Our archives provide scholarly insight on the historical and social background of Raqs Sharqi, and the indigenous dances of the Middle East and North Africa. The following list of recommended sources is extensive, but not exhaustive. Because the contents of this website is copyrighted, controlled, and owned by TORKOMADA, Inc., no permission is granted to anyone to print, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, store, display in public, alter, or modify any materials, including but not limited to articles, documents, videos, icons, or images, published by Torkom Movsesiyan or TORKOMADA, Inc.
Recommended books/articles/journals/documentaries/movies:
Adra, N. (1998). International Encyclopedia of Dance. New York: Oxford University Press.
Al-Rawi, R., & Arav, M. (2012). Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing. Olive Branch Press.
Cornmack, R. (2021). Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring '20s. W. W. Norton & Company.
Dallal, T. (2008). 40 Days & 1001 Nights. Melati Press.
Danielson, V. (1997). The voice of Egypt. University of Chicago Press.
El Sadaawi, N. (2007). Woman at point zero. New York: Zed Books, Ltd.
Fraser, K. W. (2015). Before they were belly dancers: European accounts of female entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, Inc.
Goodwin, J. (2003). Price of Honor: Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Secrecy on the Islamic World. New
York: Penguin Books.
Hammond, A. (2007). Popular culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media. Cairo. American University in Cairo Press.
Karayanni, S. (2005). Dancing fear et desire. Waterloo. Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Keft-Kennedy, V. (2005). Representing the Belly-Dancing Body: Feminism, Orientalism, and Grotesque. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Wollongong, Australia.
Mernissi, F. (1987). Beyond the Veil: a Male/Female Dynamic in Modern Muslim Society. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana University Press.
Moe, A. (2012). Beyond the belly: An appraisal of Middle Eastern Dance (aka belly dance) as leisure. Sociology Faculty Publications, 1-32.
Movsesiyan, T. (May 2014). "Raqs Sharqi: an important but neglected component of Egyptian culture." Chynna Girl Magazine, 14-17.
Movsesiyan, T. (June 2014). "Westernization and Modernization of Raqs Sharqi. "Chynna Girl Magazine, 6- 10.
Movsesiyan, T. (September 2016). "Raqs Sharqi." Zaghareet Magazine.
Movsesiyan, T. (November 2016). "Raqs Without Borders Middle Eastern Dance Festival-Review.”
Zaghareet Magazine.
Movsesiyan, T. (December 2016). “North African Dance Conference-Review.” Zaghareet Magazine.
Nassib, S. (2006). I loved you for your voice. New York: Europa.
Nieuwkerk, K. V. (1995). A trade like any other. Texas: University of Texas Press.
Ossama, B. (2017). Musiqa al-kalimat: Modern Standard Arabic through Popular Songs: Intermediate to Advanced. The American University in Cairo Press.
Phillips, V. (2020). Martha Graham's Cold War: The Dance of American Diplomacy. Oxford University
Press.
Said, E. (1979). Orientalism. Vintage.
Saleh, M. (Director). (1979). Egypt dances [Motion Picture]. Cairo, Egypt: Ministry of Culture.
Sellers-Young, B., & Shay, A. (2005). Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism, and Harem Fantasy.
Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, Inc.
Shay, A. (2002). Choreographic Politics: State Folk Dance Ensembles, Representation and Power. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
Zills, Zabeth. (August 2017). "Interview with Torkom Movsesiyan-Torkomada." Zabeth's Newsette.
Zuhur, S. (2021). Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt. McFarland.
Adra, N. (1998). International Encyclopedia of Dance. New York: Oxford University Press.
Al-Rawi, R., & Arav, M. (2012). Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing. Olive Branch Press.
Cornmack, R. (2021). Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt's Roaring '20s. W. W. Norton & Company.
Dallal, T. (2008). 40 Days & 1001 Nights. Melati Press.
Danielson, V. (1997). The voice of Egypt. University of Chicago Press.
El Sadaawi, N. (2007). Woman at point zero. New York: Zed Books, Ltd.
Fraser, K. W. (2015). Before they were belly dancers: European accounts of female entertainers in Egypt, 1760-1870. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, Inc.
Goodwin, J. (2003). Price of Honor: Muslim Women Lift the Veil of Secrecy on the Islamic World. New
York: Penguin Books.
Hammond, A. (2007). Popular culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media. Cairo. American University in Cairo Press.
Karayanni, S. (2005). Dancing fear et desire. Waterloo. Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Keft-Kennedy, V. (2005). Representing the Belly-Dancing Body: Feminism, Orientalism, and Grotesque. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Wollongong, Australia.
Mernissi, F. (1987). Beyond the Veil: a Male/Female Dynamic in Modern Muslim Society. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana University Press.
Moe, A. (2012). Beyond the belly: An appraisal of Middle Eastern Dance (aka belly dance) as leisure. Sociology Faculty Publications, 1-32.
Movsesiyan, T. (May 2014). "Raqs Sharqi: an important but neglected component of Egyptian culture." Chynna Girl Magazine, 14-17.
Movsesiyan, T. (June 2014). "Westernization and Modernization of Raqs Sharqi. "Chynna Girl Magazine, 6- 10.
Movsesiyan, T. (September 2016). "Raqs Sharqi." Zaghareet Magazine.
Movsesiyan, T. (November 2016). "Raqs Without Borders Middle Eastern Dance Festival-Review.”
Zaghareet Magazine.
Movsesiyan, T. (December 2016). “North African Dance Conference-Review.” Zaghareet Magazine.
Nassib, S. (2006). I loved you for your voice. New York: Europa.
Nieuwkerk, K. V. (1995). A trade like any other. Texas: University of Texas Press.
Ossama, B. (2017). Musiqa al-kalimat: Modern Standard Arabic through Popular Songs: Intermediate to Advanced. The American University in Cairo Press.
Phillips, V. (2020). Martha Graham's Cold War: The Dance of American Diplomacy. Oxford University
Press.
Said, E. (1979). Orientalism. Vintage.
Saleh, M. (Director). (1979). Egypt dances [Motion Picture]. Cairo, Egypt: Ministry of Culture.
Sellers-Young, B., & Shay, A. (2005). Belly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism, and Harem Fantasy.
Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, Inc.
Shay, A. (2002). Choreographic Politics: State Folk Dance Ensembles, Representation and Power. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
Zills, Zabeth. (August 2017). "Interview with Torkom Movsesiyan-Torkomada." Zabeth's Newsette.
Zuhur, S. (2021). Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt. McFarland.