Shira's "The Art of Middle Eastern Dance" Perhaps the best and most informative belly dance site on the Web, with belly dancing education, inspiration, and entertainment. You'll find over 300 articles, cartoons, poems, opinion polls, song translations, and more, all related to belly dancing.
Bhuz.com: A site for the Middle Eastern dance community, with articles, discussion boards, shopping, and a directory of teachers, performers, vendors, and events.
Shira's links to Web Sites With A Regional Focus On Dancers, Events, Etc.; Web Sites Featuring Individual Artists & Troupes; and Official Web Sites For Dance Events
Seattle, WA: inFusion Tribal professional tribal fusion belly dance troupe, performs their unique improvisational style at events locally and nationally.
Seattle, WA: Zanbaka, Pacific Northwest Performer and Instructor of World Fusion, Folkloric, Orientale, and Tribal Style Belly Dance.
The following MP3 sites provide a great way to find new artists and music that you like. Please support the artists you like by buying their CDs whenever possible.
3Arabia.com is "devoted to the Arabic New MP3 Songs plus Arabic Arts and Entertainment."
The House of Plumblossom lists male and female names (and their origins and meanings), broken down by country and gender, including African, Arabic, Greek, Indian, Persian, and Turkish names
www.kabalarians.com lists almost 1 million male and female names from around the world, broken down by gender and country, along with fun numerological analyses of how each name supposedly affects your personality
Costuming
Costume Corner at Shira.net, featuring Dina, the Costume Goddess, has many wonderful costuming tips and instructions
In-depth instructions for making three different styles of harem pants can be found at Aziza Sa'id's site.
If those are too in-depth for you, a much briefer explanation of how to make inside-seam harem pants can be found at
Tala's page. More variations on the theme are offered by the Costume Goddess on
Shira's site.
We are not affiliated with any of these vendors in any way, nor do we make any guarantees or endorsements regarding them.
For information on minimizing your risks when buying online, read Avoiding Disreputable Vendors (on Shira's website).
Aliah's Closet Belly Dance and Middle Eastern costumes, jewelry, and supplies
B. D. Patterns sells about two dozen different belly dance costuming patterns.
Belly Dance Treasures a variety of Middle Eastern dance costumes and accessories including videos, jewelry, music, zills, skirts, bra and belt sets, veils and more.
The Belly Dance Shop in Charlotte, NC, carries Turkish cabaret costumes and accessories
Cheeptrims sells all kinds of ribbons, trims, fringe, tassels, and appliques; all at very reasonable prices. Recommended by the Costume Goddess.
Dawn Devine Brown (Davina) is the author of well-known costuming books including Costuming from the Hip, From Turban to Toe Ring, and the new Bedlah, Baubles, and Beads
Desert Dancer Tribal wear and custom costumes, and hand-dyed silk veils.
Domba.com Purveyor of Tribal Gypsy Costumes, Tribal Belly Dance Costumes and Ethnic Musical Instruments and CDs
Eclypse BellyDanceShoppe Costumes, music, videos, and accessories, including very inexpensive silk veils
Fat Chance Belly Dance sells music, videos, costumes, patterns (including their classic choli pattern), jewelry, accessories, and costumes
Kamikaze Costumes: "Tribal Belly Dance Costumes and Accessories for the Urban Berber. Everything Tribal, All In One Place. Follow Your Divine Wind."
L. Rose Designs Wonderful, elegant silk and velvet designs for the discerning Middle Eastern dancer, at very affordable prices
Madame X sells a pattern for an Adjustable Beledi Dress, one for a Marvelous Mermaid or Fabulous Fishtail Skirt, and one for an Adjustable Ghawazee Coat and Turkish Vest
Mandala Catalog Accessories, jewelry, scarves and veils, zills, and music
Mesmera's dance sandals, made of sterner stuff than the Dance Shop's Hermes sandals, are suitable for both streetwear and performance.
Turkish Emporium Turkish costumes and accessories, including velvet hipscarves with coins, and nifty Oriental slippers, plus musical instruments and more
Read Video Reviews on Shira's Art of Middle Eastern Dance site. Shira also runs bellydancevideos, a Yahoo! group dedicated to belly dance video reviews.
Music
Dance Names
Costuming
