Belly dancing has a bad rep. It's largely perceived as cheesy, but in fact it's an old art called raqs sharki , with another more classical strand. Although primarily Middle Eastern, it extends into Turkey and Greece and throughout Syria and Lebanon. The music used for it can be quite wide-ranging, and certainly this compilation kicks off in high style with some gorgeous Syrian classical music from Jalal Joubi & Ensemble. The standard throughout is remarkably high, whether it's the multi-denominational Nazareth Orchestra ...
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Belly dancing has a bad rep. It's largely perceived as cheesy, but in fact it's an old art called raqs sharki , with another more classical strand. Although primarily Middle Eastern, it extends into Turkey and Greece and throughout Syria and Lebanon. The music used for it can be quite wide-ranging, and certainly this compilation kicks off in high style with some gorgeous Syrian classical music from Jalal Joubi & Ensemble. The standard throughout is remarkably high, whether it's the multi-denominational Nazareth Orchestra or Glykeria, a Greek singer with an arresting voice backed by an imaginative band on "Min Perimenis Pia." Mohamed Iskander from Lebanon wraps it up with "La Tsalouni," which is actually a folk dance but manages, curiously, to have the feel of a hip-hop party track. Of course, rhythm is at the heart of belly dancing, and a pair of tracks here feature the Egyptian tabla, with a more metallic sound than its better-known Indian cousin. The Rough Guide to Bellydance Cafe might not redeem the reputation of the dance, but on the strength of this you have to take the music seriously. ~ Chris Nickson, Rovi
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