Welcome to TribalBellyDance.net

Narah ~ Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Performer and Instructor

• Music Recommendations and where to get it (click to decompress the list)

  1. Turku, Alleys of Istanbul and Nomads of the Silk Road- http://www.turkumusic.com

  2. Sirocco, vols. I and II-  Sirocco Music

  3. Susu and the Cairo Cats- Fat Chance Bellydance

  4. Solace, Rhythm of the Dance, Satya, Vadalna, etc.; Ruben Von Rompey Eastern Expressions I and II; Tim Rayborn; Maduro- Shimmer Sustain; Strange Flesh; The Kabilah Project - Evantide Music Productions 

  5. Music of the Ghawazee- Fat Chance Bellydance

  6. Music of the Fallahin- Fat Chance Bellydance

  7. Hossam Ramzy, Best of Baladi and Saaidi- Fat Chance Bellydance

  8. Music for Tribal Basics- Fat Chance Bellydance

  9. The Musicians of the Nile, Luxor to Isna- Fat Chance Bellydance

  10. Rhythms of the Chakras- (often used for warm up) Fat Chance Bellydance

  11. Tribal Tales- Fat Chance Bellydance

  12. The Gypsy Caravan, Live from Berbati’s and Key Largo, Migration, Quest and The Awakening- The Gypsy Caravan

  13. Helm (Musicians who play for Hahbi 'Ru)- Hahbi 'Ru also see Shira's Review of their latest CD with audio clips.

  14. Kama Sutra Movie sound track http://www.amazon.com

• Video Recommendations and where to get it (click to decompress the list)

  1. Basic Instructional Videos - Narah and Jala's new instructional DVD (Tribal Fusion Belly Dance Technical Foundation Volume 1) !  check the market place

  2. Advanced Instructional Videos - For the more experienced dancer, get Suhaila Salimpour's Fitness Fusion Series

  3. Latcho Drom - get it at Fat Chance Bellydance

  4. Romany Trail Music into Africa - get it at Fat Chance Bellydance

  5. Dances of North Africa - get it at Fat Chance Bellydance

  6. Rare Glimpses - Features Fatima filmed by Thomas Edison, a Guedra documentary, Bedouin family dancing, Nadia Gamal and more.  Got it from a website someone sent to a list long ago and is long lost to me.  Try Google!

  7. Cycles Circles - Indian Kathak documentary.  The website I found it at no longer sells it..  Try Google or your local library. 

  8. Urban Ghawazee - Documentary on American Tribal Style Bellydance.  Are you calling yourself Tribal Style?  Know your roots.

• Book Recommendations and where to get it (click to decompress the list)

  1. Snake Hips by Anne Thomas Soffee- Hilarious!!!  and about Belly Dance! 

  2. For Inspiration- anything by Sark.  www.campsark.com

  3. Please see the bibliographies for my research papers.

• Bellydance Practice Recommendations (click to decompress the list)

  1. There is no little white pill.  You must practice to improve your dancing. 

  2. There is no blanket formula.  There is no set number of classes to take or times to watch a video or number of workshops to participate in or amount of time time that's passed since you've been dancing before you get the hang of it.  A good dancer never stops learning; continue to learn from others no matter what.

  3. Participate in a regular fitness program (yes, even outside of bellydance).  The better condition your body is in, the better you dance.  Include both cardiovascular and strength training.

  4. Eat a healthy diet.  You are a dancer and must respect your vehicle of expression.  It is a worthwhile investment.  You'll dance much longer in the short and long term if you fuel your body in a healthy manner.

  5. Never stop drilling the basics.  This means choosing a move or two or 3 or whatever and doing it over and over and over and over again.  Smooth out all the rough spots.  It is better to be isolated, and have clean slow movements than to be fast and try to cover up any sloppiness.

  6. Use a mirror and/or a video camera for analysis for your at home practice.  Keep your eyes and mind open.

  7. Practice body awareness exercises.  Knowing where your body is and how it feels helps you to move it where you want it to go.

  8. Drilling technique, improvising, and practicing a choreography are all separate types of practice that require different types of focus.  Don't skip any of them (unless you have no reason to practice a choreography.)

  9. If during your practice or otherwise you find yourself getting caught up in negative or judgmental thoughts about yourself (your body, your technique, your commitment, etc.), observe the thought and then let it go.  Bring your attention back to the task at hand (practice).  Your body believes every word you say, and if you criticize and doubt, it won't cooperate.

  10. Patience gives you the power to practice.  Practice gives you the power that leads to perfection.  (a great Yogi said this ...)

  11. Everyone should have yoga in their lives for physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health.  It is a complete practice that so complements bellydance that no dancer should be without it. 

  12. Shira has provided excellent information on how to structure a home practice at http://www.shira.net/study.htm (You should look through the rest of her site too- a great resource!)