Nova Scotia Belly Dance

Each culture, it seems, has its own sacred dances that have been passed from generation to generation, morphing and changing through time.  Belly Dance (or rather Oriental Dance or Middle Eastern Dance) has its roots in North Africa, India, the Middle East,  and Turkey among other places. 

There are many styles of Belly Dance, for example Egyptian, Turkish, Turkish Rom, Lebanese,  American Cabaret, American Tribal Style, and Tribal Fusion, to name a few.  Off-shoots of these styles are continuing to develop today.

There are many articles written about the history,  culture, and different styles of Belly Dance.  If you are interested in learning more about Belly Dance/Middle Eastern Dance and its origins, then you can start by checking out some of the links below.

Links

www.Shira.net (There are tons of articles on this site covering almost anything you can think of related to Belly Dance)

www.BellyDance.org (International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance

www.JoyofBellyDancing.com

www.bellydanceclasses.net  (Find  Belly Dance classes and teachers all over the world)

www.Hadia.com  (A most inspiring teacher and professional dancer based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia) 

www.UberWench.googlepages.com (Elinor Crosby, Cabaret and Tribal Style Teacher in Halifax, Nova Scotia)

www.LightofEastEnsemble (Near and Far Middle Eastern Music group in London, Ontario)

www.freewebs/VelvetBurnoutNS (Nova Tribal Dance Troupe based in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia)

www.BellyZap.com (Tribal Belly Dance costuming suppiles)

canadiantribal.googlepages.com/home (Information about American Cabaret and Tribal Fusion Classes and Dancers in the Annapolis Valley)

www.DrumSpirit.ca (Kadijah teaches West African Drumming in and around Digby, Nova Scotia)

Recommended Reading

www.Hadia.com - Click on this link to find over 40 articles covering topics such as the anatomy of dance, the history of Belly Dance, and much more!

Serpent of the Nile - Women and Dance in the Arab World, by Wendy Buonaventura

Grandmother's Secrets - The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dance, by Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi 

The Stark Reality of Stretching - An Informed Approach for All Activities and Every Sport, by Dr. Steven D Stark

Recommended Music

Traditional Middle Eastern Style:      The Rough Guide to Belly Dance

Egyptian Rai, Hossam Ramzy and his  Egyptian Ensemble

Best of Belly Dance from Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey

The Magic of Belly Dancing by             George Abdo

Modern Belly Dance from Egypt, Gizira Band

Jalilah's Raks Sharki 6 - In A Beirut Mood (Pure Delight of Oriental Dance), Ihsan Al-Mounzer

10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know (Various Artists)

Modern Traditional Middle Eastern  Style:                                     Immortal Egypt, Phil Thornton

Enchanted Egypt, Phil Thornton

Arabian Travels (a Six Degrees Collection)

Sahara Lounge (Putumayo World Music)

Wassan Pharaoun, Issam Houshan

Desert Roses and Arabian Rhythms

Belly Dance Superstars Vol. I - V

Arabic Groove

Bert's Baladi, Bert Belladine

Belly Dance Treasure's Vol. 3, Bassil Moubayyed

Armenian/Anatolian Style:             From Kef to Classical Vol. 2, Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian

Raqs Al Shavarsh, Okbari 

Armenian and Anatolian Folk Music, Okbari

Miscellaneous:                              Balkan Beat Box

Naked, Raquey and the Cavemen

Putimio's Gypsy Caravan

Mostafa Sax

Tribal Derivations, Beats Antique

Mish Maul, Natacha Atlas