Belly Dance!

Belly dance is a Western term for “solo, improvised dances based on torso articulation”. Thought to have origins in the Middle East, belly dance has spread to the Western World and is performed as a social or folk dance and as performance art.

This recording is a follow-up to “Belly Dancing for Everyone”, by the Ensemble Sharqi. In this recording percussionist Chris Kalogerson leads a musical octet playing stringed instruments (violin, oud, bouzoukee, double bass, and guitar), percussion (tabia, tymbano, deffl, derbecki, and dumbeg), accordion and clarinet through 14 Greek and Arabic melodies. Of note are the five vocals in this collection; four are sung in Arabic (tracks 103, 105, 201, and 204) and one in Greek (track 107).

Track Listing

101	Ma Alli We Ottelou	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:22
102	Sali (The Shawl)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	03:12
103	Diggi Diggi Ya Rababa	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:28
104	Tsiftetli El Greco	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:28
105	Shat Eskindria (The Beach of Alexandria)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:44
106	Ti Lozani Ti Kozani	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	03:13
107	Katou Stou Valtou	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	04:01
201	Akher Ayam El Sayfia (The Last Days of Summer)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	03:38
202	Tsifteteli Tou Yianni	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:36
203	Awel Marra (My First Love)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	03:41
204	Bint El Shalabia (Girl from Shalabia)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:24
205	Tha Para Dio (I Will Take Two)	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:25
206	Kahraman	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	03:41
207	Velisaris	Chris Kalogerson and The Ensemble Sharqi	02:52