Middle Eastern Dance Links
Bay Area
Bay Area Belly Dancer
Tracy put together a great resource, but it hasn't been updated since 1999. Still worth a look.
The Gilded Serpent
-Has a list of all the restaurants featuring dancing in the Bay Area plus a calendar of events.The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is located in San Jose, CA. Do stop by and visit if you're ever in the neighborhood.
The sections below also include Bay Area-centric information.
Culture and News
Al Mashriq
Information regarding the Levant - Lebanon and the Middle East.
The Arabic Press
Probably the most comprehensive listing of Arabic newspapers out there.
Cafe Arabica
An online Arab-American community center with discussion forums, articles and newsclips.
Encyclopedia of the Orient
For help in your research.
The Henna Page
The most comprehensive (and possibly the first) henna / mehendi page on the web.
The Middle East Times
News from Egypt and the region of the Middle East.
Dancers
Fifi Abdou
Khari's article about and photographs of Fifi Abdou, one of my favorite Egyptian dancers.
Aisha Ali
Aisha Ali's site with her music, videos and studio information.
Amani
Amani of Lebanon.
Asim
Fellow Med-Dance List Member and gentleman dancer, Asim.
Aziza Sa'id
Keeper of the MED-Dance List Gallery.
Bastet Productions
Video's for sale - specifically Kathryn Ferguson's Intro to Mid-Eastern Dance and other video's.
Eva Cernik
Turkish style specialist, Eva Cernik.
Dalia Carella
The fabulously talented (down to earth and funny, too) Dalia and her Dunyavi Gypsy style.
Dahlena
Chicago teacher and performer, Dahlena.
Dance Movement Meditation
Dunya of New York, a lovely lady.
Elayna
Fellow South Bay Area dancer, Elayna.
Fahtiem
Producer of Oasis Dance Magic and queen of abdominal work.
FatChanceBellyDance
The Bay Area one and only.
Hahbi Ru
Another troupe who needs no introduction.
International Dance Discovery
Donna Carlton's site including fiction, poetry, class info, dance supplies and info regarding her great book "Looking For Little Egypt".
Laurel Victoria Gray ...and the Silk Road Dance Co.
Jillina
...and the Shalala Dancers
Jim Boz
Award winning (not to mention incredibly funny and kind) dancer in San Diego.
Kajira Djoumhana
Visit her for classes information in Sonoma County, CA. Troupe info, events she is sponsoring, and interviews she had conducted.
Lynette
Lynette of SnakesKin Studio, editor of The Gilded Serpent online magazine.
Raqia Hassan
One of the top Egyptian teachers and choreographers.
Morocco and the Casbah Dance Experience
Morocco is a walking encyclopedia of Raks Sharqi and Middle Eastern culture, a fabulous dancer and a wonderful lady. Her site contains a wealth of information and lovely photos.
Mystic Sun Studio of Mid-Eastern Dance
Featuring Azar and the Dancers of the Mystic Sun
Princess Farhana
Rockin'est bellydancer West o' the Nile
Sahra Saeeda
Sahra Saeeda danced in Egypt for some time and is now back with us in California.
Salome
Promo of international performer as well as belly dance directories,, on-line lessons, articles, and interviews.
Rebekah
Lovely Santa Cruz dancer and fellow redhead!
Sandra
Another bay area dancer, the lovely Sandra.
Setareh
Yet another bay area dancer, and author of a new book on the art of balancing... Setareh.
Shareen el Safy
Fantastic dancer, and a generous, thoughful and committed teacher.
Nagwa Said
Dancer and troupe in Philadelphia.Jamila Salimpour
The one and only.Suhaila Salimpour
Workshop, video and performance info.
Yousry and Nourhan Sharif
Yousry and Nourhan Sharif of New York, includes bio, gallery, classes and more.
Shira's Middle Eastern Dance Site
Shira is a fellow Southbay dancer and has lots of good information on her pages. History and culture, lyrics, advice, definitions. A very well put together site.
Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance
Mahea Uchiyama, International dancer located in Berkeley, CA.
Ultra Gypsy
Jill Parker and her Bay Area Tribal troupe.
Visionary Dance Productions
The homepage for the lovely and talented Delilah. Here you can order both instructional and performance video's and find out about workshops.
Yolanda
Fellow Bay Area dancer, Yolanda.
Zahra Zuhair
The talented Egyptian style dancer, Zahra, from Southern California.
Monica and Raks Sahibat
Award winning dancers from the Pleasant Hill, CA area.
Jalilah Zamora
Fabulous Jalilah, producer of Jalilah's Raks Sharki CD series. A must-have for every dancer!
Events
Bellydancer Of The Year
Leea's pageant in San Ramon which is over its' 25th year.
Desert Dance Festival
Here in the Bay Area we are blessed with two great weekend long festivals each year. Desert Dance Festival (affectionately known as DDF) is one of them. Here you'll find all of the information you'll need about DDF, Scarab Productions and Dunia, the fearless leader behind it all.
IAMED Awards
The International Association of Middle Eastern Dance.
Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp
A week long retreat in the beautiful Mendocino woodlands focusing on the music and dance of Asia Minor, North Africa and the Middle East.
National Dance Week
An important event to recognize dance in your local community. National Dance Week is nationwide, so check your area and participate!
The Rakkasah Festival
The worlds largest, needs no explaination.
The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival produced by World Arts West
Three days of World Dance, held yearly in San Francisco. The auditions are worth seeing too, especially for the inexpensive ticket price.
Two Old Bags
The home of Two Old Bags presents... Wiggles of the West contest, Wigglehips magazine and a number of Middle Eastern Dance workshops.
International
As Sayf
Our Swedish friends.
Aziza
Sydney Australia's site.
DaVid of Scandinavia
Fabulous dancer.
Kharis
Kharis, aquaintance and professional dancer in the UK.
Meissoun Wonderful dancer and instructor in Switzerland.
Middle Eastern Dance Association - Canada
Canada's 20 year Middle Eastern dance organization.
Alice Oppenhiem - Denmark
The site is in Danish but fun to look at!
Sayed El Joker
Famed male Middle Eastern dance artist from Egypt.
Language
The Art of Arabic Calligraphy
A beautiful site with all forms of each Arabic letter and information on different styles of calligraphy. Also has graphics with the letters in all their forms, Isolated, Initial, Medial and Final.
Babel:Arabic
A few online Arabic lessons.
Egyptian Phrases
English - Arabic translations of things one might use when travelling - however, the page also lists common expressions like hello and goodbye, numbers, colors and days of the week which are useful for anyone studying the language.
Music
Arabic Music Info Source
Everything on Arabic music, including the newest realaudio clips and reviews.
AraMusic
More Arabic Music CD's.
John Bilezikjian/Dantz Records
An amazing oudist, funny and friendly... even my non-dancer friends -love- his music.
Brothers of the Baladi
More on the world music front.
Reda Darwish
Bay Area musican and wonderful person. Now with his own gift store called "MultiKulti" in San Francisco's Mission District. Drop him a visit!
Vince Delgado
Bay Area musician Vince Delgado has been keeping us dancing for many moons.
Desert Wind
Desert Wind, Utah's premier Middle Eastern fusion ensemble.
Farabi
Jonathan Kessler and his group.
Fairouz
Lebanese songstress Fairouz. The site also contains information about the Rahbani family.Farid El Atrache
The Egyptian legend.
Jas' Doumbek Rhythms
A wealth information on rhythms for Middle Eastern drumming.
Omar Faruk Tekbilek
The one and only.
Hossam Ramzy
Egyptian musician, MED-Dance List member, and all around groovy guy, Hossam Ramzy has played with the likes of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Peter Gabriel, Gipsy Kings, The Rolling Stones, and Loreena McKinnett.
Rashid Sales Company
Yet even more Arabic Music for sale.
The rec.arabic.music Page
FAQ's, articles and rhythms.
Sazlar
An all women Near Eastern music ensemble.
Sirocco
Suliman and Armando of Santa Cruz, California.
MP3
Mazika.com
One of the best Arabic MP3 sites out there.
Organizations
The Middle Eastern Dance Webring
The MED-Dance Mailing List
To subscribe to this free list simply send email to majordomo@world.std.com with the phrase "subscribe med-dance" (without the quotes) in the body of the message. You will receive a message with instructions how to continue. The list discusses Middle Eastern dance, music and culture.
Yahoo Middle Eastern Dance Group
The group on Yahoo that I created for discussion of Middle Eastern dance, music, language and culture. Includes forum style posting (real time, no moderator), chat, an events calendar, photo gallery, links section, messaging system and more.MECDA - Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association
MECDA, in Southern California. Yours truly is a member.
Other
Dancing Goddess Dance Trips
Tours to the Middle East.
Middle Eastern Dance Resource Guide (by Kimberly Cyr)
Kim's guide now resides with Stefan.
Jeff Oberman's Photography
Jeff has a plethora of photos of different dancers.
Publications
The Gilded Serpent
A new online collaborative webzine for Middle Eastern Music, Travel and Culture.
Habibi Magazine
The longest running (I think) Middle Eastern dance and music magazine. Currently produced by Jennifer James-Long.
Jareeda Magazine
Says it has the largest known readership...
Zagahreet Magazine
Produced by Sharina, a dancer in Virginia.
Vendors
Al Muhajabat
The best henna I've ever used.
Artemis Imports
Artemis' Middle Eastern dance emporium, plus beautiful Moroccan fashions all the way up to sizes 2X and 3X.
Audrena's International Bazaar
Tons of costumes, music, videos and accessories for the dancer.
Belly Dancing Bazaar
Purveyor of Turkish costumes.
Chandra's Dance Extravaganza
Lots of supplies for your Middle Eastern dance needs.
Cost Less Costumes
Mirrors, coins crystals and hologram foil costumes.
Dahlal International
Excellent Middle Eastern Dance supplies.Danstuff Unlimited
Egyptian costumes, flamenco dresses and some consignment costumes.
Dhyanis' Classes, Shows and Costumes
More shopping, these are beautiful beaded costumes by Dhyanis of Northern California.
Dalia and Alia Skirts
Beautiful skirts and other costume pieces for classic Orientale and "Gypsy" dance.
Emeralds
Hand dyed clothing and costumes.
Farida Costumes
Located across the pond from me (in England)...she has fun costumes.
Ganesha Bazaar
Lovely costumes made from Indian material. Beautiful veils and hip wraps.
Joharah International
Middle Eastern imports based in Miami, FL.
Lost Treasures A vendor in Seattle, WA with a nice selection of lower cost costumes.
Isis Imports
They're online presence could be a little better organized and it's much more fun to see their goods in person. But they do carry quality costumes and accessories for dancers, Egyptian imported gifts, plus show tack for Arabian horses.
Liquid Silver Assiuts
Trish St. John and her antique tulle bi telli aka assiut for sale.
Madame X
Raks Sharki Raiment - Distinctive Costuming for the Middle Eastern Style Dancer, featuring one pattern fits ALL (and I mean _all_ sizes).
Maison Kenzi Imports
Imports from North Africa including Tuareg jewelry and Berber rugs.
Near East Dance
Run by the fabulous Natasya Katsikaris from the Central Coast
Our Tribe
Ethnographic Jewelry, Textiles and Clothing.
Saroyan Mastercrafts
Zils (finger cymbals) and accessories by Harry Saroyan. My favorites are the Persian Guage and the Tutankhamun Pro. (so far)
Saut Wa Soora
Run (in CA, anyway) by a wonderful gentleman named Moussa, they carry inexpensive videos of dancers from mostly Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey.
Scheherezade Imports
Long time purveyor of fine Middle Eastern costuming, videos, patterns, music and accessories.
The Stars of Egypt Video Series
Get to know your dance grandmothers, Samia Gamal, Nagwa Fouad, Sohair Zaki, Naima Akef and Tahia Carioka.
ShimmyShimmy
Very nice people. They sell gorgeous crystal jewelry and other accessories.
Sugar Petals
Makers of mesh midsection unitards and bodystockings. Appliques, beaded fringe, sew on jewels...
Topkapi Designs
Delicious high-end Turkish costumes.
Turquoise International
Hosts of tours, purveyors of Madame Abla's beautiful costumes, fine finger cymbals and much more.
Unicorn Belly Dance Supplies
A really nice couple runs this company. I gave them alot of money at Rakkasah 99.
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