George Abdo The Joy Of Belly Dancing (CD)

(Monitor Recordings) 14 tracks


Middle East Instrumentals And Vocals (14 tracks / 67:46)

THE JOY OF BELLY DANCING: GEORGE ABDO "King of Belly Dance Music"
INTRODUCTION The aging process begins at approximately 20 years of age. Muscles and ligaments tighten up restricting many movements. This in turn causes tension and insomnia. Belly dancing helps to stretch these ligaments and muscles thus maintaining the body's suppleness. It strengthens the whole body promoting good circulation which helps to retard the aging process. It is an excellent way of exercising for both males and females from 7 to 70 years of age, especially the middle-aged, adolescents, students, housewives, businessmen, and for women, prenatally and postnatally.

It is recommended by many doctors as a form of therapy for many physical and mental disorders. Exercising just ten minutes a day will promote a feeling of well being and add that extra spark to your life. Begin by keeping in mind that your body must be completely relaxed at all times. This is very important. It will enhance and beautify your movements. The basic foot movements are danced in even rhythm, 4 / 4 time, with three steps to a measure pausing on the fourth beat as you bring your foot forward to begin all over again. You may begin on either foot and keep each step fully in contact with the ground. If the tempo speeds up or slows down, your step should follow the rhythm. Timing is very important. The hands are bent slightly at the wrists and are turned in a complete circle away from your body. A complete circle of both hands is made to the count of four beats in time with your feet, according to the tempo of the music. The fingers should be relaxed and flexed slightly all through the dance.

The arms are relaxed and bent at the elbows at all times. Move them gradually in all directions as you continuously rotate your hands from the wrists. Bring them both up over your head with hands back to back, one arm up over your head and the other arm down, reversing this movement, both arms up over your head swaying them from side to side, back down again and out to your sides at hip level in a stationary position with hands bent upward at the wrists, as you move into a shoulder shimmy. For further instructions on the "Art of Belly Dancing" please refer to the compact disc of that title (MCD 61752) which contains an instruction booklet for the dancer.

THE MUSICIANS ELI NAZARIAN Kanoon JOSEPH KOUYOUMJIAN Oud TED VARTABED Electric Violin (Lead violin) JOHN HADDAD Violin MARTIN YAFFEE Oboe CHRIS MARASHLIAN Bass Guitar STEPHEN KOUYOUMJIAN Lead Drum (Clay & Bongo Drums) LEON MANOOGIAN Congo Drum TOM HADDAD Derbecki AMBER (Belly Dancer) Finger Cymbals KASIM (Dancer) Claves Chorus Annette SAYEGH George SAYEGH Margo SAYEGH

George Abdo

Middle East Instrumentals And Vocals

GEORGE ABDO needs no introduction to any aficionado of belly dance music whether they be belly dance teachers, students of the art or just plain lovers of music of the Middle East. His spectacular successes with "The Art of Belly Dancing,- "The Joy of Belly Dancing" and "Belly Dancing With George Abdo" have given countless hours of enjoyment to the practitioners of belly dancing. The present album represents the summit of George Abdo's artistry. Five of the selections are original compositions by Abdo and one of them, Sahirrnee is a bolero-rhythm show stopper which no discriminating belly dancer could resist. So dance, or just listen if you can sit still, to this unique contribution to the art of belly dancing.