Bellydance Music for Practicing

New students often ask where to find music to practice what they have learned in class. Here are some quick links to albums with helpful tracks for students:

50 All Time Greatest Belly Dance Hits
Esmerim
Tablatastic

I struggled with how to title this because all Middle Eastern music can somehow inform you as a dancer, help you learn to listen carefully, and be a tool for “making the music visible.” However, sometimes we want to work on specific technique so that the movement flows more easily from our bodies. We gravitate towards specific songs when we want to perfect a travel step, drill a hip pattern, or rev up those shimmies. You can easily find songs, even playlists you YouTube, Spotify, etc. Here are some songs I use in class that you can download to create your own playlists.

Medium tempo (travel steps, technique drills)
Ya Mnaanaa
Electric Bedouin
Eshtaktillak
Underworld
Oriental Lament
Men Elaila Maak
Daran Akh Daran

Fast tempo (quick drills)
Shouf Il Banat
Ya Ba_Aeen El Hawa Mix
Oyoun Sandra

Slow/Medium tempo (smooth & connected movements or steps)
Love Night (remix of Leylet Hob)
In the Fairground
Gardens of Delight
1001 Ya Leil
Huwaida

Slow tempo (very controlled, slinky movements)
Mazewalking
Aayouch

Shimmy Drills
Stamina
The Captivation
Egyptian Drummer
Ashan battootah
Habbi

Rhythms (one great source: Guy Schalom’s Tablatastic album)
Maqsoum
Malfouf
Masmoudi Sogheir
Masmoudi Kebir
Chifte-Telli 8:4
Saeedi 4/4

Upbeat pop songs
Current recommendations will be outdated very quickly, so I recommend searching YouTube and/or Spotify for “arab pop music 2019.”