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Belly dance shopping online directory

I'll continue to update this weekly – if you have a favourite shop, seller or designer, send me a note on cleverbellydance@gmail.com with some more information. I'll do a bit of research on them and give an honest overview.


Amazon (Global)

Overview: Although Amazon has up'd its belly dance offering, I'm not recommending it for the costumes as the quality is still not quite as high as some of the specialist sites. Instead, I'm recommending it for more general needs that dancers need.

Good for: Knee pads, hair accessories, diamante and costuming material.

Watch out for: Cheap quality costumes; if not on Prime offer, shipping may take up to a month.

Shipping info – varies depending on country.


Overview: They are consistent in offering good (but not amazing) quality props, and have a great stock of belly dance basics for weekly classes or beginner classes.

Good for: Beginner and intermediate belly dancers looking to stock up on the basics and staples – from coin belts to simple props. I strongly recommend for belly dance dabblers who don't need high-quality costumers. More advanced dancers may not like the "cheaper" clothing – but this site has an extensive clearance area with great offers (starting from $2!) on fan veils ($25), belly dance DVDs ($5), music, choli tops and hip scarves.

Watch out for: Some of their costumes are incredibly cheap, especially the bras with lots of beading, coins or sequins. Some of their "ivory" lace are also off-colour and don't last from the wash. I'd recommend to stay away from those - but the thicker material cholis are perfectly adequate for classes.


I've not yet tried them, but will do soon!


Capezio (EU)

Overview: I know they are a regular dance retailer, with a focus on ballet and jazz, but they have some staples every dancer needs.

Good for: Dance shoes. Top-notch quality ballroom shoes (circa £60) when you need heels for performances; and a variety of jazz shoes, canvas ballet shoes and even foot undeez for regular use during classes. They also have a line of very sturdy dance tights.

Watch out for: Pricing. They are more expensive than other places, but keep an eye out for their sale products or occasional 20% discounts.

Shipping info – varies depending on country.


Overview: It's early to tell, but the initial stylish new products from a local London belly teacher shows promise for its comfortable harem pants.

Good for: Harem pants. The Cavicea pants (£55) are very loose and comfortable, but flattering; and the plain harem pants (£15) are simple but ideal for weekly classes. The wet look leggings (£35) and designer harem pants (£35) are popular with students – most of the latter feature bright and in-your-face prints from leopard to pink tiger.

Watch out for: Shipping times for custom-sized harem pants, and drying times for the Cavicea pants. They are thick, so make sure to dry them properly (and avoid that wet smell). Remember, the hand-made pieces will have a level of some uneven sewing,

Shipping info – pick up in class or £5.50 flat-rate in the UK.


Overview: Long-time fashion brand for the stylish tribal fusion belly dancer; offers premium-quality clothing with eye-catching designs.

Good for: Beautiful and comfortable, long-lasting tops and bottoms. Their cuts are sleek and flattering for many body shapes; their designs show personality with a selection of hooded sleeveless pieces and statement print crop tops.

Watch out for: Prices. An average top will run you close to $65, and with its popularity with dancers, you might have that "Who Wore It Best" moments more than you'd like.


Overview: This site is probably the biggest direct competitor to Bellydance.com – very similar in its offering for belly dance basics and props for beginners. The main difference is that the quality here is much better than Bellydance.com but the selection is much more limited. Also, it is slightly more expensive here compared to Bellydance.com, but with competitive prices on sale items and terrific customer services.

Good for: Beginners two-piece sets; 25-yard tribal cotton skirts; simple / basic pieces.

Watch out for: Some of the materials used are cheaper than the premium retailers, but they are more than adequate for beginners, intermediates and advanced students in a pinch.


Overview: Sharifwear has been around for almost 10 years at its home base in New York City. Their staples include beautiful gypsy tops from simple to loud-proud prints; they also offer Saidi and Khalegee dresses (both not always found on mainstream sites) and one of the few sellers of the Egyptian Taktib (Traditional Cane). Clothing selection is friendly for dancers of all shapes and sizes. This is a perfect retailer for those studying Egyptian Baladi. Pricing makes it a choice for those more dedicated to the cause!

Good for: Great sturdy quality gypsy tops, imported props from Egypt, intricately detailed belts and scarves.

Watch out for: It doesn't look like their designs have changed drastically since they have first come out, so some of the styles are dated. Also, some of their products are really expensive (most likely because of its intricate detailing and importation fees) – a Bedlah set is $300, which I think is the running cost for a proper set.


Overview: Local designer specialising in creating one-off headdresses, costuming and fripperies for dancers; perfect for tribal fusion belly dancers looking to add something special to their performances. You'll see Tania at almost all of the main Tribal Fusion festivals and shows, but she is based in Yorkshire.

Good for: Statement pieces – including Headdresses, earring and coin belts. Everything is custom-made and unique; great example of sustainable fashion, with some pieces featuring recycled parts from vintage pieces. Sturdy-made and obviously created with performers in mind - highly recommended.

Watch out for: You should definitely examine each piece in person if you can; check the fit and texture of the piece. Because everyone has a different shaped head, each piece literally looks different on everyone.

Shipping info – direct arrangement with Tania; you can contact her on her Facebook page. She responded very quickly.



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