See my "classes" page for links to St. Louis area troupes and teachers.
General Information Sites
The Art of Middle Eastern Dance by Shira: This website seems simple at first, but the links go deep! You'll find detailed instructions for making your own skirts, veils and other costume items, information about the history of the dance and different styles performed today, an extensive list of links (including costume vendors and local teachers) and lots, lots lots more. I've been dipping into this website for two years and I still haven't read it all!
Aziza Sa'id's Mid-Eastern Belly Dance Site: A very extensive site, with lots of articles, online rythm workshop and dance lessons,a super-comprehensive and up-to-date list of links, loads of information.
Yasmina's Joy of Bellydancing: More great articles and information. Dancing, drumming, links, quizzes, reviews and lots more. Very practical and helpful stuff. I especially love the links to online video clips!
Bhuz: Community for dancers & students, with articles, message boards, etc. Great place to ask questions and just absorb information. I spend too much time here...
Desert Moon Dance: This St. Louis based site has lots of links and information about costuming (including making your own), culture, music and dance.
OrientalDancer.net Wow...articles, interviews, message boards, events, translated lyrics...this site is really growing into a powerful resource!
Costume shopping
I've divided this list into Cabaret and Tribal, but keep in mind there's always some overlap!
Skirts, veils, etc.
A'Kai Silks
L Rose Designs
Dancer's Closet
Simply Stylish
Mode Mystique Formerly "Treasures of belly dancing"
Full Beaded Cabaret Costumes Dahlal
Silk veils that are absolutely dreamy to dance with. These are really worth getting excited about! Floaty silk dyed in dynamic and exciting color combinations -- not amateur tye-dye looks, but beautiful fading and banding of colors...I want one in every style!
Absolutely gorgeous skirts, gloves, harem pants and other items, custom made to your measurements. These are top notch!
Full costumes (primarily Turkish), hip scarves, and absolutely gorgeous skirt and veil sets, tops and vests at reasonable prices. I've been delighted with the skirts I've bought here, adn the service.
Peasant tops, skirts and harem pants custom made at very reasonable prices.
I can personally vouch for this site. Same stuff you'll often see elsewhere, but at great prices. You'll get a sense right away that there's a language barrier here, but I found the service and merchandise to be amazing.
This is our local vendor in St. Louis. She specializes mainly in really high-end, professional costumes (expensive but TO-DIE-FOR gorgeous!) but carries other things as well, like hip scarves, zills, videos, props and music. Completely reliable and trustworthy, and a good source of information on music, how to make your new costume fit like a glove, etc. She now has a showroom that's open on weekdays, so make sure you visit her if you come to St. Louis!
I have bought a costume from Turkish Emporium, and I know others who have, too. The quality is great for the price, and my experience was good. I've talked to others who've been happy with them, too. The only problem -- and we all had it! -- was that the sizing wasn't quite right. It must be impossible to make something halfway around the world based on just a set of measurements. My advice is to read the ordering instructions very carefully and order things just a trifle bigger than you need. Plan on having a local seamstress do the final fitting for you. Keep in mind, it's nearly impossible to make a costume bigger, but fairly simple to take one in, or add a little strategically placed elastic.
E-Bay
Of course! There's a lot of crap here, but some really good stuff, too. Watch out for the costumes that are made up of coin bras & panties (?!??!?!?!), the ones that are basically halloween costumes, and the ugly pointy-boobed ones. I always read the feedback on the seller and look to see if anyone is bidding on any of their items. You'll find the most stuff by searching under "belly dance" or, if you want to narrow the list, try "belly dance hip scarf" "belly dance costume" "belly dance veil" etc. Sometimes you'll find other things by spelling it all together as one word (bellydance) or a variation (bellydancer, bellydancing, belly dancer, belly dancing)
Bellydance with K Boutique Neckelmann's Costumes
Scheherezade Imports
Artemis Imports
Topkapi Designs
The Belly Dance Shop
Eman Zaki
Sim Moda Evi
Sahar Okasha
Tribal Costuming
I haven't bought anything here yet, but I love to visit and drool. Only a few costumes at a time, but they're very beautiful and unique, and the prices are outstanding. Recently, since the owner had a baby, the site gets updated even less often, but it's worth checking in for the deals!
These are mostly made with plastic beads instead of glass, and you do have to reinforce the bra straps with grossgrain ribbon and sometimes make other modifications to be sure they're sturdy enough for performance. BUT the designs are gorgeous, very unique and flattering, and the costumes are just lovely, especially at this price. I've bought two costumes from them on e-bay, which I'm told is the best way to buy. I'm told custom orders can take a long time and turn out different than expected.
They only show a few items on the website. Scroll to the bottom of the page where it tells you how to request a catalog -- it's well worth the $3!
Same as Scheherezade. Definitely request a catalog - gobs of useful information about music and videos, plus costume items, costuming supplies, props, and lots more.
Really high-end Turkish costumes and rhinestone jewelry. Another place I like to while away the hours, drooling. Someday I'll buy one...
More reasonably priced merchandise from Turkey, including full costumes, hip scarves, veils, skirts and more. Now the U.S. vendor for designs by Bella, a fabulous Turkish designer.
One of the hottest designers of the moment. You can order a costume directly from her, custom made to your measurements and preferences. Dahlal (see below) also imports her designs and may work as a go-between on a custom order if you like.
A Turkish costume designer, famous for his HEAVY use of rhinestones. These costumes are very hot!
Sahar Okasha was reputed to have been Dina's designer for 15 years. Her costumes are deceptively simple, but engineered to flatter the body and showcase movement.
Also check the cabaret links above. Some vendors, like Artemis, carry both!
Domba Wares
Tribal and gypsy style dance troupe and costumer. I've bought some things from Domba and been very pleased with the merchandise and the service. Lovely people, beautiful merchandise!
Cost Less Costumes
Cost less than what, exactly? Gorgeous coin bras and belts, some with crystals or actual gold plating. Also includes links to Nature's Gems, which sells coins and costume making supplies.
Tribal Where
I'm not very familiar with this one, but if you're interested in tribal costuming it's worth a look.
Fat Chance Belly Dance
This is one of the best-known and most respected tribal groups in the U.S., as far as I can tell (I'm not an expert on tribal dance).
Fabric.com
Nadiyah's and Artemis Imports both carry patterns for all sorts of costumes, from Ghawazee coats to beledi dresses and cabaret items.
Ever-changing selection of fabrics, including many that would make great costumes, at low low prices. I order from them a lot & am always happy. Sign up for the newsletter & they'll send you coupons sometimes!
Sells fabrics and trims designed for ice skating costumes - lots of stretchy fabrics, sheers, and rhinestone, bead and sequin trims. Prices are nothing to write home about, but there's a convenience in being able to get it all in one place! My experience with them was good.
Cybertrims
Weird website. I haven't ordered from them myself yet, but great prices on beaded fringe, rhinestone appliques, sequin trims & appliques, all kinds of things a bellydancer might need.
Sugar Petals
Famous for their body stockings - also stocks bra cups, bra side panels and belt forms.
Dina Lydia, The Costume Goddess
The Costume Goddess gives all sorts of advice for aspiring costumers, in her books and in her "ask the costume goddess" feature on the website. Also check her column on Shira.
Amazon.com
Amazon offers a pretty good assortment of beginner videos and a wide selection of music. I like being able to read reviews (often by other bellydancers) and see related items (if you like this, you might also like that). I've been introduced to a lot of new music by Amazon!
Maqam
Articles
Anthea's Articles: Some really useful stuff here, ranging from beginner's questions to a fantastic series on how to create choreography.
The Gilded Serpent: A n online magazine. Articles are updated frequently, and are high-quality. Often includes photos from major shows and competitions.
"baladi" by Hossam Ramzy A wonderful explanation of how to dance to a Baladi Progression (aka Baladi Taxim or just Baladi). Ask me in class and I'll play a Baladi piece for you to hear.
Nadiyah's: More articles with a very practical focus, coloring pages, special guests, and online shopping.
Zills on Fire:
Information specific to finger cymbals. I especially liked their "mid-east rhythm study" page and downloadable finger cymbal sound bites. They offer a learning CD and study guide.
Near Eastern Dance and Music Theory: Excellent overview and a tremendous amount of information.
Articles by Amara:
Scholarly articles by a dancer with a degree in Music History and Literature, a certificate in Ethnomusicology and an M.A. in Dance Ethnology.
Articles by Margo Abdo O'Dell:
Topics of interest to teachers, students and dancers, including an interview with master teacher Raqia Hassan.
Articles by Keti Sharif Basic information, broken down very well, with fun quizzes. Especially be sure to check out Keti's 10 secrets to better bellydancing!
Excellent prices, large assortment of belly dance music, videos and DVDs. The best part is, they give you generous 2-minute song samples so you know what you're getting before you buy. Friendly service, super quick shipping. Love them!
Mazikana
Free downloads of mp3 files of belly dance music.