Belly Dance Fiction

Aisha by Angela Catramadou-Parker. "Superb for the historical insight, alone! Told through the eyes of a young peasant girl who eventually becomes a famous belly dancer, we learn of some of the debilitating conditions that faced the citizens of Egypt in the pre-Revolutionary period of 1939 to 1952. Aisha, totally absorbed in survival and trying to improve her lot in life endures prejudice, poverty. Then, as political unrest grows and riots breakout, she is unable to escape being drawn into intrigue and political treachery. A study in human drama, thoughts and passion! One wonders if similar political views and disparity of conditions give rise to some of the sentiment existing in Arabic countries today. A must read in this time when understanding our middle eastern neighbors political history and related thinking is so important."

Canadian funds: Aisha

Also Known As Sadzia! the Belly Dancer! by Merrill Joan Gerber. A reviewer says, "This book was wonderful. The over-all theme was of self acceptance in a world where being stick thin is the be-all. Also, a good look at maturity within a parental relationship. The main character learns to like herself, despite her mothers constant comments on her weight."

Canadian funds: Also Known As Sadzia! the Belly Dancer!

The Belly Dancer in the Barrel of Oil by Rebecca Newman. "A sexy, naive woman, divorced and left with two small children, tries to shield herself from the slings and arrows of thoroughly outrageous fortune by donning the psychological-philosophical armor of pessimism. But realizing that wise-cracking offers only temporary relief from despair, and that true pessimists wind up falling into a hole and staying there, through sheer force of will, she pulls herself out of the hole and seeks gainful employment. Through a series of what she believes to be fortuitous circumstances, she manages to use her previous experience as a serious, artistic dancer to land a job -- as a belly dancer. And while she jiggles she also juggles her family life, maintaining the stability of her home while appeasing her wise old grandmother by telling her she teaches dancing in an adult education class. "But 'till two in the morning?"

Canadian funds: The Belly Dancer in the Barrel of Oil

Bellydancer Stories by Sky Lee. "The trilogy of Bellydancer stories presents us with tough-talking, gritty women and men, who know poverty, tragedy and survival first hand. Women who, as one character states, 'are not supposed to live long enough to tell our stories.' The trilogy converges around the mesmerizing figure of Seni, and leads us to revisit 'Pompeii,' a story told by a woman named Dance of the Eternal Spirit. She states, 'I alone, it seems, have chosen not to live in the atrium of my master's house. I don't know if this makes them afraid for me, or afraid of me.' Read together, the bellydancing stories call forth the imperative of our legendary foremothers."

Canadian funds: Bellydancer Stories

LA Vagabonde by Sidonie­Gabrielle Colette. The story describes the life of an actress and Oriental dancer in the early 1900s. "A short prelude wakes and stirs the chrysalis I represent, and gently unfolds my limbs. Gradually, softly, the veil is loosened, swells, floats, sinks and I stand revealed to the eyes of all present, who have stopped their noisy chatter to stare at me.... I dance...a beautiful snake coils on the Persian rug-an Egyptian vase bends and pours forth a stream of perfumed hair-a blue storm cloud rises and floats-a feline creature darts forward and recoils-a sphinx, the colour of golden sand, leans, with curving hips and flattened breast, stretched at full length on the floor-I forget nothing, I have mastered myself."

Canadian funds: LA Vagabonde

Longarm and the Nevada Belly Dancer by Tabor Evans. From the book: "Burgess blinked in surprise and asked, 'Belly dancers, here in Cairo Nevada? I have heard tell of such dancing over to Egypt land, if we're talking about them hoochy kootchie gals who disport their fool selves in Turkish harem outfits with their wiggly bare bellies rippling like jelly in a way to give many a man a bodacious hard-on!'"

Canadian funds: Longarm and the Nevada Belly Dancer

Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples. "Born during the worst storm ever seen by her small village in India, Parvati is both blessed and cursed with mysterious powers that confound her people. Wild animals flock to her; she is able to charm fish, birds, even deadly cobras. But Parvati's truly exceptional talent is her ability to dance like the Hindu god Shiva himself."

Canadian funds: Shiva's Fire