Gifts for Bellydancers

Looking for some last-minute holiday gift ideas for your belly dancing girlfriend, wife, or friend?  Kiyaana to the rescue!  (Men can do this dance, too, but my suggestions are geared more towards the ladies.) 

Easy to order in advance:
Sparkly, Noiseless Hip Scarf - How many hipscarves does a bellydancer need?  One more!  Search for "square sequins" and you'll find several colors from which to choose.

Bellydance Magnets - These are so cute!  If you're up to the challenge, you can make your own.

Raqs Cuisine (Bellydance Cookbook) - Recipes are from dancers, custom artwork is by Nikki J.

Silk Veil by Fairy Cove - Veils are very common props or costume accessories in bellydance.  Pick her favorite color or a color combo.

The Way of the Belly - Fun book by the Bellytwins, includes a DVD, order through Amazon or Hay House (the publisher)

With at least a week to go:
Scheherezade Imports gift certificate - Lucy (Scheherezade) carries a wide variety of CDs, DVDs, hipscarves, costume patterns, and more. 

Bellydance DVDs, CDs, and books from Amazon.com - This link will take you to a short list of recommendations.  If at all possible, check her existing collection so you don't chose something she already has.

LAST MINUTE (night before!!!!):
Amazon gift card - Send her to BellydanceDownloads.com to find music recommendations or direct her to the list I linked above.

eMusic subscription - She will get 25 free downloads to start, then a set number per month.   Here's a bellydance-specific list to get her started.

Sephora eCertificate - All of that performance make-up has to come from somewhere.  :)  (Note: eCertificates may only work when ordering on the site.  If you have a store nearby, stop in to pick up a regular gift card.)

BellydanceStore.com gift certificate - Unless your dancer ONLY does Tribal style, I'm sure she can find something here.  (But the Tribal girls may prove me wrong.)

A night out to see a bellydance show - You'll need to be a little creative with this one.  Make a certificate for a night out and tuck it in a special card. If you live near a major city, you probably have several Middle Eastern restaurants that regularly feature bellydance, at least on the weekends.  She may already have one picked out that she'd like to visit. Is she a Bellydance Superstars fan?  Check their schedule and buy advance tickets.  You get the idea.

 

Note: If you really want to get her a costume, resist the urge to pick out one yourself.  (Sizing and styles can be tricky.)  Instead, get her a gift certificate for her favorite belly dance costume store or website.  If she doesn't have a favorite (as far as you know, anyway) make your own "Costume Gift Certificate" on the computer and put it in a lovely card.  Believe me, I am thrilled with a gift of costume cash.  :)

Happy shopping!  If you are reading this, that's already a good sign that you care and will pick out something your dancer will love.