Thread: Pagan/Goddess Belly Dance Music

I had the brilliant idea to volunteer to perform at the NYC Pagan Pride Day and now I don't know what to dance to. My performance will be about 20 minutes so I need a nice variety. I'm looking for something with lyrics about magic, gods, goddesses, nature, the elements, feminine spirituality... but also earthy ala Fatme Serhan or at least Egyptian/Lebanese pop-like. Yes, I plan on using Natasha Atlas' I Put a Spell on You.

I already have Jehan's Goddessdance 2CD set and her remixes CD, but except for using it for veil or wings nothing really speaks to me to use for this performance.

If you think of anything that might remotely work, please suggest it. Or for those of you who have performed at PPD, please share your experience and what music you used.

Thanks,
Athallia

Sensual goddess cd would be good I think. It's got some chanting.

Athallia, I am concerned you might mess yourself up by trying to do some sort of Goddess dance to appease pagan people, when your dancing will please them regardless! It's about the sensuality, the connection with body and spirit, the Feeling of the dance that's important here; not a 'pagan' piece per se. I highly recommend you approach this as an opportunity to really express yourself in your dancing without being so bound to the Type of music. There are some obvious things like Christian Rock that might get some weird looks coming at you, but somehow I doubt you'd be doing that anyway. :-D There are so many wonderful pieces to choose from, don't be stuck in pagan this, or Goddess that. She'll understand. ;-)

Galactic Caravan has some nice moody pieces. Also Adventure Cargo, Echoes of Egypt -

Desert Wind, especailly theCD titled Kali Ma.

Some of Solace's stuff might do. I like the cd titled Gathering SEason.

Originally Posted by KHari3

Athallia, I am concerned you might mess yourself up by trying to do some sort of Goddess dance to appease pagan people, when your dancing will please them regardless! It's about the sensuality, the connection with body and spirit, the Feeling of the dance that's important here; not a 'pagan' piece per se. I highly recommend you approach this as an opportunity to really express yourself in your dancing without being so bound to the Type of music. There are some obvious things like Christian Rock that might get some weird looks coming at you, but somehow I doubt you'd be doing that anyway. :-D There are so many wonderful pieces to choose from, don't be stuck in pagan this, or Goddess that. She'll understand. ;-)

I definitely agree with this. I like the idea of including one 'themed' number for fun, but generally I think Pagans would enjoy the same kind of bellydancing everyone else enjoys. I'd do an entrance piece, a slow piece (fire, veil, sword) your 'theme' piece if you want one, maybe a pop number for getting children, etc. out to dance with you, and a drum solo.

Using pieces you know well and love will give them a better performance than trying to learn a whole 20 minute set of new music!

Lorenna McKennitt comes to mind. Songs from the Victorious city another classic CD also but good idea.
But do what is your music comfort level. You'll do fine

Alrana

Wiccan here! Don't forget that Pagans (well, most of them)also worship Gods-don't fall into the wimmin, empowered trap!

Loreena Mckennit works, as does almost all of Light Rain. I've used a lot of vintage AmCab. Remember, most 'Islamic" music that is appropriate to dance to does NOT contain religion references.

Love is always good! Chocolate is great....Pagans are as mixed a bag as anyone else (there are a number of covens to which I am NOT invited, and vice versa) but dance is kind of universal, yes?

Thanks for all the advice and recommendations. I assure you I won't compromise my style to please my audience. After all I'll have plenty of friends there supporting me. But if there was another song like I Put a Spell on You that they would get a kick out of I would like to know about it.

Originally Posted by kahaz

Wiccan here! Don't forget that Pagans (well, most of them)also worship Gods-don't fall into the wimmin, empowered trap!

Loreena Mckennit works, as does almost all of Light Rain. I've used a lot of vintage AmCab. Remember, most 'Islamic" music that is appropriate to dance to does NOT contain religion references.

Love is always good! Chocolate is great....Pagans are as mixed a bag as anyone else (there are a number of covens to which I am NOT invited, and vice versa) but dance is kind of universal, yes?

I'm Wiccan too. I was just looking to offer something a bit different in flavor from what they might see in a restaurant performance. If it was a Hispanic Heritage event I'd probably use some Alabina or the Arabic remake of LA Historia de un Amor.

Hmm... now that you mention chocolate I might use Shokolata from the Exotic Balady CD.