Belly Dance Music – Jen Belly Dance

March 26, 2021November 2, 2022

Belly Dance Training: Review of the ‘Understanding Music’ Course

I'm writing another instalment of my review series. This time I focus on the 'Understanding Music' course. I hope that by sharing my experience, you will be inspired to learn more about the fascinating world of belly dance music!

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March 5, 2021February 1, 2024

Who Is Umm Kulthum and Why Is She Important for Belly Dance?

Have you heard of Umm Kulthum (Oum Kalthoum) before? She was a very famous Egyptian singer active between the 1920s to 1970s. She is remembered for her extraordinary voice and unique musical style. But what does she have to do with belly dance? You'll find out in this article. Spoiler: lots of the most well known belly dance tunes were originally sung by Umm Kulthum!

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July 31, 2020July 20, 2022

A Guide to Musical Instruments in Middle Eastern Belly Dance Music

What instruments are commonly used in belly dance music? There are lots of them! In this post, I give common Middle Eastern examples of each of the three types of instruments (winds, strings, and percussion). Plus a sample video clip so you can hear what it sounds like and see how it's played. I hope this will help you better hear the instruments as you dance. And that you can use this to deepen your belly dance music interpretation.

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April 8, 2020July 20, 2022

The Simsimiyya Music of Port Said: Evoking a Sense of Place

In this post, I explore the sense of place that music can evoke. When I listen to Middle Eastern belly dance music, I don't usually think too hard about the locality it comes from. But in this YouTube video of musicians from Port Said playing on the beach, I feel a strong sense of place.

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August 15, 2019July 20, 2022

Understanding Rhythms in Belly Dance Music

In this post, you will learn seven iqaat (rhythmic modes) commonly found in Middle Eastern belly dance music: maqsoum, saiidi, masmoudi saghir (baladi), fellahi, masmoudi kabir, malfuf, and chiftetelli. This should help you recognise the rhythms as dance to belly dance music.

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August 11, 2019July 20, 2022

How to Interpret Belly Dance Music as a Dancer: Start by Listening to the Musical Layers

Being able to pick apart and understand belly dance music makes it easier to interpret as a dancer. In this post, you will learn how to listen to the rich texture of belly dance music formed by musical layers.

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