Gilded Serpent presents...

Middle Eastern Music and Belly Dance Books

Page 1:1970 -1989

last updated July 7, 2013

Most cover graphics are about 30% of actual size. Listings are by year published for historical purposes. Yes, we would like more info on each title and any corrections needed. We would like to add brief summaries on each book, including how many photos, who were the primary models, emphasis of content, resources and historical relevance.

Thank you!

1970- Exotic Exercises for Belly Dancing by Princess Nyeela
1972- The Secret of Belly Dancing by Bert Balladine & Sula
1972- The New Art of Belly Dancing by Adela Vergara, Bert, and Sula
1972- The Serena Technique of Belly Dancing
1973- The Compleat Belly Dancer by Julie Russo Mishkin & Marta Schill
1974- Raya's How to Belly Dance
1975- The FInishing Touch by Julie Russo Mishkin & Marta Schill
1975- The Art of Belly Dancing by Dahlena
1975- Maria' Morca's Belly Dance Work Kit
1975- Greek Dances by Ted Petrides
1975- Nefertiti Presents... Belly Dancing "the Basics"
1976- The Belly Dancer in You by Ozel
1976- Mastering Finger Cymbals by Mary Ellen Donald
1976- Doumbec Delight by Mary Ellen Donald
1975- The Belly Dancer's Pet by Carlotta Graham
1977- The Great American Belly Dance by Daniela Gioseffi
1977- An Illustrated Manual for Finger Cymbal Instruction by Jamila
1979- A Belly Dancer's Slim-Down and Shape-up Secrets by Lebwa
1978- The Belly Dance Costume Book by Zarifa Aradoon
1979- The Belly Dance by Daniela Gioseffi
1979- Bellydancing, from Cave to Cult to Cabaret by Jamila Salimpour
1979- The Oldest Dance by Zarifa Aradoon
1980- Earth Dancing by Daniela Gioseffi
1980- A Practical Workbook for the Finger Cymbals by Ibrahim Turman
1982- Belly Dancing: For Health & Relaxation by T. Hobin
1983- Belly Dancing by Wendy Buonaventura
1983- The Belly Dance Book by Serena and Alan Wilson
1983- Sadzia! The Belly Dancer by Merrill Joan Gerber
1983- Belly Dancing by Wendy Buonaventura
1985- Arabic Tar by Mary Ellen Donald
1985- The Belly Dancer in the Barrel of Oil by Rebecca Newman
1987- Sadzia! The Belly Dancer! by Merrill Joan Gerber
1989- Harem, The World Behind the Veil by Alev Lytle Croutier
1989- Intermediate Belly Dancing ny VIcki Corona

Notes on more book to add!

Books Page 2:1990s-1999 started. Page 3: 2000-2009 started, GS Bibliography Project in MLA format
Please see our Archived Book Reviews for more information on books published since 2000

Exotic ExercisesExotic Exercises for Belly Dancing

Author: Princess Nyeela
Publisher: Award Books
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1970
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: See funny first page!
Related Articles on GS:

Bert & Sula's Book


The Secret of Belly Dancing

Author: Bert Balladine and Sula
Publisher: Celestial Arts Publishing
Office Location: Millbrae, CA
1st Issue: 1972
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price: $2.95
Notes:96 pages
Related Articles on GS:

New Art of Bellydance by Bert Sula and V


The New Art of Belly Dancing

Author: Adela Vergara with Roman Balladine (Bert) and Sula
Publisher:Celestial Arts Publishing
Office Location: Millbrae, CA
1st Issue: 1972
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:$3.95
Notes:
Related Articles on GS:

Serena, 1st edition?
1st edition?
2nd edition?

The Serena Technique of Belly Dancing

Author: Serena and Alan Wilson
Publisher: Pocket books & Cornerstone Library
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1972, "Pocketbook" addition 1975
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price: $1.95
Notes: 251 pages & 189 pages
Related Articles on GS:

THe Compleat Belly Dancer by Julie and MartaThe Compleat Belly Dancer
Author:Julie Russo Mishkin and Marta Schill
Publisher: Double Day
Office Location: Garden City, New York
1st Issue: 1973
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 160 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Raya's

Raya's How to Belly Dance

Author: Raya Atesh
Publisher: Raya Atesh
Office Location: San Diego, CA
1st Issue: 1974
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 82 pages, printed on one side only. Belly jewel glue to dancer on cover
Related Articles on GS:

FInishing Touch by Julie and MartaThe FInishing Touch- Sequel to "The Compleat Belly Dancer"

Author: Julie Russo Mishkin and Marta Schil
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1975?
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: from Shira's list on Library thing
Related Articles on GS:

Dahlena

The Art of Belly Dancing

Author: Dahlena
Publisher: Bantum Books
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1975
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price: $1.95
Notes: 213 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Maria Morca's Belly Dance Work KitMaria Morca's Belly Dance Work Kit

Author: Maria Morca
Publisher: Anthony Perris & Associates
Office Location: Toronto, Ontario
1st Issue: 1975
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: "Basic Course" Included illustrated book and two 7 inch 33 1/3 RPM records
Related Articles on GS:

Greek Dances by Ted Petrides

Greek Dances

Author: Ted Petrides
Publisher: Lycabettus Press
Office Location: Athen, Greece
1st Issue: 1975
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes:
Related Articles on GS: See Barbara Sellers-Young"s article on Serena, part 2.

Nefertiti

Nefertiti Presents... Belly Dancing "the Basics"

Author: Sherry Jeffries (Ankestamen)- actually project mostly done by author's mother Nefertiti in 1975
Publisher: self published by author
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1975 most of project done including photos, completed and first issued in 2002
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: The rights for this book were bought and reissued as a "kit" with new cover etc. See GS review and comments on this new format .
The original format was done by author as a tribute to her mother who died before the project was completed
Related Articles on GS: see above link

Ozel

The Belly Dancer in You

Author: Ozel
Publisher: A Fireside book published by Simone and Schuster
Office Location: New York, NY
1st Issue: 1976
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 216 pages, includes Turkish recipes, sheet music, list of dancer names, vendors and restaurants in New York
Related Articles on GS:

Mary Ellen's Finger Cymbal BookMastering Finger Cymbals
Author: Mary Ellen Donald
Publisher: Mary Ellen Books
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1976
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 66 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Mary Ellen DoumbecDoumbec Delight

Author:Mary Ellen Donald
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1976
Focus:A 30 Lesson Course in Middle Eastern Drumming, with Basic Music Theory.
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes:
Related Articles on GS:

The Belly Dancer's Pet

Author: Carlotta Graham ?
Publisher:Liverpool Distributors
Office Location:California
1st Issue: 1976, paperback
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: Looking for more info on this book! contact editor
Related Articles on GS:

Daneila's book " The Great Amercian Belly Dance" cover

The Great American Belly Dance

Author: Daniela Gioseffi
Publisher: Dell, Double Day
Office Location: New York
1st Issue: 1977
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes:
Related Articles on GS:

Veda Sereem's bookQuality of Belly Dancing

Author:Veda Sereem
Publisher: Self pubished
Office Location: Silver Springs, MD
1st Issue: 1977
Focus: Instructional dance, business advice & professionalism
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 221 pages, typed with numerous black and white photos, card stock cover with plastic spiral binding
Related Articles on GS:

Jamila CymbalsAn Illustrated Manual of Finger Cymbal Instruction
History, Evolution and related Instruments

Author: Jamila Salimpour
Publisher: Jamila Salimpour
Office Location: 471 Broadway, San Francisco, CA
1st Issue: 1977
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 37 pages
Related Articles on GS:

 

Zarifa's Costume BookThe Belly Dance Costume Book
Author:Zarifa Aradoon
Publisher:Dream Place Productions
Office Location: Stanford, CA
1st Issue: 1978
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 202 pages, black and white photos, graphics and diagrams. Ebay and Amazon have used copy listed for $300!
Related Articles on GS:

 

The Belly Dance by Daniela GioseffiThe Belly Dance

Author: Daniela Gioseffi
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1979
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: from Shira's list on Library thing. Is this the same book as "Great American Belly Dance"?
Related Articles on GS:

Bellydancing, from Cave to Cult to Cabaret

Author: Jamila Salimpour
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1979
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 273 pages, Amazon has a used copy listed for $150!
Related Articles on GS:

Zarifa's Oldest DanceThe Oldest Dance

Author:Zarifa Aradoon
Publisher: Dream Place Productions
Office Location:Stanford, CA
1st Issue:1979
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: black and white photos, graphics and diagrams, 190 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Lebwa's Slim DownA Belly Dancer's Slim-Down and Shape-up Secrets

Author: Lebwa
Publisher: Parker Publishing Company
Office Location: West Nyack, NY
1st Issue:1979
Focus: weight loss and fitness
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: Hardback, black and white drawings and diagrams, 336 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Earth Dancing by Daniela
Earth Dancing,
Mother Nature's Oldest Rite

Author: Daniela Gioseffi
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Office Location: Harrisburg, PA
1st Issue: 1980
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 219 pages,
Related Articles on GS:

 

Ibrahim Turman book for zilsA Practical Workbook for the Finger Cymbals

Author: Ibrahim Turman
Publisher: by author
Office Location: Rochester, New York
1st Issue: 1980, 1983
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: scan of copyright page and cover provided by Maura Enright. [thank you!]
Related Articles on GS:

 

Belly Dancing: For Health & Relaxation

Author: T. Hobin
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1982
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: from Shira's list on Library thing
Related Articles on GS:


Belly Dancing
The Serpent and the Sphinx

Author: Wendy Buonaventura
Publisher: Virago Press
Office Location: London UK
1st Issue: 1983
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: 162 pages
Related Articles on GS:

Serena's 2nd bookThe Belly Dance Book

Author: Serena and Alan Wilson
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Paperbacks
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1983
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:$9.95
Notes:black and white photos, diagrams, 236 pages, list of names for dancers, photos from Serena's career
Related Articles on GS:

TamborineArabic Tar

Author: Mary Ellen Donald
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1985
Focus: A Comprehensive Course in Techniques and Performance for the Tambourine, Tar, and Mazhar
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes:
Related Articles on GS:

Barrel of Oil cover

The Belly Dancer in the Barrel of Oil

Author: Rebecca Newman
Publisher:Libra Publishers
Office Location: Roslyn, New York
1st Issue: 1985
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price: Hardback-$10
Notes: Marta Schill states that part of this novel was based on real events in the Los Angeles Belly dance scene that occurred during the 70s?
Related Articles on GS:

Sadzia by Merrill Joan Gerber
Sadzia! The Belly Dancer!

Author: Merrill Joan Gerber
Publisher: Harper and Row
Office Location: New York
1st Issue: 1987
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:$12.95
Notes: For ages 12 and up
Related Articles on GS: reviewed by Karen Roberts

Harem by Croutier
Harem, The World Behind the Veil

Author: Alev Lytle Croutier
Publisher: Abbeville Press
Office Location: New York
1st Issue: 1989
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: Not really a dance or music book, Turkish Culture, much loved in the community. 210 pages, many color and black and white photos and artwork
Related Articles on GS:

1989 Intermediate BDIntermediate Belly Dancing, vol 1

Author: Vicki Corona
Publisher:
Office Location:
1st Issue: 1989
Focus:
Numbers Printed:
Original Price:
Notes: Cover says Volume 1, Book 11. A series? back cover has a price tag with a bar code that says 14.95, only 31 pages.
Related Articles on GS:

NOTES on more books to add and research:

1978, rev 2013: The New Danse Orientale by J Salimpour [not on Amazon, research elsewhere]

Additions sent by Tanya- Thank you!

1959 Dance Perspectives 3: Dances of Anatolian Turkey by Metin And

1961 Dance Perspectives 10: A Curious and Wonderful Gymnastic (The Arab Danse Du Ventre by Morroe Berger; Learning the Danse Du Ventre by La Meri)

1972- Let's Belly Dance! A Guide to an Ancient and Exotic Art by Shoshana

1972- A Guide to Belly Dancing. Your New Way to Fun & Fitness by Sarena

1973- Songs and Dances from Turkey by Bora Özkök

1973- A Syllabus of Costuming for Belly Dance by Yazeim and Karija

1975- Belly Dance Costumes by Diane Edrington

1976- Getting Ahead in Bellydancing by Lisa Davis

1976- A Pictorial History of Turkish Dancing, from Folk Dancing to Whirling Dervishes-Belly Dancing to Ballet

1977- The Ancient and Enduring Art...Danse Oriental by Süheyla

1987- Alsharqi Dance, Volume I - Movements, No. 1 - Hip Movements by Chérie Phillips

Unknown Year- What's in a Name? A Glossary of Names for Middle-Eastern Dancers by Najia El-Mouzayen

Unknown Year- Tassels by Doris Hoover and Nancy Welch

1973- Slimming: an Oriental Approach by Soraya with contributions by Tom Ravensdale and Dr. Seymour Chissick

1983- The Source: A Handbook for Orientale Dancers by Omar Batiste

[dont' forget to add titles to list at top!]

 

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