gwinity
New member
We all seem to have a plethora of DVDs related to belly dance, whether they be instructional or performance-based, but what about books? Do you have BD-books of the instructional, informative, historical, memoir or even novel nature? Let's open up the library...
Me, I own the following:
Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs by Rania Bossonis
~ (My first BD book, which inspired me to get Rania's DVD. I still like the CD that came with it.)
Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume by Keti Sharif
~ (I found this really interesting as it introduced more of the cultural background to the dance, and introduced musical instrument and styles of which I was unfamiliar.)
Belly Dancing Basics by Laura Cooper and Sarah Skinner
~ (I did and didn't like this - I found some of the costumes distracting in the how-to section, as they hid the legs)
Bellydance by Dolphina
~ (I know a lot of people find her really naff, but I actually liked this best out of all the exercise books!)
Belly Dancing for Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit by Tamalyn Dallal
~ (Not bad, she writes well, but didn't leave a particularly lasting impression)
Snake Hips: Belly Dancing and How I Found True Love by Anne Thomas Soffee
~ (I love this memoir. It's so witty and clever, and shows yet another side to performing)
The Compleat Belly Dancer by Julie Russo Mishkin.
~ (circa 1973 and out of print now, I got it off ebay for next to nothing as a curiosity: to see how things have or haven't changed over the years)
What's on your bookshelves?
Me, I own the following:
Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs by Rania Bossonis
~ (My first BD book, which inspired me to get Rania's DVD. I still like the CD that came with it.)
Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume by Keti Sharif
~ (I found this really interesting as it introduced more of the cultural background to the dance, and introduced musical instrument and styles of which I was unfamiliar.)
Belly Dancing Basics by Laura Cooper and Sarah Skinner
~ (I did and didn't like this - I found some of the costumes distracting in the how-to section, as they hid the legs)
Bellydance by Dolphina
~ (I know a lot of people find her really naff, but I actually liked this best out of all the exercise books!)
Belly Dancing for Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit by Tamalyn Dallal
~ (Not bad, she writes well, but didn't leave a particularly lasting impression)
Snake Hips: Belly Dancing and How I Found True Love by Anne Thomas Soffee
~ (I love this memoir. It's so witty and clever, and shows yet another side to performing)
The Compleat Belly Dancer by Julie Russo Mishkin.
~ (circa 1973 and out of print now, I got it off ebay for next to nothing as a curiosity: to see how things have or haven't changed over the years)
What's on your bookshelves?