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The Guest List: Belly Dance Drill Music Recommendations from Aubre Hill

The Guest List: Belly Dance Drill Music Recommendations from Aubre Hill

Posted on by Mahin Sciacca

Have you ever wished you could peek into the iPods of well-known bellydance instructors? Well, I have – and thought I’d ask a few! Our first guest drill list comes from Aubre Hill, a performer and instructor based in Los Angeles, CA. She is also the director of the LuminaDance Co.  and Qabila Folkdance Co.    Aubre is a very versatile dancer so I suspected she’d have some interesting and eclectic music to inspire her classes […]

Interview with Egypt's "Ambassador of Rhythm", Hossam Ramzy

Interview with Egypt's "Ambassador of Rhythm", Hossam Ramzy

Posted on by Mahin Sciacca

          If you told me back in 1996, when I was a baby bellydancer, that  I’d one day  speak with the person that recorded the music I performed my very first student solo to, I’d have said you were crazy! But it happened – and here it is. An interview with the one and only, Hossam Ramzy!  Mahin: The “Rules for Dancing” article (on your site) provides solid examples of connections between movement […]

Must-Know Belly Dance Songs: "Ya Msafer Wahdek"

Must-Know Belly Dance Songs: "Ya Msafer Wahdek"

Posted on by Mahin Sciacca

Who, What and When? “Ya Msafer Wahdak”  was written for the 1942 Egyptian movie, “Love is Banned”. This beautiful classic was written by Mohammed Abdel Wahab with lyrics by Hussein Sayed. Abdel Wahab is also the person that first sang it in the movie, although many singers have recorded versions since then. The song’s opening has a strong flamenco-esque flair. Many dancers have taken a flamenco fusion approach to this standard- some quite nicely! You may […]

How To Plan Smooth-Running Belly Dance Events

How To Plan Smooth-Running Belly Dance Events

Posted on by Mahin Sciacca

This is the latest installment in the occasional series, “Raks Me A Question” where I answer bellydancers’ questions about learning, teaching, performing or doing business in Bellydance Land. If you’ve got a dilemma, an obstacle you haven’t found your way around or a sticky situation and you’d like some advice – just send it in ! You may find your answer in the next installment of “Raks Me A Question”! From monthly haflas to full-blown theater […]

Must-Know Songs for Belly Dancers: "Fakkarouni"

Must-Know Songs for Belly Dancers: "Fakkarouni"

Posted on by Mahin Sciacca

Who, what and when? “Fakkarouni” is yet another Oum Kalthoum classic on our list. This one was originally released in 1966 with music by Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and lyrics by Abdel-Wahab Mohamed – yes, you read that right! These are two different artists! This period of collaboration is considered to be the final phase of Oum Kalthoum’s career, a time when she began to accept some of the western musical elements in Abdel-Wahab’s compositions. What is this […]