Bossa Nova Stories sumptuous appeal as a pianist and her skill for subtle, cozy arrangements, Elias seems the living, breathing extension of the oxymoronic plush minimalism that defines bossa nova." Ken Dryden of Allmusic stated "Eliane Elias returns to the music of her native Brazil with this collection of bossa nova favorites, though there are a few American standards and pop songs recast as bossa novas as well. The pianist has grown in confidence as a vocalist over the course of several CDs, developing a sexy yet never overdone style that beautifully complements the music. With her husband Marc Johnson (who has also
Belly dance Belly dance Belly dance, also referred to as Arabic dance (, literally: "oriental dancing"), is an Arabic expressive dance which originated in Egypt and that emphasizes complex movements of the torso. It has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style. The term "belly dance" is a translation of the French term "danse du ventre", which was applied to the dance in the Victorian era, and referred to Egyptian and oriental female dances. In Arabic, the dance is known as "Raqs Sharqi" ("Eastern Dance") or as "Raqs Baladi" in Egyptian