Recommended Reading Suggested by Nourhan Sharif for serious Raks Sharqui, oriental dance, & Egyptian Dance Students!  This list is not in any particular order, and it is not only dance that one needs to read about, basically anything on Egyptian Culture which raises your awareness will make you a better student !

Sharifwear sells some of these books under Accessories for your convenience www.sharifwear.com

BOOKS

Understanding Arabs by Margaret Nydell ~ Gives you an understanding of the richness and diversity of Arab Culture.

'A Trade Like any Other' Female Singers & Dancers in Egypt by Karin van Nieuwkerk ~A ethnography of how Egyptians view Artists

Serpent of the Nile by Wendy Buonaventura~ Great Photo Collection of Bellydancers  in the ancient world

Palace of Desire by Naguib Mahfouz  Story of an Egyptian Family in the 1920's which discusses Islamic ideals, personal dreams, & modern realities

Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz  Story of an Egyptian Family in the 1920's which discusses Islamic ideals, personal dreams, & modern realities

Grandmothers Secrets by Rosina-Fawzia B. Al-Rawi~ Personal account of rituals of Bellydance as a healing power.

'Celebrating the Sacred Femininine' Bellydance by Burns~Gorgeous coffee table book with beautiful photos of dancers in the USA & Elsewhere

'A Border Passage' from Cairo to America-A Woman's Journey~  Leila Ahmed an Egyptian Muslim Feminist growing up in Cairo  in 40's & 50's

'A Woman of Egypt' by Jehan Sadat'~Jehan's Autobiography which gives many cultural insights to Egypt and beyond.

'The Hidden language of the Vintage' Bellydance by Amir Thaleb~Amir Thaleb's  eloquent view of Belly Dance.

'Snake Hips 'Bellydancing and how I Found True Love' by Anne Thomas Soffee~ Lebanese American encounters Bellydance ! Fun Reading!

'The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit' My familiy's exodus from Old Cairo to the New World by Lucette Lagnado

Egyptian Feminist by Dora Shafik~liberal Egyptian Feminist gives you a sense of Modern Egyptian history.

SUGGESTED  VIDEO LINKS for BELLYDANCE STUDENTS to VIEW & WEBSITES 

 Warda singing Wanna Mally http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj0TUr4lYoI

The Original King of NYC Bellydance Egyptian Born Superstar Ahmed Hussein shown here with his student Yousry Sharif playing tabla for him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z1gtYwfUFI

Pregnancy & Bellydance Resources

In response to your request for any information regarding Pregnancy Belly dance-I recommend you read my student Michelle's Maniaci article here http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1f93w/NAFOURAMagazineSepte/resources/36.htm . It has pictures and some great information on safety and precautions... :) . 
 www.inthebellyofthegoddess.com 

Note From Suzy: a popular Egyptian Academy student/performer here in NYC who llives in Calgary