The Songlines Guide to Bellydance

The UK bellydance scene is the subject of a major feature in the June edition of Songlines magazine.

London's Festival of Bellybeats is the main peg for the article by Bill Badley, which covers the origins of Middle Eastern dance, its arrival in the west and current popularity around the UK.

Steph's Bellydance 4 Bumps, the Arabesq website, Ozgen and FatChanceBellydance are among those mentioned in the feature.

Songlines issue 44 is now on sale - look out for Bjork on the cover.

You can also hear an audio report by the writer and selected music clips on the latest podcast available via the website at www.songlines.co.uk