Captivating and inspiring music is essential to any belly dance performance. Movement, choreography, and expression are an interpretation of the music. A successful performance must show that a dancer understands the music and the rhythm. Let’s review some of the most acclaimed and successful belly dance recordings that continue to inspire the heart of a dancer! Introducing our list of the Top Ten Bellydance Albums Of All Time:
Masters of Bellydance Music Vol. 1:
I compiled this album because I wanted to bring together the most awesome artists on one album. The line up includes Egyptian artists such as Dr. Samy Farag, Hamouda Ali, Sami Nossair, and Fatme Serhan, but also includes Lebanese and Syrian musician. The variety includes classics such as Aziza and Enta Omri, oriental pieces such as Rakasni Ya Habibi and Layali as well as exciting balady and saidi tracks. Most of the tracks feature warm, full orchestration while some of the tracks are semi-modern and dynamic.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/masters-of-bellydance-music-cd.html
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-masters-of-bellydance-music/256907807
Princess of Cairo: Nagwa Fouad by Hamouda Ali and Hany Mehanna
Most dancers performing in the 1980s will tell you that they used this album more than any other! This album went out-of-print in the 1990s, although it was in high demand. So I teamed up with Hamouda Ali to reissue this album. The timeless Princess of Cairo features two full sets that are approximately 20 minutes in length. The first set is Nagwa and starts off with the well-known Nagwa Music and includes beautiful taksims, a Khaliji piece, and closes with classic Set Al-Hosen. The second set is Souher Zaki and includes Sea of Alexandria, a piece titled Souher Zaki (composed for her), masterful taksims, and a drum solo by Said Al Artist, one of the world's most skillful doumbek stars. What makes this recording so fantastic is that although it's an older recording, the music sounds excellent and dynamic. Not only were the routines inspired by Nagwa Fouad and Souher Zaki, but you can also see videos of these two stars performing to this music!
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/4uTwJSA4igAa5kiozxbo79?si=7-A9mc5mR1ueuchitYvdmA
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/princess-cairo-nagwa-fouad-egyptian-belly-dance-music/989470882
Shik Shak Shok by Hassan Abou El Seoud
No matter where you are, no track excites and pumps-up the audience more than Shik Shak Shok! The late composer and musician Hassan Abou El Seoud is renowned as the finest accordionist in the Arab world. He composed several classic belly dance melodies in the 1970s including Shik Shak Shok. This album features the 1990s version which offers rich production and incredible musicianship. I think you’ll agree that it is the best modern arrangement belly dance album of all time. Nova Raks is an exciting modern piece, Rakset Al Asaya is an excellent saidi piece for cane, and Balady Ala Accordion is one of the finest balady pieces you'll ever hear.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/shik-shak-shok-hassan-abou-el-seoud-cd.html
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/0HExOi4eGlOnV36kY0aqJq?si=bmWzRhRiQRultTuLCqD-Wg
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/shik-shak-shok-remastered/1527705744
Jalilah presents Raks Sharki with Mokhtar Al Said, Vol. 1
When I first heard this album, I was in awe of the incredible sound and mastering. As the music played on, the musicianship by the full orchestra conducted by famed composer Mokhtar Al Said impressed me very much. This album is recorded in Cairo by professional dancer Jalilah. It features two sets which include classical Egyptian pieces such as Mashaal and Lissa Fakir. The recording includes an excellent drum solo by Khamis Henkish titled Tabla Solo and a fun saidi piece titled Rakset Mizmar.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/mokhtar-al-said-raks-sharki-1-cd
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/7bu3VQvmEFqv2OHz07Bkbb?si=cxkayE2ISCS16i3oehWV0Q
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/jalilahs-raks-sharki-1-classic-egyptian-dance-music/516741178
A Gift from Cairo by Hamouda Ali (featuring Sami Nossair)
A truly legendary recording featuring the master kanounist Sami Nossair, A Gift from Cairo is a classic that I felt needed to be reissued. What I love most about this album is the warm, vintage sound that is fully orchestrated. ! Recorded in Cairo by composer Hamouda Ali and features two complete sets titled Farha and Elsamer. These sets also include classics such as Inta Omri and Fi Youm Wa Leyla in addition to emotive taksims, baladies, and drum solos.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/a-gift-from-cairo-hamouda-ali-cd
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/belly-dance-a-gift-from-cairo-feat-samy-nossair/952035108
10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know
I wanted to put together the most iconic pieces in one album, so I asked myself what songs to dancers get the most excited about? It was an easy question to answer and 10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know became the best-selling belly dance compilation of all time. This album excited dancers because the most famous belly dance melodies were finally on one album. Not sure what to dance to? Planning on performing to a live band? They are sure to have some of these classics in their repertoire. In addition to stunning versions of classics such as Alf Leyla, Aziza, and Leylet Hob, two balady and drum solo tracks are included as a bonus!
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/10-songs-every-bellydancer-should-know-cd
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/10-songs-every-bellydancer-should-know/292708708
Belly Dance Classics with Fifi Abdo by Cairo Orchestra
Maestro Sami Nossair conducts the Cairo Orchestra in Belly Dance Classics with Fifi Abdo. You’ll enjoy the rich sounds of the oud, kanoun, violin, accordion, and full percussion in this timeless recording of Egyptian classics, taksims, baladies, drum solos, zeffas, and more! Enjoy the entire variety or include some of these tracks as a part of your repertoire. My favorites on this album are: Mashaal. Salam Alay, Zaina, and Tabla of Said. Fun fact! Back in 2001, I stopped by the studio in Cairo around midnight to sit in on a recording session of the zeffa tracks (tracks 10, 11, and 12) on this album. As I listened to the recording, I was unhappy when I heard the synthesized zaghareet sounds they used. Once I expressed my disappointment to the maestro, he proceeded to call the porter's wife (in the middle of the night) who walked over from down the street within minutes and they recorded her loud and powerful zaghareet. I was satisfied!
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/belly-dance-classics-with-fifi-abdo-cairo-orchestra-cd
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/0hSqr7DJqHtG91BU5jf00E?si=tSOin7LXTxqV-wDq5yqpFg
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/belly-dance-classics-with-fifi-abdo/1022603021
Masters of Arabian Percussion
Being an enthusiast of middle eastern percussion, I wanted to showcase my favorite dumbek (darbuka) stars all in one album. After all, a good drum solo can be the most exciting part of any belly dance performance. You’ll enjoy dynamic drum solos from Gamal Goma, Issam Houshan, Said El Artist, Amir Sofi, and others. What makes this album even more exciting is that it includes drummers from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the United States, and Turkey.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/masters-of-arabian-percussion-cd.html
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/4rKNz2weZ6I0TgM0P2NhGx?si=YKOXvzFHSQqVfrHFa763TQ
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/masters-of-arabian-percussion/256904367
Top 20 Bellydance Hits
I wanted to release an album that any dancer can put in and just dance to. Whether at a party, nightclub or in your living room, these upbeat songs are just fun! Plus, these tracks are between 2:30 - 4:40 in duration, so you can dance to them individually or include them as a part of your show. Not very familiar with belly dance music? This album is a great introduction to find artists and songs you like! Includes Egyptian classics like Zay Al Hawa, Aziza, Leylet Hob, and Aziza from master composers such as Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Baligh Hamdi. The variety of styles also features saidi, drum solos, baladi, and zaffa!
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/top-20-bellydance-hits-cd
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/top-20-bellydance-hits/1105993505
Golden Era of Bellydance Volume 1
Why were The 1940s - 1960s known as the Golden Era of Bellydance? Because Egyptian cinema was thriving and belly dance legends such as Taheyya Karioka, Fifi Abdo, Suheir Zaki, Nagwa Fouad, Nadia Gamal, and Samia Gamal gained worldwide acclaim through their iconic performances in classic Egyptian films such as Tamr Henna, Afrita Hanem, and Nour Al Ayoun. Large orchestras and glamorous costumes were ever-present in stunning performances usually set in fine casinos and nightclubs. Enjoy classic compositions recorded with acoustic orchestration by legendary musicians Mohamed Al Arabi, Aboud Abdel Al, Ahmad Fouad Hassan in Golden Era of Bellydance Volume 1 by The Ferqat Al Tooras Orchestra.
Available on CD https://www.bellydance.com/golden-era-of-bellydance-vol-1-cd.html
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/golden-era-of-bellydance-vol-1-tahiyya-karioka/355428514
Honorable mention:
Belly Dance Mirage by Ya Salam Orchestra
I love the rich sound of the Ya Salam Orchestra! Belly Dance Mirage is a compilation of the best tracks of the popular Ya Salam cassette series released throughout the 1980s. Although this is a classic recording, professional post-production and mastering make these hits sound includible on any sound system! Nagwa, Bahlam Beek, Zay Al Hawa, and Tamr Henna are excellent and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do! The three drum solos also killer!
Available on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/0XdHaXtGZ2Q5LzIbSWIZin?si=auXYybVsSSmc09aOptGPBw
Available on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/au/album/belly-dance-mirage/445121694
About Mher Panossian:
As co-owner and label manager of Hollywood Music Center and Caravan Records, Mher oversees the world’s largest catalog of bellydance music, as well as producing, recording, and filming most of the work released under both imprints. This encompasses over two hundred recordings and more than one hundred instructional fitness and performance bellydance video titles. In addition to the record labels, Mher is the president of Bellydance.com which was inspired by years of creating music and videos for bellydancers.