"Belly Dance" Resources

Percussion Resources

dumbek Rhythm FAQ -- Traditional Dumbek/Dance rhythms

  • Mary Mark's : Learning Middle Eastern Percussion -- Mary's extensive list of instructional resources for learning about and learning to play ME percussion instruments
  • Rhythm Web -- vast array of stuff on world percussion. If you're a world drummer who doesn't know about this site, just pretend you did!
  • Mary Ellen Donald -- along with the late Mimi Spencer, one of the creators of the "Gems of the Middle East" series of music and instructional materials.
  • The Tombak Network -- Info on Iranian/Persian rhythms and the particular history of the Tombak and Tombak players.
  • Ancient Future: World Music Online . All sorts of info/links/stuff on traditional world music and dance -- MP3 and MIDI of world drum grooves.

Dancers and Troupes

Musicians and Organizations



  • Seido Salifoski -- Who doesn't love Seido?
  • Balkan Babes-- Three of Khafif's musicians other group. Beautiful Balkan singing group.
  • Eastern Watershed--and another amazing group Khafif member Lynette (Mahakaruna) plays for. Klezmer, Balkan and more band.
  • Turku - Eurasian Folk Group . A delightful ensemble that we have been happy to occasionally dance to and play with. Check out their excellent web page for samples, descriptions of instruments, and an art slide show.
  • Folktours -- Run by Artemis and Tayyer -- great camp for Memorial Day weekend!
  • Future of Tradition Center for the Folkloric Arts -- Asheville, NC -- a project that friends of ours have been working on for some time
  • Karim Nagi -- High quality crazy drummer from NYC

Supplies and Stuff 


Bellydance Magazines