belly Dancing, the Basics
• Reviews Of Videos that Teach Basic Moves for Beginners

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Pixie Vision Productions, Glendale, California.

Taking Care of Yourself

• Avoid Injury from Belly Dance
• When You Can't Dance After Accident, Illness, or Surgery
• The Art of Breathing. By Jodi Blubaugh.
• Can I Belly Dance While Pregnant?
• Reviews of Workout Videos Based on Belly Dancing

Health Benefits of Belly Dance

• The Mysterious Zar: What Is It? What Can It Do For You? By Arabella.
• Healing Through Oriental Dance: Part 1, Physical Healing
• Healing Through Oriental Dance: Part 2, Emotional Healing

Belly Dancing And Your Weight

• Fit And Healthy. By Despina.
• Belly Dance And Weight Loss
• Dear Shira: Can I Still Learn Belly Dancing, Even If I'm Overweight? From the Dear Shira advice column!
• Bellydance Plus!

Healthy Travel for Belly Dancers

• Part 1, Beginning Preparations
• Part 2, Beating Jet Lag
• Part 3, Avoiding Colds
• Part 4, Maintaining a Healthy Gut
• Part 5, Foot, Muscle, & Joint Health

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by William M. Smith, Iowa City, Iowa

Starting to Perform

• Opinion Poll: Why Do You Perform Publicly?
• Your First Performance
• Belly Dance Costuming: A Basic Beginner's Costume
• Tips & Tricks for Performing

Uniting Mind, Body, & Spirit On Stage

• How to Become a Better Dancer Without Really Trying. By Arabella.
• Dear Shira: Expression and Sensuality
• Exploring Stage Personalities

Dealing with Bloopers

• Dancing to Distraction
• Special "Kairos" Time and Adapting Performance in Real Time. By Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan.

Using Middle Eastern Music

• Language of Song & Dance. By Shira.
• Why Is It Important to Know What the Lyrics Mean? By Lennie Clark.
• Habibi, You Are My WHAT?! Leyla Lanty's Essential Arabic for Dancers - Volume 1. DVD review by Shira.
• Helpful Tips When You Are Dancing to a Song. By Osama el-Gohary.

Other Things to Consider

• Classy or Tacky: Which Are You?
• Okay to Show My Palms to the Audience?
• Dear Shira: The Great Armpit Debate
• Dear Shira: What About In-Costume Tipping?
• Dear Shira: To Cover Up or Not?
• Tips & Tricks for Collecting Tips from the Audience.
• Opinion Poll: Collecting Tips?
• What Is The Best Way To Move Props Onto And Off Of The Stage?

Relationships & Attitudes of Others

• Gift Suggestions For The Dancers In Your Life
• Respect! By Despina.
• Joining A Belly Dancing Troupe: Is It Right For You?
• When Your Child Is Harassed at School Because You Are a Belly Dancer. By Maria in Boulder, Colorado.
• Should Young Girls Belly Dance?
• Is Belly Dancing Intended to Serve Men?

Have Hip Scarf, Will Travel

Travel Health for Belly Dancers

• Part 1, Beginning Preparations.
• Part 2, Beating Jet Lag.
• Part 3, Avoiding Colds.
• Part 4, Maintaining a Healthy Gut.
• Part 5, Foot, Muscle, & Joint Health.

Other Lifestyle Topics

• Christmas-Related Resources on Shira.net
• Hafla Fun for the Christmas Holiday
• Avoiding Disreputable Vendors
• How To Be An Appreciative Audience Member
• Middle Eastern Dance: The Spiritual Connection
• What Makes a Belly Dancer's Blood Boil?
• Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals And Healing Power Of Belly Dancing

• Tips & Tricks On Costuming
• Tips & Tricks for Dyeing Costume Items
• Tips & Tricks For Dancing With A Sword
• Tips & Tricks for Collecting Tips from the Audience
• Tips & Tricks for Performing
• Tips & Tricks on the Business of Belly Dance. Gigging and teaching.
• Tips & Tricks Related to Belly Dance Footwear
• Tips & Tricks On Other Subjects

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

General Finger Cymbal Advice

• Introduction To Finger Cymbals
• Finger Cymbal Rhythms For Arabic 4/4 Music
• Finger Cymbal Rhythms For Turkish 9/8 Music
• How to Make Crocheted Zill Mufflers
• How to Make a Zill Bag

Shira's Reviews of Instructional Books & Videos

• Gems of the Middle East: A Rhythmical Analysis. Books by Mary Ellen Donald.
• Learning With Libby
• How To Play Finger Cymbals With Mesmera
• Mastering Finger Cymbals. Book by Mary Ellen Donald.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Carol Grow Johnk, Iowa City, Iowa.

On Being a Belly Dance Student

• Can I Still Learn Belly Dancing, Even If I'm Overweight?
• Am I Too Old To Learn How To Belly Dance?
• Stuck at Beginner Level?
• From Plateau to Next Level
• Can I Belly Dance While Pregnant?
• Expression and Sensuality

Hot Topics

• Is Belly Dance Intended to Serve Men?
• Should Young Girls Belly Dance?

Costumes, Makeup, & Appearance

• A Jewel In The Navel?
• Shoes or Barefoot?
• What About Stretch Marks Or Surgical Scars?
• The Great Armpit Debate

How to Belly Dance

• Belly Rolls?
• Learning Backbends
• Squeezing Glutes
• Forward and Back Shimmy
• Walk And Shimmy At The Same Time?
• Learning to Improvise
• Okay to Show My Palms to the Audience?

The Business of Belly Dance

• Why Does My Teacher Refuse To Help Me Start Performing Professionally?
• What About Tipping?
• Bellygrams And Boomboxes
• Any Tips for a New Teacher?
• What Is The Best Way To Move Props Onto And Off Of The Stage?
• To Cover Up or Not?

• Costume Design Ideas
• Making Your Own Costumes
• General Notes on Costuming, Hair Styles, Makeup, etc.
• Traditional Garb

• Costume Book Reviews
• Costuming & Makeup Video Reviews
• Photo Galleries
• Costuming Links

Dance Career Planning

• Belly Dancing: A Good Career Option?
• From Student To... What?
• Why Does My Teacher Refuse To Help Me Start Performing Professionally?

Performing for Money

• Do You Need A Stage Name?
• Doing Gigs
• Promotional Photos: Get the Most for Your Money
• Precautions to Protect Your Personal Safety as a Belly Dancer
• Survey: Your Attitudes and Experiences On Personal Safety for Dancers
• Stick To Your Guns
• Dance Performances: Art or Entertainment?
• Dear Shira: To Cover Up or Not?
• Why Do You Charge So Much for Only 15 Minutes of Dancing?
• Tips & Tricks on the Business of Belly Dance. Gigging and teaching.
• Tips & Tricks for Collecting Tips from the Audience
• Dear Shira: What About In-Costume Tipping?
• Opinion Poll: Collecting Tips?

Teaching

• Sample Course Proposal
• Beginning to Teach Belly Dance
• Teaching Beginners Courses In Oriental Dance. By Despina.
• Tips & Tricks on the Business of Belly Dance. Gigging and teaching.

Marketing

• Bringing Middle Eastern Dance to Your Community
• Working With News Reporters. By Christine.
• The Art of the Blurb. By Brad Dosland.
• Marketing Yourself As A Dancer

Other Business Skills

• Your Dance Studio: An Arts Incubator?
• Secrets Of Success. By Despina.
• Avoiding Disreputable Vendors

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by "K", Santa Clara, California.