1001 Belly Dance Song Inspirations: Part II

Here are five songs to get you shimmying right now! Follow me on Spotify for this playlist of 1001 Belly Dance Song Inspirations: Part II! The five songs are a mix of old, new, and hidden recent gems, from the Middle East, Mediterranean and beyond, with singers and songwriters across genres, all that deserve another listen and are danceable for practice or performance. This edition is about songs that are great for the get-up-and-dance part of your performance that gets the audience on their feet and clapping.

1. Hizzy Wa Nawaem - Live by Maya Naim: A 1997-era gem, a multi-layered piece that demand zills and traveling in a room of jovial audience members who are all vibrating their seats wanting to join in.

2. Diamantia by Konstantinos Nazis: A Greek reality TV singer’s contribution to a joyful song well-suited to weddings (I should know, I danced to it at my own!). The lyrics profess the more-beautiful-than-jewels sentiment: “Diamonds / They are your two eyes / To see them fall to pieces / I don't trade it for 1000 palaces / Diamonds / They are your two eyes / Your 24 carats / They have completely blown my mind”

3. Greek Belly Dance Routine by Anto & Yervant: A slower-tempo, bouzuki-flavored number, this song has sass and is well-suited to dancing with finger cymbals or balancing props.

4. Sah Sah by Nancy Ajram and Marshmello: A 2022-era it, this modern pop piece marries Nancy Ajram’s voice to the pulse of electronic-inflicted beats by Marshmello. It’s about waking up to round up friends to go to a party and a great way to get younger people to the dance floor.

5. El Nasseem Short Version by Nesma, Ahmed Abdel Fattah, and the Cairo Music Ensemble: This bright classic Egyptian Oriental song makes an excellent opening number and made for accenting with finger cymbals and big group energy.