Volume I, Foundations, $45 + Shipping

After a year of fattening up and perfecting the original version, my first self-published book is finally finished! What was originally intended as a simple technique handbook has turned into beast of over 190 pages (7.5" x 9.25") with over 170 B&W photos, graphics, and illustrations. I'm hoping that my first volume of Bellydance for the Versatile Dancer will help close the gap between various styles of Bellydance. Foundations provides a thorough overview of basic technique and dance theory, with emphasis on developing the “Dancing Mind”.

Content addresses:
::: Injury Prevention
::: Safe Movement Practices
::: Concept Groups for Isolation Technique
::: Learning Styles
::: Imagery and Visualizations
::: Mapping out the Bellydance Body
::: Neutral Posture Alignment
::: Core Originated Isolations
::: Insights and Tips for Technique
::: Rhythms and Finger Cymbals
::: Ten Practice Sessions

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Copies are now available and you can arrange to pick one up from me in class or conveniently order online through Cafe Press, Amazon.com or my website: www.zanbaka.com

Bulk discounts available for vendors and instructors.

Preview pages at: zanbaka.com/versatiledancerseries.htm and there's a preview clip on youtube with a haunting music clip courtesy of Andy Fitzgerald: youtube.com/watch

Questions? Email me at zanbaka@hotmail.com

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A few reviews from Amazon.com and feedback that my readers have sent me....

A must have for understanding/developing skills.
This book is the most comprehensive dance guide
for Middle Eastern/Bellydancers I have ever seen.
By using photos, geometric diagrams, and visual comparisons of posture, the author, a well known dancer herself, has organized all the essential
movement techniques in a format that is especially beneficial for the visual learner. Also included are easy to understand chapters on middle eastern rhythms and playing zills. I have never read a how to-bellydance book this valuable before-I only wish it had been available to me 30 years ago when I started dancing. I look forward to upcoming volumes.

What a treasure!!!!
This book is the most complete, comprehensive
collection about the elements of belly dance -
applicable to any style. It's detailed about body
positioning, showing the proper alignment of the body in different movements as well as what to avoid to prevent injury. I agree that it certainly does not take the place of consistently working with a qualified instructor, but as a meaty practice companion - its top rate! I too wish I had this when starting out, (I've been searching for a book like this since I started dancing, nearly 3 years ago) - but I'm so glad I now have it now!! Its worth every penny - thank you, Zanbaka for providing a terrific resource!

Can you say BELLY DANCE TEXTBOOK?
What a brave, intelligent, and genius undertaking! I’ve read it 3 times already and it’s completely changed how I dance and teach my classes. IMO, this is the closest thing the belly dance community has to a “textbook”. It’s modern, unbiased to style, and includes fitness common sense which lots of classes and workshops that I’ve taken lack. A leg driven, glute driven, and oblique driven shimmy all in the same place? And that’s only 3 of the shimmies covered. Zanbaka, I think your book is going to put so much of the quarreling over styles and how to do bellydance moves to rest. I’m crossing my fingers that you get sought out by a publisher and look forward to the next installment!

Volume I : Foundations-- Very thorough!
I was very excited to see a new book come out on the market that discusses belly dance, especially in the manner in which Zanbaka does here. Here we find an intelligent and technically rich volume with great definitions and resources for your own personal practice, as well as a great handbook to refer to when making lesson plans as an instructor. CERTAINLY this book does not replace instruction, as Zanbaka states clearly, however if you are looking for a book with many movement concepts to wrap your head around, inside and out, for both your practice and your students', here it is! Well done! Can't wait for the next Volume(s)!!! :)