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Bet this song stays in your head... cu2nmeKvN1I

I really like this gal; she has a style that reminds me of the vintage dance stars. MEkGx_tyFZ8

It's all about the right partner... v246c8wP6_0

This is an interesting article about cultural differences in the way journalists from various countries write. As the author says, Arabs tend to write with lots of proverbs, Spaniards in long, elegant sentences, etc. -- which has an effect when these folks try to cross over and write for the...

Hope I'm not repeating something that has already been posted. I came across this group, Zikrayat, on YouTube recently and was impressed by these musicians and dancers who are reviving old-school style music and dance as inspired by classic Egyptian and Arab world cinema. Beautiful, classy...

Howdy, gang! It's been over a year since I decided to take an extended break from belly dancing classes and this forum to focus my time and energy on a nonfiction book I was contracted to write. It's now finally headed for print -- "Weird Colorado," to be published by a Barnes & Noble...

Hi, kids, I'm forwarding this from an Arabic music listserv I'm on: The Santa Cruz Arabic Music Ensemble, directed by master musician Elias Lammam, is looking for new members. If you live in the Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Jose area and play nay, oud, qanun, or any other instrument suitable...

This is a vintage Egyptian film dancer I haven't seen a lot of before, and she's well worth checking out for the incredible control she has with small, precise hip movements. Her name is Naemet Mokhtar (and various spellings): -9DD6Z6iv8o&feature=related k8yDmA4wh3g&feature=rec-HM-rev-rn

The older this woman gets with the cane, the better. I love her costume, too. NMng6xXFs2Q&feature=rec-HM-fresh+div

Last night, I went to see this movie and I was so struck by its message I thought it would be appropriate to bring it up here. This is a really excellent, very sweet film about two women and a time in each of their lives that coincides in an interesting way. Julia Child was the American woman...

Well, it's certainly not belly dance, but the joy of Jill & Kevin's church entrance for their wedding is so marvelous I just had to share it. 4-94JhLEiN0

A lot of you are way too young to have grown up with "Uncle Walter," the most trusted man in journalism, probably one of the most trusted people in the world. He was an icon of television broadcast news in the United States for many decades. "And that's the way it was," was his signature line...

I have a friend living in rural North Carolina who has a very nice house she designed and partially built herself when she was more physically able, with a large garden. Unfortunately, although she is only middle-aged and well able to take care of herself, she can no longer work an outside job...

First, "Azuri's Dance" from "The Desert Song," 1929 I was trying to track down a costume I'd seen in the 1953 version of "The Desert Song," and came across this 1929 version on YouTube (it's had four movie versions, since the original stage operetta production). This is the great actress Myrna...

Another one of the estimable Sbarack's finds. This is one of Badia Masabni's dancers who went on to become a rival and eventually bought out the famous Masabni casino. She's actually not that great, at least in this example, and the costume does nothing for her. And her backup dancers seem...

Not sure where else to put this, so here it goes! Those of you who are professional performers and/or teachers: Barring something like an illness (Allah forbid!), 1) What might motivate you to retire (even if only temporarily) or at least consider retirement? 2) What would you do for a living...

I've been thinking it would be fun to see how various components of the belly dance stage costume evolved. Breaking it down: 1) Bedlah -- when did we first see the use of the famous two-piece, midriff-revealing outfit? 2) Veil(s) -- Was Samia Gamel the first or just one of 'em? 3) Belly...

Hi, kids! I'm on a listserv for an Arabic Music Retreat and get a lot of related messages about this kind of music, events, instruments for sale, etc. If that interests you, consider requesting to join this Yahoo group, arabicmusicretreat@yahoogroups.com Here's one that struck my fancy...

After I originally posted this under Name Something You Bought This Week, I realized it probably fit better under this topic: "Souhail Kaspar's Rhythm & Movement for Egyptian Raqs al-Sharhqi" a dvd that is maybe the best purchase for belly dance -- outside of lessons -- that I've ever made. I...

Nevermind what you might pick for a performance, whaddaya like to shimmy to when it's just you and the music? Got any sentimental favorites? Guilty "secrets"? Silly, but satisfying songs?