Music
If Caitlyn is performing at your party and you have any music requests, please let her know in advance of the show.
If you would like live music at a show, please email Caitlyn for details or have a look at her agency site, Hafla Entertainment. Several options are available, ranging from a single Arabic/Turkish drummer to a full Arabic band with additional dancers.
Below is a catalogue of some of Caitlyn's music. Music is listed by genre, then by artist.
EGYPTIAN ORIENTAL
The Babylon Arabic Band
Khamis Henkesh
*Jalilah/ Mokhtar al Said and El Ferka el Mesaya
Georgeous, classic orchestral music for the intermediate/advanced dancer
*Mesmera/Salatin el Tarab
Brilliantly played orchestral music for the intermediate/advanced dancer.
Hossam Ramzy
Sami Nossair Orchestra
*Veena and Neena
High quality musicianship and production, excellent choice of songs on “Bellydance Fantasy”. Veena and Neena have chosen real, sophisticated Mideastern music that’s pleasing to the average Western ear. Unfortunately the tracks are badly broken up, causing pauses mid-song when played.
You can look for Egyptian oriental not only by band but also by composer. Famous composers include Farid el Attrache, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Mohammed Abd'al Wahab.
EGYPTIAN POP
Baha'a Sultan
Hakim
Cheesy and upbeat, a great artist for getting people up and dancing
Amr Diab
Hisham Abbas
Saber el Robai
EGYPTIAN FOLKLORIC
Essam Karika
Shaabi (popular, working class) style.
Fatme Serhan
"Best of Saidi"
Hoda
*Hossam Ramzy
“Beledi Plus” is especially good. Great for tribal, teaching, assaya, practicing finger cymbals. Some good drum solos for oriental dance as well.
Musicians of the Nile
Saad
"The Prince of Shaabi" has a lot of good tracks. And a few tracks that will make you want to smash your CD player in horror.
The Upper Egypt Ensemble
GHAWAZEE
Aisha Ali (compiler), Music of the Ghawazee
If you don’t like mizmar, beware this CD…Actually, if you don’t like mizmar, beware the Ghawazee--they use a lot of it. This CD is good for practicing slow 1-2-3s with zills.
LEBANESE, PALESTINIAN, IRAQI and SYRIAN
Assi el-Hellani
Darine Hadchiti دارين حدشيتى
George Abdo
Retro, but fabulous. Dramatic Lebanese music from the 1970s. The sound quality is not as good as on a modern CD; you can tell it’s retro. However, I still listen to my “Bellydance!” CD frequently and “Hadouni” is a popular song to teach beginner choreographies to. He also does a great rendition of “A Nadda,” as does Sabah.
Dina Hayek
Elissa
Fares Karam
George Wassouf
Haifa Wehbe
Contemporary pop Possibly the sexiest voice in the Arab world.
Issa Ghandour
Nancy Ajram
Nourhanne
Pascale Machaalani
Rida al-Abdullah
Sabah
She sings with feeling and attitude. As with George Abdo, this is a retro sound.
Najwa Karam
Lebnanyat (CD, Various Artists)
Rola Saad
Shereen
TURKISH ORIENTAL and ARMENIAN
Ahmet Kusgöz Ve Arkandaslari
*Brothers of the Baladi
“Further Journeys” has a great variety of music and a mizmar piece at the end that’s great for sword dancing or tribal. If you are ever in Portland, Oregon, you can see part of the band perform weekly at It’s a Beautiful Pizza, perhaps the only pizza parlor to host a regular oriental dance event.
*Ozlem
Slow and beautiful Turkish music, plus the occasional bit of Persian or drum solo. Excellent for taqsims.
*John Bilezikjian
Amazing, amazing, musician. Not strictly Turkish music on his CDs.
TURKISH POP
Asena
Emre Altug
Ibrahim Tatlises
Sezen Aksu
Tarkan
His self-titled CD is his best.
Mustafa Sandal
TURKISH CLUB
A Night In Istanbul (Various Artists)
Great 2-CD set
Baba Zulu
Harem
Ibrahim Tatlises
Lava Beaux
Orient Beats
Orientation
Smadj
Under the Bridge (Various Artists)
Mercan Dede
Baba Zulu
ROMAN (by title)
Ciguli
*Gypsy Fire
Bellydance music, inclusing some classics such as “Siseler” and the best version of “Rompi Rompi” I’ve ever heard. When Yuri Yanakov is one of the musicians, you can’t go wrong.
Gypsy Caravan, produced by Putamayo
Not all suitable for oriental dance, but a good CD. You can listen to clips on the website.
Gypsy Music of Constantinople
Kemani Cemal
Shuvani
This CD was put together by Dahlia Carella, who invented “Dunyavi Gypsy Dance”, a fusion of dance moves from along the Romani trail. Her CD reflects this eclecticism, including everything from a lively “Pero Pom Pero” to a slow karsilama. Appropriate for fusion, Romani, or Dunyavi dance.
Latcho Drom
The Gypsy Road
Brilliant musicianship. There’s a movie by the same name in which you can see people dancing to the songs on the CD. The music is good for folky fusion bellydance, not strict oriental.
Sulukule
Techno Roman
Burhan Őçal and the Trakya All Stars
AMERICAN TRIBAL BELLYDANCE/URBAN TRIBAL
Beats Antique
Urban Tribal
Djinn
Fantastic! What other band combines Mideastern music with beatboxing and a hurdy-gurdy? And gets away with it?
Gypsy Caravan
American Tribal
Helm
American Tribal
Maduro
Pentaphobe
Mideastern-influenced electronic music used by dancer Rachel Brice
Solace
Very dramatic, sometimes experimental. Lots of good music for tribal. Solace CDs don’t work very well for restaurants (too intense), but are good for stage shows.
FUSION AND ELECTRO
Abdel Hazim
Alabina
Fun Spanish fusion, very popular with dancers a few years ago. As with most pop artists, there’s a shortage of real Spanish and Middle Eastern rhythms in her music.
Baghdad Heavy Metal
A collaboration between American rockers and Arab vocalists. And a bagpiper.
Bellyhouse
Only vaguely Middle Eastern. Perhaps better for listening than dancing.
Carvin Knowles
"Hamsa" has some excellent songs for clubby oriental, gothic, and urban tribal dance
*Dolphina
Recommended for beginners. Difficult to find outside the US). Her CDs have some Indian influence.
Children of Paradise
Lovely music, very cleanly and steadily played, which makes this a good CD for beginners and troupes. Soem excellent taqsims.
DJ Mosavo
Galactic Caravan
Goofy name, but a couple of fantastic songs on their CD. I use this CD for fire sword and tribal style.
Jehan
Arabic-Rock fusion.
Natacha Atlas
Niyaz
A variety of mellow, beautiful songs, not all appropriate for dance
Oojami
The REG Project
U-cef
DRUM SOLOS
Issam Houssan
The drummer who works with the Bellydance Superstars
*Susu Pampanin
Hossam Ramzy
Epecially the CD Sabla Tolo.
Turbo Tabla
INSTRUMENTAL BELLYDANCE MUSIC
Brothers of the Baladi
Light Rain
Knossos
Beats Antique (fusion)
COMPILATIONS IN VARIOUS STYLES (by title)
Arabesque
Cheb Mami, Omar Faruk, and more. A wide selection of music, all of it dance-able.
Arabia: The Women’s Voice
Wide selection of styles, some songs very dance-able
Beginner's Guide to Arabia (pop, lounge, and classic; 3 CD set). Good deal
*Bellydance Superstars, vol. 1
Great quality CD. A vast range of music (everything from Oojami’s “Chicky” to the classic “Bitwanas Beek”), something to suit every dancer.
The Best Arabian Nights Album in the World…Ever! vol. 1, 3 (pop)
MOROCCAN, TUNISIAN AND ALGERIAN
Amina
The song “Liriliri” is both easy to
dance to (especially with a veil) and extremely beautiful.
Argan
Cheb Mami
Cheb Khaled
Faudel
Rachid Taha
Ragheb Alama
Shams (Tunisian-Kuwaiti)
GREEK
Annabouboula
Despina Vandi
Glykeria
JEWISH/ISRAELI/MIZRAHI/LADINO
Mizrah (Mizrahi)
Za'atar (no longer available; not all songs appropriate for bellydance)
Rosa Negra
Ofra Haza (Israeli)
Watcha Clan
KURDISH
Aynur (Kurdish)
A Kurdish singer
Delil Delanar
Jamshid
TUTORIALS
Jalilah's Raks Sharki vol. 4
Rhythms tutorial
Zils
Rhythms tutorial for finger cymbals
IRANIAN/PERSIAN
Niyaz
Articles
~Caitlyn's article for Gilded Serpent
~An interesting article with some truly fantastic logic on the part of Hamas...and a pithy response from a Lebanese blogger
~BBC article on dance in Egypt
~ Excellent articles. Dance classes and performances in New York City, and trips to Cairo: Morocco
~ Music lyrics, costuming information, information about dance styles and more: Shira
~ The Gilded Serpent is an online magazine about Mideastern dance
~Another good magazine is The Hip Circle
~A history of finger cymbals on the Saroyan site
~Cross-dressing in Middle Eastern dance
~Costume Gallery
~A history of American Tribal Style Bellydance on the Fat Chance Belly Dance site
Musicians and Arabic Music
~Learn about Arabic music at MaqamWorld
~Buy Arabic Music at Maqam.com
~The Music Box: Popular favourites in music books for all instruments from a real UK music shop.
Costuming
Making Your Own Costumes
Making
your own costumes can save you a lot of money. I recommend making veils
and harem pants as your first items, as these are the easiest.
Books:
~Brown, Barry Owen and Dawn Devine. Costuming from the Hip.
~Brown, Dawn Devine. Embellished Bras: Basic Techniques.
How to decorate a bra to make it part of your dance costume.
~Brown, Dawn Devine. Style File.
40-page booklet describing the different kinds of costumes out there—nightglub, Ghawazee, Roma, etc. Well-illustrated.
Websites:
Desert Moon Dance
Instructions
on sewing garments and embellishing your costume with beads. Includdes
a useful glossary of terms such as “caftan” and “bedleh”.
Madame X
Very
clear, easy instructions; excellent results. She doesn’t give
instructions for embellishment, though; you need to go to Desert Moon
Dance for that.
Shira’s Costuming Corner
All sorts of useful information for making your own costumes.
Supplies:
Cost Less Belly Dance Costumes
They also sell supplies for making your own costumes. Mainly coin bra-and-belt sets. The can be a challenge, as you have to find something decent to put under the bra. They don’t actually cost less, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t pretty!
Costumes
are often sold more cheaply in other countries, but you’ll run into two
problems. First, many Mideastern companies that sell mainly gift items
do not carry high quality dance products. I recommend buying from UK or
US retailers who sell only dance items; the quality is usually better.
If you order from the US, you may pay so much in shipping and tariffs
that you won’t actually save money. Avoid costumes made in India or
Pakistan; the quality is usually low and the look is slightly "off".
Costume Vendors Abroad
If
you happen to be in Cairo, go to Mahmoud abd Ghaffar at 73 Gawhar
Al-Qayid St. in Khan El Khalili (Cairo+) 589-7443. The store is four
storeys. Enough said!
Also in Cairo, try Yasser's smaller
costume shop at 2 Sekket Khan el Khalili 02-278-65966. The selection of
skirts is small but there are many full costumes and coin belts. To
get to Yasser's from Mahmoud's, walk out of Mahmoud's and turn right on
the main thoroughfare. Continue alking about one minute until you see a
sign for "Oriental Dresses" on your left. Do not go into this shop, but
turn down the alley beside it and take your first left. Yasser's is a
few doors down on the left.
In Istanbul, try Bazar Ali Baba at
Fesciler Cad. No. 119-21 Kapalicarsi (i.e. the Grand Bazaar). (0.212)
527 09 75. The quality is excellent and there is a wide selection of
costumes to chose from. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Say
that Caitlyn sent you!
Costume Vendors in the UK
Egyptian Shop
I haven’t ordered from them (yet).
Egyptian Dreams
I haven’t ordered from them (yet).
Farida’s Passions
I haven’t ordered from them (yet).
Aladdin’s Cave
Wide
selection, good quality. They bring their items to many Mideastern
dance events, so if you go to an event such as Fantasia, you can try
the items on. Their selection on CDs and videos is unparalleled and
their customer service is excellent.
Costume Vendors in the USA
Aliah’s Closet
They
have a store in Portland, Oregon. The owner designs some of the clothes
herself and has them made in India…wherein lies the problem. The
clothes are gorgeous, but the fabrics can be so obviously Indian that
people will come up to you at performances and say things like, “My
auntie has a sari made of the same fabric!” Kind of awkward when your
dance show is supposed to be Middle Eastern. Plenty of non-Indian
stuff, though.
Dahlal Internationale
High
quality, with an amazing selection of professional costumes. Carries
designers such as Madame Abla and Phaeronics. Great selection of CDs,
zils, hip scarves. Excellent customer service.
Flying Skirts
American
Tribal style costumes. Expensive, but quality. Fabulous dance bras made
with real coins (though the real coins don't really imply any
"authenticity" as they claim. When was the last time you saw an Arab
girl in a coin bra, hmm?).
L. Rose Designs
Custom-made bellydance costumes!
Moondance: Gifts for the Dancing Spirit
Amazing
deals on this site! They have an especially enormous selection of
skirts. Do be wary of buying a narrow skirt that inhibits your
stretching and dancing. Also, take note of their international shipping
prices.
Salome’s Tent
They provide fantastic customer service and competitive prices.
Saroyan Mastercrafts
Probably
the best zils in the world. They Saroyan Grecian zills have an
unusually low, mellow tone, perfect if you or your audience have
sensitive ears.
ShimmyShimmy
Big selection, well-organized site. They have goddess-size clothes as well.
Topkapi Designs
For
professional Turkish costumes. The models look like rejects from a Miss
America pageant, but they do have some pretty costumes.
Turquoise International
Recommended particularly for their finger cymbals. They also have some CDs that can be difficult to find elsewhere.
Wicked Harem
American Tribal clothes and accessories. I especially love their hair decorations.
Tribal Bazaar
Gorgeous, unique, extremely high-quality professional costumes with a tribal feel.
Costume Vendors in Other Countries
Australian Bellydance
Costume Articles
Cairo's Costume Disasters
Books
* = especially recommended
Middle Eastern Dance Books
*Buonaventura, Wendy. Serpent of the Nile.
*Carlton, Donna. Looking for Little Egypt.
(I have an extra copy of this one, which you can have for 10.00)
Djoumana,
Khajira. The Tribal Bible: Exploring the Phenomenon that is American
Tribal
Style Bellydance. Santa Rosa: BlackSheep BellyDance, 2003.
Hellend,
Shawna. “The Belly Dance: Ancient Ritual to Cabaret Performance” in
Moving History/Dancing Cultures, ed. Ann Dils and Ann Cooper Albright.
Middleton, Connecticut: 2001. 128-35.
Hobin, Tina. Belly Dance. London and New York: Marion Boyars, 2003.
Karayanni. Dancing Fear and Desire: Race, Sexuality and Imperial Politics in Middle Eastern Dance.
**Van Nieuwkerk Karin. A Trade Like Any Other: Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1995.
Al-Zayer, Al Hanley, et alii. Middle Eastern Dance.
Redmond, Layne. When the Drummers Were Women.
Richards, Tazz, ed. The Belly Dance Book.
Shay, Anthony, And Sellers-Young, Barabara. Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism and Harem Fantasy. Mazda Publishers, 2005.
Other Relevant Books
Alloula, Malek. The Colonial Harem.
Buonaventura,
Wendy. Something in the Way She Moves: Dancing Women from Salome to
Madonna. Cambridge: The Da Capo Book Group, 2003.
Croutier, Alev. Harem.
Massad, Joseph. Desiring Arabs. London: University of Chicago Press (2007).
*Said, Edward. Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient. London: Penguin Books (1991).
Wagner, Ann. Adversaries of Dance From the Puritans to the Present. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1997.
Zines, Magazines
The Gilded Serpent (web magazine)
Endless articles on all subjects.
The Hip Circle: Bellydance Current Affairs (web magazine)
Events, dancer directory, articles
Habibi Magazine
Habibi
used to be a smaller, more research-oriented journal. If you want to
learn about dance history, consider ordering some of their oldest
issues.
Arabesque Magazine
Out of print now, but the old issues are worth tracking down.
Mosaic
Terminology
This
website uses the word "bellydance" only so people googling for a
"bellydancer" or "bellydance classes" can find the site. The correct
term for the dance is "oriental dance". In Arabic, the dance is called
raqs sharqi, which translates to "dance of the east" or "oriental
dance."
"Bellydance"
was coined by Sol Bloom, an American, at the 1890s Wold Fair. The term
was intended to be titillating--"belly" was not a polite word.
Showing/moving one's "belly" was simply not done--recall that women
were still corsetted at this time. So not only was the term created by
an American, it was created to scandalise...and it's not even a correct
description of the dance! There are only two or three dance moves
actually done with the belly; the action is actually in the hips.
So
why is the term Eurocentric, if it's translated from Arabic? "Raqs
sharqi" is likely a translation of the French "danse orientale". One
of the first people to use the term raqs sharqi was Badia Masabni, a
nightclub owner in pre-Nasser Egypt. Her club was frequented by the
British and by Anglicised Egyptian elites. She needed a term for her
dance that distinguished it from lower-class street dancing and from
western dance. She chose (or perhaps even coined) a label that made
sense to her clientele: "sharqi", i.e. of the East , i.e. east of
England.
Why
not just call the dance raqs sharqi? First, because
there are too many ways to spell it. The Arabic letter "qaf" is loosely
equivalent to an English "q" but sometimes gets transliterated as a
"k". This causes problems when doing internet searches for the dance.
Second, it's an Arabic term, not Turkish. In Turkish, the term for the
dance is "oryantal dans", not "raqs sharqi". But both those terms
translate to "oriental dance" in English, giving us one term that is
easy to spell and refers to both Egyptian and Turkish dance. Huzzah.
Miscellaneous Sites
~World Bellydance
~The Wedding Index--your elegant, fast and free wedding directory
~Smooth Moves, a dance e-zine
~Belly-Dancing.info Promoting the art of bellydancing around the world.
~The Oxford Middle Eastern Dance Society (formerly the Oxford University Middle Eastern Dance Society) can be found at www.omeds.org.uk.
~Planet Egypt is a great place to see dance performances in London
~Professional performer and instructor Sarah
Contact Caitlyn: 07792.967.355 or Caitlyn@OrientalDance.org
