Nefertiti Presents... by Sherry Jeffries (2002, Paperback, Spiral)

"Nefertiti Presents..." appealed to my sense of logic right away with its spiral binding so you can practice your moves while glancing at the page. Sherry Jeffries (Ankestamen) has done a great job of creating an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to learning the art of Belly Dance.

At first we find a clear and concise table of contents, which immediately gives way to a section on zills (which might have been better placed later in the book). The section on "Basic Position" is excellent; written very similarly to how a teacher would instruct a student in a real live class. There are many good mental illustrations/analogies (i.e. "Pretend to have a string tied to your hip bone, and somebody is pulling up on it" to help understand hip lifts). Quality diagrams accompany excellent photo illustrations (i.e. "aerial" views of a figure-eight). Sometimes the description under a heading of a single move includes a series of accompanying moves and might possibly cause a little confusion (i.e. description under "shoulder roll" includes how to execute and get out of a backbend). Jeffries also includes information on wrapping and unwrapping a veil in addition to moves done with the veil. Also included is a section on floor work.

"Nefertiti Presents" is a great accompaniment to regular classes (serves as a good reminder of what you learned in class while you practice on your own). It could also help someone without a teacher get an adequate start.