Belly Dancer Gift Guide

The holidays are fast approaching and you might be wondering what to get for the belly dancers in your life. Personally, I think belly dancers are the most fun to shop for because it means dipping into stores filled with sparkling rhinestones or yummy smelling bath products or fancy accessories or maybe - if the stars align - all of the above. To get those creative wheels turning, here are a few of my favorite belly dance gifts:

Blank notebooks - It’s so helpful to have notebooks for jotting down dance notes and choreographies. I especially love spiral bound blank notebooks so they can stay open while I’m working on dances. One of my new toys is a Rocketbook, a gift from one of my dear dance friends. This brilliant, environmentally-friendly notebook allows me to write out notes and choreographies, scan the notes and store them, and then wipe the notes away with a damp cloth so I can reuse the pages. It’s pretty awesome.

Hand-painted water bottles, lanterns and more - Tacoma/Gig Harbor-based dancer Hasani makes the most beautiful water bottles. lanterns, eye-dropper bottles and vases. She hand paints filigree in stunning henna-like designs, and I can tell you from experience, the design LASTS. My water bottle is about 3 years old and I have used it literally everyday. The filigree hasn’t budged. She also sells fingerless mitts and other fun knit items.

Unique belly dance gear - I love scouring Etsy for unique and often handmade belly dance accessories and chochkes. Type “belly dance” or related terms into the search function to find fun items like a vintage belly dancer pillbox or an “All I Care About is Belly Dancing” dance tote, an art deco belly dancer purse or a Samia Gamal t-shirt. Be sure to shop early for the best selection and to allow for shipping time.

Foot care - Belly dancers are often barefoot and spend a lot of time on their feet so they definitely appreciate some TLC for their tootsies. I love Foot Relief by Aveda but there are lots of other great products out there. You can also make products at home, like this Citrus Foot Soak.

Bling - It’s always exciting to get pretty new jewelry to wear with costumes or to class or to the grocery store, (because that’s how belly dancers roll). Sadly, many of my favorite local resources for costume jewelry have closed in the last year, but sometimes I’ve lucked out at Goodwill or antique stores. There are also great online sources like Etsy, Amazon, and, when it reopens (hopefully soon!), Shiny Sparkly Things.

Books - The belly dancer in your life might enjoy curling up with a good book when taking a break from dancing. The classic, Wendy Buenaventura’s Serpent of the Nile is available through Amazon and other sources. Other books provide valuable cultural context, such as Edward Said’s Orientalism or books by Barbara Sellers-Young such as Belly Dance, Pilgrimage and Identity. Tamalyn Dallal who has lived in the Northwest and is now based in New Orleans has written three books (the new one is a children’s book!) and produced DVDs and CDs. Ordering information is available on her website.

Gift certificates - Give the gift of options with a gift certificate to a favorite belly dance store. Dahlal Internationale sells gift certificates in amounts ranging from $1 to $1,000 and can be applied toward the purchase of costumes, veils and much more. (They also have a fun section on the website where they list gifts for under $50.) Music gift certificates are also great for belly dancers. iTunes and Amazon gift cards are available everywhere, and there are also gift subscriptions available for Pandora and Spotify.

Chocolate - In my experience, belly dancers have a certain joie de vivre and love all things beautiful, sensual, and delicious. Chocolate - especially pretty little truffles - fits that bill. My favorite places for divine chocolate in the greater Puget Sound area are Bakery Nouveau (locations in Seattle and Burien) and BitterSweet Chocolates (Olympia). Pair a box of truffles with a bottle of wine and you’ll make a belly dancer very happy.

Do you have belly dancer gift ideas? Do share! And happy shopping!