Belly Dance and Flamenco.

Zambra Mora is a form of flamenco music with Middle Eastern melodies and rhythm, which is sung or played on guitar. Master guitarist Sabicas (1912-1990) is the one who gave its name to this form of flamenco music (from ancient Moors celebration) and made it popular and developed it.

The fusion of belly dance and flamenco that we know today is called Zambra Mora, after the flamenco music developed by Sabicas. Zambra Mora has the same proud posture of flamenco, floreos (isolated wrists rotations), heavy travel steps and some characteristic turns. From Arabic dance, Zambra Mora borrows undulations, shimmies and hip and chest circles. Watch a Gypsy style video.

Costumes for Belly Dance Gypsy Style

The costume used for Zambra Mora includes an ample skirt with frills ( Buy skirts here) around the edges, which can be manipulated as a cape; a blouse tied under the bust baring the midriff and a hip scarf with or without coins. Also, the dancer can play zills ( Buy zills or cimbals here ) whilst performing Zambra Mora.

Gypsy Belly Dancer

A bellydancer who has developed this style is Amaya, who has created 2 DVDs called Gypsy Fire, with part one containing a documentary on this art form and part two containing dance technique and routines.