Yosifah Rose's Link Page!
Yosifah is grateful to her beloved mentors,
and she hopes that you check out their links! They are listed in first-name alphabetical order:
Dejah,
Dhyanis of World Dance Fitness and Boutique,
Elias Lammam Master Musician and Instructor of Middle Eastern Music, Voice, Maqam, Rhythm, and Theory,
Fadil Shahin, owner of El Morocco Restaurant
Leea of BellyDance!,
Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan and
Reel Sound and Lights Productions and Photography by Carl Sermon in Los Gatos, California
Mary Ellen Donald,
Monica of Zakiyya Dance Productions,
Najia Marlyz in Bay Point, California,
Nanna Candelaria,
Nawar,
Saiedeh of Sirens in Sanity,
Sharifa,
Suhaila Salimpour,
Susu Pampanin, and
Yasmine of Sirens in Sanity.
Yosifah's Favorite Links!
Arabic Language Resources
Pacific Arabic Resources Learn to speak Arabic in San Francisco, California! Also, check out their events calendar!
Arabic Musicians and Middle Eastern Lyrics, Music and Instrument Resources
This list begins out of alpha-order because these Bay Area stars deserve top-billing!
Mary Ellen Donald Middle Eastern percussionist and instructor in Oakland, California. Her Gems of the Middle East performance series recorded with the late Mimi Spencer is a MUST HAVE for all students of Middle Eastern dance and music.
The Lammam Brothers: A family of profound musical genius! Each brother is truly a master musician, instructor, and composer:
Antonie "Tony" Lammam Master Percussionist and Poet.
Elias Lammam is a world-renowned composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and master instructor of Classical Arabic Music. He teaches private vocal and instrumental students in Classical and contemporary Arabic music, theory, and performance, as well as a weekly Arabic Music Ensemble classes on Sunday mornings in the San Francisco Bay Area and on Tuesday evenings in Santa Cruz. Contact Mr. Lammam for corporate events as well as private bookings for performances, studio recordings, and instructional workshops.
Georges Lammam and Amorphia Productions Master Violist, vocalist, instructor, and composer. Check out his site for more information about his performances, recordings, and instructional materials, and teaching schedule.
Arab Artists Resources and Training Website
Arab Artists Resources and Training is committed to helping career-track artists creating fine art in all styles and media to support themselves exclusively by networking together and teaching them how to find and receive grants to help promote their Arab cultural heritage.
Arabic Entertainers Arabic Entertainers is a resource hosted and designed by the talented keyboardist, vocalist, and composer Joe Kandalaft.
ASWAT Arabic Choir ASWAT is a community ensemble for classical and folk Arabic music in San Francisco, California.
Basilon Enterprises Middle Eastern percussion instruments and more...
The Belly Dance Source. Translations for Middle Eastern lyrics and more!
Al 'Azifoon. Translation..."The Musicians." Middle Eastern and Raqs Sharqi classics on accordian, oud, riqq, saz, tabla (doumbek), and Arabic vocals. Hire for haflas, festivals, and parties. Contact Yosifah for info at elazifoon@yosifah.com
Hollywood Music Center/PE-KO Int'l Records Belly dance & Arabic pop music, belly dance DVDs & videos! (818) 240-8888.
Rachid Halihal. North African & Middle Eastern Music. Oud, violin, vocals, and percussion. Email him at rachidmusicman@hotmail.com. Also, tours to Morocco with Eva Cernik!
Souhail Kaspar Middle Eastern Percussian Master. Excellent instructor, dynamic performer, and a truly inspiring percussionist!
Maqam Shop here for CDs, DVDs, and videos of Middle Eastern Music!
Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp Get educated, get inspired, see you at camp August 13-20, 2006!!
Naser Musa A truly gifted and accomplished oud master, vocalist, and composer. Check him out and buy his CDs!
Rashid Music Sales Co.
Rashid Music Sales Co., Inc. America's largest and oldest distributor of Arabic music, videos, and DVDs. Est. 1934 . 800-843-9401 OR 718-852-3295, Fax #: 718-643-9522
Tobias Roberson Amazing percussionist & instructor!
Simon Shaheen Internationally acclaimed Arabic music performer, composer, and master instructor in performance and theory.
Sphinx Records This multi-talented Egyptian composer/producer/musician/doctor produces truly exciting Raks Sharki music that is perfect for performances in both large and small venues.
Articles about Arabic Music, Dance, Art, Literature, and Culture
Center for Arabic Culture
Articles by Yosifah Rose
C is for Courage. Yosifah Rose's article about her experience surviving breast cancer. Published in The Belly Dancer Magazine, Quarter 2 2006 (April/May/June). Please contact Yosifah if you would like to be emailed a copy of her article. She hopes that by sharing her experience, she can give courage, hope, and support to others whose lives or loved ones have been touched by cancer.
I Love LUCY! Confessions of a Dancer. Yosifah's article about her favorite Egyptian Raqs Sharqi dancer Lucy and insights that she gleaned from studying with her during her workshops for Little Egypt in Dallas, Texas in April 2006. Published on the Gilded Serpent.
Loay Dahbour: Kuwaiti Drum Pro. An interview by Yosifah Rose published on the Gilded Serpent.
Yosifah's Introduction to Music for Aspiring Belly Dancers
Yosifah's Rules of Etiquette and Professional Conduct for Belly Dancers
Belly Dance in Clubs and Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area
Marrakech Moroccan Restaurant and Hookah Lounge, San Francisco Marrakech is the original Moroccan Restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area! Enjoy belly dancing, live music, and delicious Moroccan cuisine! Spacious facilities available for receptions and private parties.
Belly Dance Costumes and Shopping Related to Belly Dance

Aliah's Closet Everything for belly dancers!
Artemis Imports 20 years in business. THE site for belly dancers to shop: Costumes, costume patterns and supplies, veils, belts, jewelry, music, videos, zills, henna, and more!
Audrena's - The Belly Dance Store Shop on-line at Audrena's for music, costumes, videos, etc!!!!
bauchladen.net Marta the Legend
belly dance costumes
Marta, belly dance workshops,
downloads and costumes
Dawn Devine Brown's costuming books at Ibexa Press Davina's books are a MUST for the do-it-yourself dancer/costumer.
Dahlal Intl Egyptian costumes, music, videos, & more!
Discount Dancewear. My real favorites for dance classes are Bloch Neo Jazz Shoes, model #SO493L. Hermes Sandals under "Modern dance shoes" are useful for student performances or outdoor dancing.
Capezio Dancewear Shop. Hermes sandals under "Modern/Gymnastic Shoes, #9006." Also special orders for gold and silver if you plan to use them for performance!
Desert Moon Dance - Buyer's Guide. Shopping for belly dance costumes and accessories. Check out this comprehensive Buyer's Guide!
Egypt Craft is a specialized exporter and manufacturer of Egyptian handmade Belly dance costumes, belly dancer accessories, folkloric costumes, hip scarves, belly dance music CDs. They also organize belly dance classes and Festivals with amazing Egyptian teachers such as Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Aida Noor, more!
Goddesswear Boutique and World Dance Fitness Instruction, workshops, halfas, and shopping! Check out Dhyanis and Karen Andes's new studio/boutique in San Anselmo! Dhyanis sells beautiful costumes, silk veils, and more!
Horus & Isis Company Egyptian fringe, coins belts, & costumes from an Egyptian manufacturer and wholesaler.
La Porte d'IshtarOnline belly dance shop in France!
Little Egypt WORKSHOPS with the top Egyptian dancers, shopping, and more!
Saroyan Zills. Zills, coins and scimitars!
Topkapi Designs Ltd. Lovely belly dance costumes and more!
Turkish Emporium Everything for belly dancing: beautiful costumes, caftans, etc!
Turquoise International Zills, Egyptian-made costumes, coin belts, videos, and tours!
Vajra Vision Over 500 Middle Eastern Dance links!
Yasmina's Joy of Belly Dancing, a comprehensive belly dance resource!
Belly Dance Festivals
Belly Dance Fanstasy Festival Tatseena's great festival is every July! Check it out!
Desert Dance Festival. Dunia's festival in San Jose has great dancing, vending, and workshops!
Egypt Craft is a specialized exporter and manufacturer of Egyptian handmade Belly dance costumes, belly dancer accessories, folkloric costumes, hip scarves, belly dance music CDs. They also organize belly dance classes and Festivals with amazing Egyptian teachers such as Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Aida Noor, more!
Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festivals East and West, Dances for the Winter Moon, and more!. Shurkiyya produces all three of these amazing belly dancing festivals which feature belly dancers from all over the world, shopping, and instructional workshops!
Two Old Bags - Janie "Jenee" Midgley and Chris "T'Murr" Proebstel Costumers, writers, promoters, dancers, and more! High Desert Hip Festival and Wiggles of the West in Reno, Nevada!
Belly Dance Magazines
The Belly Dancer Magazine Published by the lovely Zaina Hart!
The Gilded Serpent. Great on-line belly dance magazine!
Belly Dancers and Belly Dance Instruction Resources
Asmhan of Zurich A professional bellydancer and instructor in Zurich, Switzerland.
Aswan Dancers/Amina Dancing workshops, events, instruction, and the Giza Club. Amina is a master belly dancing instructor based in San Francisco, California.
Ayshah - Artist of Middle Eastern Bellydance Check out Ayshah's Bellydance Directory!
Belly Dancers Online! A growing network for America's belly dancers.
CourseJunction.com - a community dedicated to helping people find education.
Hala Dance Instruction, performances, workshops, Egypt tours, & more!
IAMED - International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance Visit their site for history, events, links, and their latest instructional and performance belly dance videos!
Jizan A beautiful, award-winning professional belly dancer and instructor in San Jose.
Khajulah A beautiful belly dancer, instructor, and costumer located in the South Bay.
Layla Habib Teaches belly dance classes in Pleasant Hill! She is a member of Sharifa's Troupe Tangiers performing folkloric Middle Eastern Dance!
MECDA-SF Bay Area Chapter Nonprofit organization dedicated to the celebration of the art of "belly dance." Join MECDA!
Michelle, Professional Belly Dancer A lovely dancer! She dances in many Bay Area restaurants and teaches in the South Bay.
Monica, Professional Belly Dancer One of my favorite Raks Sharqi dancers and instructors based in San Francisco, California. Contact her at (415)289-6670 for *Shows, Classes, Supplies*.
Morocco Raks Sharki historian, instructor, dancer, and Goddess!
Naiya & Numa'ir Award-winning husband-wife belly dancing duo & Troupe Sahar!
Nanna Candelaria teaches on Wednesday nights at the Berkeley YMCA as well as private lessons in Oakland. An elegant classical Egyptian style dancer! See her every Saturday at Amira in SF.
Nashwa Ahlam a lovely dancer in the San Jose Area. She is an officer of MECDA Bay Area Chapter.
Parri Middle Eastern Dance by Parri! Lovely South Bay instructor and dancer! See her at the Menara Moroccan Restaurant in San Jose and many other South Bay venues.
Rom - Professional Belly Dancer. A hypnotic American tribal-style dancer and instructor based out of St. George, Utah.
Salome - The Legend Incarnate, A wonderful belly dance resource for articles and links.
Sandra - Professional Belly Dancer. Fabulous dancer! She dances at Aziza in SF and many South Bay venues and teaches in Palo Alto.
Saqra Belly Dance! Saqra is a master belly dance instructor who teaches workshops and seminars throughout the world! Her site is a wonderful resource for articles, links, and more!
Selayma Anan - Heats up the belly dance scene in Colorado! Known in the Middle Eastern dance community for her spirited and spell-binding performances. Selayma has shared her true appreciation and mastery of La Danse du Ventre with delighted audiences from coast-to-coast. As an instructor, she offers over 20 years of dance experience to her students. As a professional entertainer, she brings honor and stewardship to the mercurial definitions of American belly dance.
Setareh. A lovely professional belly dancer. She teaches and dances in the San Jose area.
Shabnam. An award-winning fiery professional belly dancer and instructor in Oakland, California.
Sharifa Teaches folkloric-style belly dance classes in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek! She is the founder of Troupe Tangiers and Sharifa's Habibis! Check out her classes! Ladies, call her for more info about classes at 925-938-0554
Shira.Net. Information on everything belly dance!
Shoshanna. Shoshanna is a Middle Eastern Dance artist from Arcata, on California's Northern Coast, known for her artful presentation and expressive lyrical style. She performs and teaches workshops across the country (and beyond) in which she works with students to cultivate excellent technique and a passion for the dance.
Sirens In Sanity with Yasmine and Saiedeh Instruction, workshops, and shopping.
Stasha A professional with over twenty five years experience in Middle Eastern dance. She has been the featured dancer at San Francisco's "El Mansour" Moroccan restaurant for the last 15 years!
Suhaila Salimpour's School of Dance is in El Cerrito, California. Visit her site for classes, videos, music, etc.
SurreyyaA professional belly dancer, snake dancer, and instructor! She teaches belly dance classes in Lafayette!
Suzanna Del VecchioBased in Colorado. Visit her site for classes, workshops, retreats, and her really useful and challenging instructional videos.
Taaj, the belly dance trainer! Comprehensive site for dancers!
Tatseena & Good Vibrations Instruction, workshops, performances, and the Belly Dance Fanstasy Festival Featured dancer every Saturday at Tangia in Oakland!
Yolanda A gorgeous classical Raks Sharki dancer, belly dance instructor, and web page designer! She teaches in Palo Alto and Mt. View.
Zahara Multi-award winning professional Middle Eastern Dance Artist. Zahara is a Yosifah Rose Productions professional associate, a dear friend, an award-winning professional dancer! Check her out!
Zaheea Award-winning professional belly dancer, instructor, and webmaster for El Morocco Restaurant! Zaheea is a gorgeous, multi-talented dancer located in the Sacramento area.
Zahra Zuhair Master teacher, performer, and choreographer based in Los Angeles. If you are a belly dancer, do yourself a favor and buy her instructional videos or dvds. If you are looking for instructional videos, start with her Zahra Zuhair Dance Basics...and then collect her whole series! She also hostesses an annual woman's dance retreat in California and sometimes leads tours to Egypt.
Zaina Hart Professional belly dancer, instructor, publisher of "The Belly Dancer Magazine", and producer of the Double Crown Belly Dance Competition Festival and International Bazaar in Portland, Oregon.
Zari Professional belly dancer and instructor in Berkeley, California. She is a truly beautiful and amazing dancer! Check her out!
Cellular Phone Services - Domestic and International

Cellular Abroad offers prepaid cellular service with unlimited free incoming calls.
Cellular Abroad is the number one online source for worldwide cellular service.
Cellular Abroad offers an intelligent alternative to traditional international cell phone communication,
making it possible for anyone traveling overseas to afford cell phone service.
Entertainment Agencies and Party Planning Resources
Henna Garden. From theme parties and team building meetings to international festivals and multicultural workshops, Henna Garden Events & Entertainment provides unique and customized event planning in the greater Bay Area. HG specializes in theme parties and ethnic events for schools, non-profit organizations, museums, private clients, corporations, and more. Henna Garden has been presenting a variety of special events and entertainment since 1996 to a wide range of audiences.
PartyPop.com On-line party and event planning.
Fitness and Women's Health Issues
Breast Cancer Information. Yosifah is a breast cancer survivor. Being young, fit, and healthy is not protection against breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer! Every year, 40,000 women die of breast cancer. Do monthly self-exams and see your doctor if you find any thickening or lumps. Early detection saves lives!!
Sierra Bender. Sierra 4 Body Fitness & Yoga teaches you how to tap into the energy and power within these 4 bodies: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Sierra leads BOOT CAMP FOR GODDESSES! Become the goddess you already are. Boot Camp for Goddesses will help you break through to new levels of fitness -- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
Graphic Artists and Promotional Products Resources
123Promote.biz Need custom promotional products? Visit this comprehensive site to help you with your business promotional needs!
Sharman Studios - Full service design studio. Designing marketing communication materials from concept through product delivery.
Professional Photographers
Carl F. Sermon Photography, Carl F. Sermon, also known as Ma*Shuqa's husband, is the photographer to the San Francisco Bay Area Orientale Dance community. He is known for taking photos that capture the “Golden Moments of Dance. In an article in The Chronicles magazine, Ma*Shuqa describes Carl’s photographic work with dancers and coined the term “The Golden Ya Habibi Moment”. Contact Carl F. Sermon Photography atReel Sound and Light Productions, 1-408-356-9473, or contact Carl at reel.sound@comcast.net">
Scott Belding is every artists best friend! Scott is the offical photographer for the highly regarded Moving Arts Dance Company and Solad Dance Center in Walnut Creek, California. He is also the offical photographer of Yosifah Rose and her band Al'Azifoon! Dancers and musicians are Scott's favorite photography subjects. Additionally, he takes lovely family and special event portraits. Contact Scott Belding at
scottbelding3@aol.com and visit his site at www.scottbeldingphotography.com
Sky Grafix and Sky Design Event Photography, Concept and Design by Sami K. Yousif. Contact Sami at Sami@skynite.com or (925) 360-3727.
Travel

Cellular Abroad offers prepaid cellular service with unlimited free incoming calls.
Cellular Abroad is the number one online source for worldwide cellular service.
Cellular Abroad offers an intelligent alternative to traditional international cell phone communication,
making it possible for anyone traveling overseas to afford cell phone service.
San Francisco Airport Hotels.Tourist and travel info and Hotels close to San Francisco Airport!
Morocco The country!
Websearches
Business-Inc.Net - web directory
Frety.NET - a web directory with homepage thumbnails
Yoy-search.com - a convenient interface to ten types of search.

Yosifah and her husband Nathan are musicians.
They perform with the classical Arabic musical ensemble Al Azifoon.
Nathan performs solo instrumental music as Eastern Strings by Nathan!
Last updated: 10/8/2007