Middle Eastern dance in Rhode Island including belly dance and tribal dance classes, middle eastern dance companies, news, events and where to purchase clothing.
DANCE APPAREL, MUSIC AND BOOKS
Dance Oasis
New England's Premier Belly Dance Store!
1670 Warwick Avenue
Warwick, RI 02889
Phone 401-737-4713
Email: Anatoliaimports@aol.com
Website: http://www.anatoliaimports.com
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 5pm to 8pm
Saturday 11am to 5pm, Closed Wednesday and Sunday
If you would like to visit at a different time than above, make a store appointment. Contact Deborah at 401-263-9586
Baha and Deborah Korkmaz, who have been in the mail order import business as Anatolia Imports, opened Dance Oasis in 2002. They have great prices and selections of all kinds of middle eastern dance apparel including full costumes, skirts harem pants, jewelry (Tribal and Oriental), zills and the best hip scarves you will find anywhere! In addition, they sell music CD's, video's and books. They travel to the Middle East several times a year and bring back the real thing. If you belly dance or if you are buying a gift for a belly dancer, this is the place to go. See here for the Dance Oasis class schedule posted 4Aug02.updated 11Jun07
RESTAURANTS WITH MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE
La Camelia
92 Waterman Ave
East Providence RI 02914
401-434-1225
Hours: Monday - Saturday 530pm to 10pm
Cash only
A small intimate restaurant, La Camelia serves Armenian and middle-eastern food (vegetarian available). Wine and beer are available. "George and Guylaine Moukhtarian greet you at the door, seat you at a table in the cramped kitchen, make all the food themselves and bring it to your table. It is almost like being in your mom's house. The lightly fried falafel with a perfect tahini sauce or the baklava that melts in your mouth will have you wishing that these recipes belonged to your family." - Sara Chauhan at DigitalCity.com.
La Camilla hosts belly dancing and live music once a month (call for dates). Most of New England's best dancers have performed at La Camilla.
Effendi's Mediterranean Grill
1255 Reservoir Ave
Cranston RI 02914
401-943-8800
Hours: Open Sundays 10am - 4pm brunch 4pm - 9pm dinner
Mondays thru Thursdays 11am - 4pm lunch 4pm - 9pm dinner
Tuesdays thru Saturdays 11am - 4pm lunch 4pm - 1030pm dinner
Major credit cards/liquor available
Belly Dance: One Wednesday a month (often 3rd Wednesday)
Effendi's Mediterranean Grill features Middle Eastern food as well as seafood. Vegetarian menu available. If interested in performing at Effendi's, please email Zaharah at Zaharah@7374713.
Belly Dance RIhttp://www.www.bellydanceri.com
An ancient art meets a new millenium. Explore the growing phenomena of belly dance in the Ocean State with Providence-based dancer, Ankhara. Learn about the dancer and local events in which she is participating. (If you are at work, turn your speakers off before accessing, the website starts off with wild music)
Belly Dance Shoppe http://www.bellydanceshoppe.com
Find your perfect color Skirt and veil sets, now available in 13 colors or Harem pants 14 colors. Suhaila DVDs and CDs, BellyDance Superstars CDs and DVDs including Oojami, Sonia and Issam and Rachel Brice, Music by Oum Kalsoum, Fahtiem's Escape, Dabke Music, New Arabic DVDs starring Mona, Dina, Amany and Ffi. Solid Bronze Gahwazee Cymbals by Saroyan. Jazz Pants and wrap tops. Leotards with tummy wittling mesh waist.
Middle Eastern Dance in New Englandhttp://www.bellydancenewengland.com
Classes, teachers and vendors in New England. Also publishes the Middle-Eastern Dance in New England magazine.
Sharifwear http://www.sharifwear.com
Original belly and theatrical dress designs by Nourhan Sharif plus gorgeous hand-picked imports.
Shekhinah Dance http://www.shekhinahdance.org
Shekhinah dance troupe website with lots of information and links to far away places. They are a Rhode Island based company led by Diana Johnson which dances in the American Tribal Style.
SpiritWear http://www.spiritwear.ws Lizzy@spiritwear.ws
Liz Derecktor (sister to RI's dancing spirit, Barbara) creates gorgeous one of a kind wearable art pieces of hand painted silk chiffon. Barbara relates, "Liz made a skirt for me a few years ago which is my best teaching outfit. Why? - because it is so flatttering/comfortable, unique and dramatic - plus I can wear it after class around town - to the grocery store or out to dinner and feel perfect - what could be better?. I've been teaching in that skirt for at least 7 yrs -
which just goes to show the durability of real silk chiffon. "
Liz also paints veils to match skirts as well as many other wonderful and comfortable designs. An accomplished artist, she can incorporate your colors and ideas - animals, goddesses etc into the design for your dress.
Tempest http://www.meddevi.com/dance/dance.html
Belly Dancer on West Coast who studied dance with Sabra Jamal when she lived in Rhode Island. While living in Providence, Tempest formed a dance and drum ensemble called Zingari (now known as Zingari East), and created and organized Between the Veils, an annual benefit event for battered women and victims of breast cancer.
Rhode Island