World Music For Belly Dancers

Classic Middle Eastern songs or fusion world music? Tribal folk music from Morocco? Or Shakira tunes? There are many choices to use for bellydance, so here are some of my personal favorites. You will soon develop your own list of favorites by which to shake and shimmy , I'm sure.

There are many contemporary songs and bands, even some that have no Mideast influence at all, that are used for belly dance. But if you wish to dance to a contemporary sound that has elements of the classical Middle East woven in, Doug Adams and Light Rain creates great music to dance the baladi. I own a couple of their albums, including 'Dream Dancer', so I highly recommend this as a start of your bellydance music collection.

The song is "AL TOFAHA" by Alaa Saad.

There are many classic songs that are done and redone by many different musical artists. Because they are well loved and give opportunity for specific types of dancing, you will often find many of them in bellydance music collections and played by many Middle Eastern musicians and bands.

1. Shik shak shok
2. Misirlou
3. Laili Ya Layali
4. Rambi Rambi

   See the youtube video of this song.

5. Bam Boum

Sounds exotic to you, familiar to someone else

There has been an explosion of interest in the cultural sounds of many different nations, but especially in Latin and Middle Eastern music. This interest has also spawned a fusion of music, much like when the Beatles discovered the traditional sound of India and included instruments such as the Sitar with Ravi Shankar playing expertly in totally new compositions.

The same thing has happened with Middle Eastern music and this is good news for belly dancers. Jef Stott and Drumsongs for Dancers by Armando Mafufo are examples.

Rough Guide to Bellydance is a group of songs that combines many types of music together in an overall Middle Eastern type of sound. It is a compilation made especially for Oriental dancers.

But don't let age be a factor- I like some of the old traditional sounds the best, myself. It just is an open field as far as music to use for your dance. Look for some of the beat patterns of beledi and tcheftetelli for classical belly dance patterns.

Al Andelus

This is one of my favorites. Used it for practice all the time. Gypsy music has lots of excitement and tends to have faster selections. Great drum solos, too.

Music featuring Richard A. Hagopian and Omar Faruk Tekbilek, it is some of the best of these sounds which will provide many moods for dancing.

Everyone likes this one. It is an oldie but goodie.

This has old favorites for belly dancers, but new to anyone not familiar with Middle Eastern music. Great introduction to tunes played in high quality performances from this part of the world.

Masters of Bellydance Music (Dig)

She has a fresh sound and is very charismatic.

American Tribal, Khaleeji

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