Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume [Paperback]

Keti Sharif (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2005

For those wanting to shake and shimmy their way to a firmer body, this comprehensive guide to belly dancing offers instructions on how to make the most of the hot belly-dancing-as-fitness trend. In addition to guiding the dancer to a trimmer waist, this how-to book helps put women in touch with their sensuality through the alluring moves of this ancient dance. Specific guidelines for pregnant women who wish to stay strong throughout the nine months and regain their prebaby belly are included. The history and culture of the art is also explored with a celebration of the pulsating music and shimmering costumes that make belly dancing a joy to watch. In Cairo there is a saying: "Every girl is born a dancer." With this guide, all women can be divas of the dance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Keti Sharif explains everything you need to know to get the benefits." -- Let's Live

"This beautifully constructed book examines the cultural and historical significance of belly dancing." -- Dancer Magazine

About the Author

Keti Sharif teaches belly dancing and leads dancing tours and retreats to Egypt. She has been belly dancing since she was 17 years old and has studied with Egyptian choreographers and danced professionally in Cairo.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741143764
• ISBN-13: 978-1741143768
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely photography, good info about belly dance, October 13, 2004

By 

Ramona "Author of Dynamic Belly Dance" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume (Paperback)

I'm a belly dance teacher in metro Atlanta, and I really enjoyed this beautiful Australian book. The photos are absolutely lovely, and there are lots of them. There's good background info on the history of belly dance, plus basic info about warm-ups and descriptions of basic movements, but what I liked best was the cultural info about how belly dance varies from country to country. There is a good discussion of the many different styles of belly dance, which is info that I've not seen in other books.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars basic info, but difficult to see printed words, December 4, 2006

By 

Roberta K. Thome (OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume (Paperback)

I'm a begining bellydancer & wanted something to give me some basic info in the history & culture of bellydance. This book does that.There is a lot of info in the book. My complaint: Some pages are very difficult to read due to the fact that the words are printed with a variety of colors onto background photos. I had read that comment in another review before I bought my copy, but didn't realize how much of the book was printed that way (more than half) & how difficult it would be to read (very difficult), make sure you have good lighting. Also the font size used is a little on the small side. Might have been easier to read with a larger font. Should be able to find same info in an easier to read format.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bellydance, December 6, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bellydance: A Guide to Middle Eastern Dance, Its Music, Its Culture and Costume (Paperback)

Keti Sharif has put together a very informative and delightfully presented instructional book. The photography is excellent and the instructions are very clear and make sense.

Keti Sharif is australia born and lives on the Red Sea in Egypt. She performs and teaches bellydance and hosts cultural tours of Egypt. Well done Keti. I teach bellydance and will be only too pleased to promote this book at my classes. My students will most likely buy a copy of this book.

Anyone interested in Bellydance and Egyptian Culture or Middle Eastern Culture would be very pleased with the contents of this book, women love to express themselves and this type of dance does so refreshingly and culturally diverse techniques are explained.

To celebrate our bodies is our divine right and we can enhance our health by bellydance. I invite women to take up this ancient art of expression, celebration, and good workout with pleasant music and rythms.