1001 Belly Dance Song Inspirations: Part I

Here are five songs to get you shimmying right now! Follow me on Spotify for this playlist of 1001 Belly Dance Song Inspirations: Part I! The five songs are a mix of old, new, and hidden recent gems, from the Middle East and beyond, with singers and songwriters across genres, all that deserve another listen and are danceable for practice or performance.

1. Arabia by Hanine: Talented Lebanese breakout violinist showcases a song full of sensual and energetic riffs, perfect for an opening number and veils or fan veils.

2. Al Sham by Elyanna: Upcoming Palestinian-Chilean singer-songwriter creates a powerful, soulful song that is great for a dramatic stage number. A snippet of the lyrics: “Give me to drink the vintage of love / A stream without water / A life without love / My heart with no water / Water it / A stream without water”

3. Turkish Coffee by Billy Esteban: A slower-paced song with a steady beat and Anatolian feel and musical accents that is perfect for warmup in class without getting boring. He does a lot of new age and lounge-feel music with the Rialians on Earth and Mercan Dede, so if you like his tunes, there is much more where that came from!

4. Love Night (Leylet Hob) by Said Mrad: A club-flavored remix of the longstanding belly dancer favorite Leylet Hob (read more from dancer Yamê on the original), this variation is downright luscious and isolates drum riffs that are perfect for drum solos or balancing numbers.

5. Maktub by VFRESH and Joelle Sahar: A slow-burn number with modern electric synth and twangy strings that pull like honey, demanding slow, muscular, sinuous choreography.