Gifts For The Belly Dancer In Your Life

Are you looking for ideas for an appropriate gift for your belly dancing wife, sister, mother, daughter, classmates, teacher, or fellow troupe members? Maybe this page will help! Here are more than 50 suggestions from Shira, ranging in price from inexpensive trinkets to costly treasures.

Make-It-Yourself Items

If you're handy with crafts and have enough time available for making gifts, you may enjoy trying some of these ideas.

Zill Bag. Use a bit of velvet or glittery knit fabric to make a drawstring bag for carrying finger cymbals. Instructions on how to do it appear elsewhere on this web site.
Zill Mufflers. Handy with a hook? Crochet a set of zill mufflers for the dancer in your life. This is just a crocheted covering that fits over the finger cymbals to mute their sounds while practicing. Instructions on how to do it appear elsewhere on this web site.
Pillows. If you're lucky enough to find fabric with an Egyptian theme in your fabric store (the "ethnic prints" section of cotton fabrics occasionally include them as part of their African collection), buy some and make a cover for a throw pillow to grace your dancer friend's living room couch.
Beaded Earrings. Make a pair of beaded earrings in colors to match her costume. Instructions on how to do it appear elsewhere on this web site. It's easier than you might think!
Cookies. A former teacher of mine named Layla used to make sugar cookies, using a gingerbread girl cookie cutter, then decorate them to look as though they were wearing belly dance costumes. Or, use a camel-shaped cookie cutter--these are usually easy to find at Christmas time.
Carrying Case For Sword Or Cane. Swords and canes don't fit very well into the usual totes that dancers use for transporting their equipment, so a carrier designed especially for these items would be very welcome! Use a sturdy fabric such as corduroy, canvas, pre-quilted fabric, or denim. If you plan for it to carry a sword, put extra padding on the end where the point will go so that she doesn't accidentally stick somebody when using it. Put both a shoulder strap and hand grips on it, so she can carry it whichever way is more convenient at a given moment. If you're particularly ambitious, include an extra pocket that can hold additional small items she may want to carry with it.
Dancer Toy. Purchase an inexpensive doll or stuffed animal, and dress it in a belly dancing costume. Need inspiration? See what Athena did with Barbie dolls, or what the Rising Phoenix Dancers did with stuffed dogs.
King Tut Headdress For Pets. Make a King Tut headdress (or complete costume) sized to fit your dancer friend's cat or dog. The dancer will love it, but the animal will probably never forgive you!

The Gift Of Time And/Or Expertise

Many of us don't have much money to spend, but we'd like to do something for our friends on gift-giving occasions. Consider making up a coupon or certificate offering some of your time and/or expertise. Or, if you're feeling especially generous, make up a book of several coupons that can each be used individually.

If you do this, make sure the coupon or certificate spells out specifically what you are offering. For example, don't say, "I will build a web site for you." Instead, say, "I will give you up to three hours' worth of work in helping you get a web site started." This will avoid possible misunderstandings and bad feelings in the future. Also make sure to specify that the offer is subject to your getting sufficient advance notice or lead time (no last-minute emergencies, please!), and subject to your having time to do it at the particular point in time she's ready to cash it in. You may also want to put an expiration date on it.

Distributing Flyers. Offer the use of your time in folding, addressing, and putting postage on flyers for a mailing, or on posting them throughout the community.
Babysitting. Take care of the children while your dancer friend attends a workshop, teaches a class, or performs with her troupe.
Costume-Making. Are you handy with a sewing machine? Then offer your services in making a new costume.
General Computer Assistance. Are you a high-tech whiz? Teach her to use her computer to make flyers, build a mailing list database, send e-mail, or add her name to the web-based directories of belly dancers. Help her install her new scanner or CD writer and teach her how to use it.
Artwork. If you're talented at drawing, offer to create a logo she can use on business cards, flyers, her web site, and other advertisements for her dancing activities.
Build A Web Site. Help her choose a web hosting service, scan photos, format her documents in html, and submit her site to search engines.
Private Lessons. Give each of your students or troupe members a certificate good for a one-hour private lesson with you on the topic of her choosing.
Marketing/Promotion. If you work in marketing or public relations in your day job, offer your services to your dancer friend in writing a promotional blurb, designing a display ad, or planning how best to advertise her availability in your community.

Low-Cost Items

Looking for low-cost items to give the other members of your troupe or your classmates? Maybe one of these will spark your interest! Information on how to contact the vendors appears at the end of this article.

Papyrus Bookmarks. My favorite is the one of the three female musicians from the tomb of Nakht.
Nail Polish. Buy a bottle of finger nail polish with glittery sparkles in it in a color that will go with one of her costumes. Not sure what color of costumes she has? Then pick a clear polish with either gold or silver sparkles. You'll find this polish in the cosmetics department of many large drugstores, professional beauty supply stores that sell to manicurists, or in one of the accessory shops in the mall that caters to selling hair barrettes, scrunchies, and headbands.
Jar Of Body Glitter. This is a gel with glitter in it that can be spread on the body for sparkle. If you can't find it in your local drugstore's cosmetic department, check with Audrena.
Belly Dance Bumper Stickers. Roya sells one that says, "Belly Dancer on Board. Vehicle may shimmy without warning." Artemis Imports sells ones that say, "Belly Dancers Make Favorite Wives," and "Support Your Local Belly Dancer."
Purse-Sized Mirror. After one of our student performances, my teacher Layla gave each of us who danced a small purse-sized mirror. Now, over 20 years later, I still have the mirror and it still makes me smile when I use it because it brings back the memory of taking Layla's classes (she is now retired from dancing) and performing with that group of wonderful people.
Hair Accessories. Dancers love to wear pretty accessories, and often the more they glitter, the better. Shop at beauty supply stores, mall stores that specialize in accessories, and other places for fancy barrettes, scrunchies, claws, headbands, and French twist combs.
Eye Shadow Compact. Sometimes eye shadows come in compacts that contain 6-8 colors for an affordable price.
Bindis. Typically sold in the cosmetic department of drugstores.

Medium Price Range

When you're willing to spend a little more but not too much, here are some items that cost between $10 and $25 in U.S. currency. Addresses for some of the suggested vendors appear at the bottom of this article.

Stuffed Camel. Even many adults like stuffed toys! Maybe your dancer friend would enjoy a stuffed camel! My fireplace mantle proudly displays a couple of these made in leather.
Magazine Subscription. Give him or her a subscription to one of the belly dancing magazines. A list of some magazines appears elsewhere on this web site. Great for dancers of all skill levels, from the newest beginner to seasoned pros.
Instructional Video. If your dancer friend is a brand-new beginner, an instructional video may be a very welcome gift. See my video reviews elsewhere on this web site or my video store for ideas.
Small Dumbek/Darbukka. This miniature drum will look great sitting on a dancer's or musican's mantle.
Books. If your dancer friend is fascinated by the culture of the Middle East or the history of the dance, consider giving one of the books from my reading list. I've written reviews for many of them--take a look at the reviews to pick one that will please.
Belly Dance Supplies Gift Certificate. Consider a gift certificate to a vendor who sells belly dance supplies. If you don't know which vendor(s) she likes best, look for one who sells a variety of items (music, costume supplies, videos, jewelry, etc.) so she'll have a variety of choices available.
Manicure. A gift certificate for a manicure at a local salon will help that special dancer in your life feel a little pampered, at a price you can afford.
Calendar. Look for themes such as ancient Egypt or camels. There may be some Cafepress.com stores with photos of belly dancers on calendars.
Make-Up Case. Get her one of those make-up cases for traveling that she can pop into her dance bag when going to do a show. It needs to be relatively small/compact, and should have a mirror built in. Or, buy a small mirror separately and include it in the bag when you present it.
Champagne Flute. Give her a black champagne flute decorated with a stenciled gold-colored image from ancient Egypt, such as Nefertiti or King Tut. Available from Helen McCrae (address below). For a more generous gift, give her several.
Trinkets. Look for inexpensive earrings, pins, keychains, bookmarks, stationery, decks of cards, statuettes, or other items featuring images that evoke the Middle East, such as camels, snakes, pyramids, mummies, Bastet, Isis, or Pharaohs. Helen McCrae offers a variety of these items.
T-Shirt. My own artwork is available on T-shirts and sweatshirts. Explore Cafepress.com to see what else is out there.
Items From A Museum Gift Shop. Museum gift shops often feature a wide range of interesting treasures. If your local museum features an exhibit on artifacts from ancient Egypt, textiles from Ottoman Turkey, or other fascinating items from the Middle East, then its gift shop probably has many items that would make suitable gifts for your dancer friend.

If You Wanted To Spend More...

Are a group of you pooling resources to give a special gift to your teacher? Or maybe your sister/wife/mother is a belly dancer and you'd like to give her something special? Here are some things that cost between $25 and $100 in U.S. currency.

Photo Session. Dancers love to pose for cameras! Give him or her a photo session with a local photographer. If you can find someone who has experience shooting belly dancers, that's ideal. If not, look for someone who has experience shooting portfolios for models, gymnasts, skaters, or people who practice other forms of dance. Movement shots are often more dramatic than stills, and a photographer who shoots only weddings may not have an eye for capturing poetry in motion. For a lower-cost gift, pay for just the sitting fee only. For a more generous gift, include a couple of "units". (In professional photographer language, a "unit" is either a single 8x10 photo, a pair of 5x7 photos, a set of four 4x5 photos, etc.)
Museum Membership. Is there a museum within an hour's drive of you that features exhibits of artifacts from ancient Egypt, textiles from Ottoman Turkey, or other items with a Middle Eastern flair? Give your dancer friend a one-year membership. With most museums, members receive free admission as often as they wish, discounts from the gift shop, invitations to lectures and other special programs, and other benefits.
Display Ad In Magazine. Is your dancer friend trying to get started as an event sponsor or vendor? Pick up the cost of running a display ad in the belly dancing magazine of her choice. Avoid painful misunderstandings--specify an upper limit on how much you're willing to pay. A list of some belly dance magazines appears elsewhere on this web site.
Full-Length Mirror. A narrow one is great for seeing how costumes look from top to toe. A wide one is very helpful when practicing. Choose whatever will fit in your budget and her wall space.
Adopt A Zoo Animal. A fundraising technique used by many zoos is "Adopt An Animal." Check whether a zoo in your community (or elsewhere in your state or company) has such a program. If so, then adopt either a camel or a snake in your dancer friend's name.
Professional Manicure. Help your favorite dancer maintain a touch of elegance by giving a professionally-done manicure as a gift. If possible, avoid one of the mall-based shops -- most people don't care for the slap-dash approach by these mass-market shops. Look for a hole-in-the-wall place or a nice day spa instead. Not sure how to choose a good place? If you know your dancer friend prefers a particular manicurist, then of course you'll want to give a gift certificate to that place. Otherwise, ask the manicurist you're considering what measures she take to ensure that clients with artificial nails don't get bacterial infections--if her detailed response makes your eyes glaze over with failure to comprehend what she's talking about, then she's probably a good choice.
Rifle Case. A rifle case for a belly dancer? Sounds strange, doesn't it? Yes, there is indeed logic to this suggestion. If your dancer friend is likely to travel with her sword, the airlines probably won't let her take it as a carry-on item. So, give her a rifle case that will provide the sword with enough protection to let it travel as checked luggage.
Framed Papyrus Picture. Some art stores sell papyrus designs. Most art supply stores or craft stores can frame it for you. Designs that particularly appeal to dancers are the one of female musicians from the tomb of Nakht, the one of Isis with her wings spread, and the one of female dancers. The funerary scene is also popular. To learn more about some of the most common papyrus scenes, so you'll know what to ask for if mail-ordering, see Ancient Egyptian Art: An Introduction elsewhere on this web site.
Massage, Facial, Etc. Give her a gift of an adventure at a local day spa. You can either specify a particular service (for example, a massage), or leave it open-ended for her to choose what she wants.
Belly Dance Supplies Gift Certificate. Gift certificates come in many sizes, and you can give an extravagant one if you wish.
Perfume Bottles. Egyptian blown glass perfume bottles look elegant on anyone's window sill, whether they actually contain perfume or not.

Thrilling But Extravagant

How big is your budget? If you're prepared to do something very special for your dancer, maybe one of these ideas will hit the mark. Here are the things that fall in the "over $100 in U.S. currency" category. Of course, don't forget that some of the things suggested in the lower price ranges (such as gift certificates) would also work for this price range--just increase the quantity.

A Trip To The Middle East. Buy your dance friend a plane ticket to either Egypt, Lebanon, or Turkey. Better yet, check to see what sorts of package tours are offered by dance professionals like Morocco, and pay your dancer's way for one of those. Ordinary trips may feature the popular tourist attractions of the destination, but tours arranged by dance pros like Morocco generally also incorporate shopping at places that have special appeal for dancers (such as places offering costume supplies), and opportunities to see great dance performances.
A Dance Retreat or Weeklong Workshop. Pay her way to Oasis Dance Camp, Mendocino camp for Middle Eastern music and dance, weeklong Rakkasah workshops, one of Delilah's retreats in Maui, or one of Morocco's weeklong workshops. Depending on how generous you feel, you can pay for just the tuition/registration, or you can also include round-trip travel expenses.
An MP3 Player. If your dance friend likes to use technology, give her an MP3 player so she can create playlists for performances, teaching her classes, practice, or just listening. Some MP3 players come with GPS (global navigation) software, which can help her find her way to private party gigs.
Dance Studio. Remodel the garage or a spare room to be a dance studio. Or, if your yard is large enough, build one as a separate building. Install a hardwood dance floor, and cover one wall with mirrors. Make sure you put electrical outlets near the mirrors, for easy access to the boombox while teaching.

Contacting Vendors

Here's information on how to contact some of the vendors mentioned in this article. Next to each vendor, I've indicated what sort of products I was talking about when I mentioned them, but most of them sell other interesting treasures as well. When contacting these people, please be sure to tell them you learned about them through Shira's web site!

My Own Shopping. See the Shopping corner of my web site for books, videos, mouse pads, T-shirts, mugs, music, and sweatshirts.
Cartouche. 1344 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS 66044, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (785) 843-7815 or (+1) (785) 865-5242. Fax: (+1) (785) 843-5228. For glittery beaded costumes imported from the Middle East, stuffed leather camels, calendars, bookmarks, T-shirts, and miniature dumbeks.
Morocco. 320 West 15th Street, New York, NY 10011, U.S.A. Phone (+1) (212) 727-8326. E-mail: morocco@casbahdance.org. Web site: http://www.casbahdance.org/. For tours to the Middle East and weeklong workshops.
Roya. In Kansas, in the U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (785) 749-4322. E-mail: roya@thorheim.com. For bumper stickers.
Delilah. P.O. Box 30797, Seattle, WA 98103, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (206) 632-2353. Web site: http://www.visionarydance.com. For retreats in Maui.
Designs By Janie. P.O. Box 60037, Reno, NV 89506, U.S.A. Phone (+1) (775) 677-4225. E-mail: janie@midgley.reno.nv.us or web site http://www.designsbyjanie.com/. For the camel statues shown above.
Helen McCrae. 150 Inyo Court, San Bruno, CA 94066, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (650) 873-8793. For papyrus, assorted trinkets, T-shirts, and champagne flutes.
Artemis Imports. P.O. Box 68, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, U.S.A. Phone: (+1) (831) 373-6762. For a gift certificate or bumper stickers.