Camps, Schools, and Organizations:
World Music Folklife Center
Dance Metro DC
WAMEDA
IAMED
Tiraz Dance Network
Saffron Dance
Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance
Sahara Dance
Baltimore Internat'l Rhythm & Drumming Soc. (BIRDS)
Drum & Dance Learning Center
Voice of Roma
The Center for Arabic Culture
Assembly of Turkish American Associations
Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp
Rakkasah Festivals
Musicians, Music & Instruments:
THE BALKANICS
Souhail Kaspar
Rachid Halihal
Seido Salifoski
The Balkan Brothers
Hearn Gadbois
Issam Houshan
Sirocco
Dhavir Productions
Maqam
Traditional Crossroads
Turkish Music.com
House of Musical Traditions
Aleta's CD Reviews
(Aleta offers some in-depth & informative reviews of Turkish and Arabic music both for dancers and drummers)
Dance Companies:
Silk Road Dance Company
Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble
Performers and Teachers:
BALTIMORE & WASHINGTON DC AREA:
Piper
Faten Salama
Lotus Niraja
Latifa
Asharah
Nesmah
Shems
Miasia
Lucy
Zareen
Aleta
Samira Shuruk
Shahrzad
Shadiyah
NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY:
Jessaiah - Authentic Turkish Romani Dance
Samara
Anahid Sofian
Dalia Carella
Alexia
Mark Balahadia
WORLD:
Reyhan Tuzsuz Turkish Rom, Istanbul
Zahra Gamal
...One of my all-time favorite dancers...
Dahlena
Eva Cernik
Sabriye Tekbilek
Sema Yildiz
Daughters of Rhea
Kajira Djoumahna (BlackSheep BellyDance)
Hadia
Rena Milgrom
Tanyeli
Jalilah
Jalilah's CD's are a MUST for any performer of Raqs al Sharqi. She also has a great article on the origins of Raqs al Sharqi on her website.
Costumes & Supplies:
Turkish Emporium
Scheherezade Imports
Pyramid Imports
L. Rose Designs
Dahlal
Sharifwear
Topkapi Designs
Photography:
Sarah Skinner
(The multi-talented Sarah Skinner is not only a wonderful photographer but also a fabulous
performer and costume designer!)
Roger Wood
Suggested Reading:
"Turkish Dance, American Cabaret & Vintage Oriental" by Artemis Mourat. This article is enlightening for understanding the history of Turkish Oriental dance and how it is different from Egyptian "Raqs al Sharqi" and "American Cabaret". An important resource!
"The World's Oldest Dance; A History of Bellydance" by Karol H. Harding
"Bury Me Standing" by Isabel Fonseca
"We are the Romani People" by Ian Hancock
"Life in Black and White" - many authors - gallery 2000
More Resources for Raqs al Sharqi:
Shira.net
(Shira's site offers a wonderful potpourri of bellydancing information & links!)
Shems
Shems has a wonderful explanation of the many different forms of Oriental dance and the folk dances that inspire them on her website. I urge you to explore it and click on her youtube examples of the many beautiful forms of this dance!
Tulumba.com
The World's Turkish "Mega-Store"
Zaghareet Magazine
