Reviews: Books, Videos, Music

Following are reviews of books I have actually read. If you'd like suggestions for additional books which I plan to read but haven't found time to attack yet, please see my Reading List For Belly Dancers.

General Belly Dance Overview

The Belly Dance Book: Rediscovering the Oldest Dance. Anthology of articles written by members of the belly dance community on a variety of topics. The Tribal Bible: Exploring the Phenomenon That Is American Tribal Style Belly Dance. Detailed discussion of the American Tribal Style form of belly dance: history, costuming, sub-culture. The Tribal Bible, or, "What the Heck Is American Tribal Style Bellydance, Anyway?". By Kajira Djoumahna. The 1999 original edition of the book, now known as "The Collector's Edition". It's out of print, but you may be able to buy a used copy at a belly dance flea market.

History of Middle Eastern Dance

A Trade Like Any Other: Female Singers and Dancers In Egypt. By Karin Van Nieuwkerk. Excellent view of how Oriental dance evolved in Egypt as a performing art over the 20th century. Looking For Little Egypt. By Donna Carlton. Examines the 1893 World's Columbia Exposition in Chicago which first brought Middle Eastern dance to the U.S. Also talks about the continuation of the dance after the exhibition closed. Ancient Egyptian Dances. By Irena Lexova. Research performed in the 1930's into what the dances of ancient Egypt were like. Sacred Woman, Sacred Dance. By Iris J. Stewart. Research into the spiritual origins of dance and recommendations on how to use dance in spiritual growth today. Serpent Of The Nile: Women And Dance In The Arab World. By Wendy Buonaventura. Traces the history of belly dancing from modern times up through today.

Middle Eastern Culture

Guests of the Sheik: An Ethnography of an Iraqi Village. By Elizabeth Warnock Fernea. This is an account of Fernea's two-year stay in a tiny rural village in Iraq, where she assumed the dress and sheltered life of a harem woman. Dreams Of Trespass: Tales Of A Harem Girlhood. By Fatima Mernissi. Mernissi describes what it was like to grow up in a harem in Morocco during the 1940's. A Trade Like Any Other: Female Singers and Dancers In Egypt. By Karin Van Nieuwkerk. Explores the question of why entertaining is considered a low-class profession for women in Egypt. Princess: A True Story Of Life Behind The Veil In Saudi Arabia. By Jean P. Sasson. This disturbing story of a woman from the Saudi royal family exposes the human rights abuses that women in Saudi society must confront every day of their lives. Unveiled. By Cherry Mosteshar. The autobiographical account of a young woman's life in post-revolutionary Iran. Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing. By Rosina-Fawzia B. Al-Rawi, translated by Monique Arav. Combines the memoirs of an Arab grandmother with instructions on how to use Oriental dance moves for personal growth, spiritual expression, and insight.

The Rom: Walking In The Paths Of The Gypsies. By Roger Moreau. The author's account of his efforts to research the history of the Rom, especially those aspects that are still not completely understood by modern-day Gypsiologists. Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey. History, modern-day lifestyle, social commentary, and future outlook of the Gypsies/Rroma. Focus on eastern Europe.

Middle Eastern Music Reference (Sheet Music, Song Lyrics, etc.)

Arabic Music & Songbook: A Collection of Arabic Traditional Songs, Folk Songs, & Instrumental Compositions. By Joseph Fakhouri. Sheet music for over 80 Arabic songs. The Gems Songbook. By Mimi Spencer. Translations of song lyrics and sheet music for 11 songs from the eastern Mediterranean region. Gems Instrumental Pieces. By Mimi Spencer. Sheet music for 23 Arabic songs. The Golden Translator, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. By George Moawad. A series of 3 books, each containing English-language translations for about 8-10 popular Arabic songs. Gems of the Middle East, Volumes 1, 2, and 3: A Rhythmical Analysis. By Mary Ellen Donald. A series of 3 books which recommend rhythms to play on doumbec, tambourine, and finger cymbals to accompany popular Middle Eastern songs. Mastering Finger Cymbals. By Mary Ellen Donald. A highly skilled percussionist explains in plain language how to master a variety of Middle Eastern rhythms on the finger cymbals.

Humor

Belly Laughs: Adventures With Celebrities & Other Unusual Characters. By Rod Long. Stories about entertaining things that occurred doing belly dance performances. Snake Hips. By Anne Thomas Soffee. A woman's misadventures as she uses belly dancing to help mend her broken heart.

Costuming: How-To and Historic

Books by Dawn Devine Brown Costuming From The Hip. By Dawn Devine Brown. How to make a belly dancing costume. Basics for beginning dancers, but also many creative variations for more experienced dancers. From Turban to Toe Ring. By Dawn Devine Brown. Introduces tribal style belly dance costuming, including information on garments, how to combine them, ethnic jewelry and textiles, and make-up. Style File: A Visual Vocabulary of Middle Eastern Dance Costume. By Dawn Devine Brown. Booklet introducing the variety of costuming styles and garments popular with Middle Eastern dance artists. Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques. By Dawn Devine Brown. Detailed instructions on making a decorated bra for either fashion wear or costuming.
Books by Dina Lydia, the Costume Goddess The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 1: Flattering Costume for Bellydancers. Advice on designing a belly dance costume that will look flattering for your figure type. The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 2: Easy Costume for Bellydancers. Explains how to create easy-to-make costume items if you have very little sewing experience. The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 3: Cabaret Belt and Bra for Bellydancers. Detailed instructions for making your own bra/belt set. Emphasis on the beaded/sequinned look, but some coin information too. The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 4: Arm Costume for Bellydancers. Creative ideas for sleeves, armbands, gauntlets, and drapes. The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 5: Tribal Toppings for Bellydancers. Instructions for making Tribal-style costume pieces for the upper body, with some design suggestions for the overall look. The Costume Goddess Tells All, Volume 6: Thrifty Chic for Bellydancers. Instructions for transforming second-hand garments into costume pieces. The Costume Goddess Tells All: Volume 7, Headpieces for Bellydancers. Instructions for hair styles, head jewelry, face decoration, and costume pieces for the head. Don't let your costume stop at the neck! Placed online November 1, 2005.
Books by Other Authors Sewing for Plus Sizes: Creating Clothes that Fit and Flatter. By Barbara Deckert. Whether making dance costumes or everyday wear, this book will help plus-sized women learn how to up-size commercial patterns to fit.

Other Advice and How-To Books

Zaïda: Belly Dancing for Older Women. By Phoebe Kathrine Carter. Advice and encouragement for older women interested in belly dancing. Intermediate Belly Dancing. By Vicki Corona. Assorted how-to's, designed to take a dancer from beginner level to intermediate. Belly Dancing For Health And Relaxation. By Tina Hobin. Uses photos and text to teach belly dance. Nefertiti Presents... Belly Dancing, the Basics. by Sherry Jeffries. Uses photos and text to teach simple beginning-level belly dance moves.

Myths And Ancient Times

The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols And Sacred Objects. By Barbara G. Walker. A detailed listing of familiar symbols accompanied by a description of their origins. Inanna: Queen Of Heaven And Earth. By Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer. A translation of ancient Sumerian writings featuring the goddess Inanna that retains the poetic quality of the original text. King And Goddess. By Judith Tarr. Historical fiction based on the life of Hatshepsut, the Egyptian queen who dared to place herself in the role of Pharaoh. What People Wore. By Douglas Gorsline. Over 1,800 illustrations showing garb from ancient times to the present. Six pages (2 of text, 4 of drawings) depict the ancient Middle East.

Fiction Romance Novels For more romance novels, see also the Skye O'Malley series and the Leslie Family Series mentioned below. Forever And A Baby. By Margot Early. The central character in this novel is a belly dancer surrounded by an extended family with various Middle Eastern ties. The Cowboy And The Belly Dancer. By Charlotte Maclay. Romance novel. A handsome young ranch owner is startled when a beautiful genie pops out of an old lamp that has come into his possession. A Memory Of Love. By Bertrice Small. Historical romance novel based in 13th-century England, Wales, and Tunisia. The Evangeline Gower Trilogy Baby Love. By Louisa Young. The central character is a former belly dancer who fights back against an array of men who are all out to complicate her life in one way or another. Desiring Cairo. By Louisa Young. The sequel to Baby Love. Picks up where Baby Love left off, and tells you what happened next to Angeline, Lily, Harry, Eddie Bates, and everyone else. Tree Of Pearls. By Louisa Young. The third book in the series begun with Baby Love. Picks up immediately following the events at the end of Desiring Cairo and tells the continuing entanglements of the characters. The Leslie Family Series (Romance Novels) The Kadin. By Bertrice Small. Historical romance novel based in 16th-century Scotland and Turkey. Love Wild And Fair. By Bertrice Small. The sequel to The Kadin, the plot of this historical romance novel passes briefly through 16th-century Ottoman Turkey. The Skye O'Malley Series (Romance Novels) Skye O'Malley. By Bertrice Small. Historical romance novel based in 16th-century Ireland, England, and Algeria. All The Sweet Tomorrows. By Bertrice Small. The sequel to Skye O'Malley, this is another historical romance novel set in England, the Riviera, Algeria, Morocco, and France. A Love For All Time. By Bertrice Small. The sequel to All The Sweet Tomorrows, this historical romance novel is set in 16th-century England and Turkey. Lost Love Found. By Bertrice Small. The sequel to A Love For All Time, this historical romance novel is set in England and Turkey in the early 17th century. Other Fiction Longarm And The Nevada Belly Dancer. By Tabor Evans. A lawman in the Old West tries to find a belly dancer who appears to be connected to a robber. Valide: A Novel Of The Harem. By Barbara Chase-Riboud. Historical fiction based on the life of Naksh-i-dil, an American girl who rose to prominence in the Ottoman empire. The Spy Who Hated Licorice. By Richard L. Hershatter. Spy thriller set in the Cold War featuring a belly dancer as one of its characters. Dancer of Gor. By John Norman. Swords & sandals novel regarding the adventures of a belly dancer who is kidnapped from her home on Earth and turned into a pleasure slave on another planet. The Belly Dancer in the Barrel of Oil. By Rebecca Newman. A woman who keeps getting mixed up with the wrong kind of man turns to belly dancing to earn money to support herself and her children.

Children's Books

Bella Wishes. By Tessa May and Dave Rodriguez. Book for girls ages 4-8 about a happy pink belly dancing hippopotamous. Barbie: The Pyramid Adventure. By Rita Balducci. Book for girls ages 4-8 telling about Barbie's trip to an archeological site in Egypt. Placed online December 27, 2005. Dance Crazy: Star Turns From Ballet To Belly Dancing. By Natalie Jane Prior. This book is primarily about ballet. However, the five pages it contains that talk about belly dancing provide an excellent overview of the history and cultural context of the dance.

Other Topics

They Told Me I Couldn't: A Young Woman's Multicultural Adventures in Colombia. By Tamalyn Dallal. This book is a travelogue describing a young American woman's exploration of the foreign country where she got a belly dancing job. Middle Eastern Dance Video Sourcebook 2001/2002. By Donna Carlton. Comprehensive list of instructional and performance videos available on Middle Eastern dance.

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Shira's Video Center offers reviews of over 60 videos that are somehow related to belly dancing or the Middle East. They include instructional, performance, documentary, and fitness videos. You also can vote your own opinion in a poll for each video reviewed.

• Instructional, Fitness Workouts, Documentaries, and Motivational. Last review posted December 27, 2003. Last opinion poll (without review) posted January 4, 2004.
• Performances, Folkloric, Theatrical/Experimental, Hollywood Movies, Operas. Last review posted January 3, 2004. Last opinion poll (without review) posted January 4, 2004.

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The Dancer's Guide to Middle Eastern Music offers not only Shira's reviews of CD's but also other informative resources related to Middle Eastern music.

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