Thread: Wearing white galabiya

I posted this http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...conundrum.html under the belly dance traditions and style forum and thought I would cross post here for any comments on wearing a white galabiya.

Souzan

I'm in agreement with Shira's comment that it takes some experience to be willing to "give up" the shiny glitzy flattering costumes and put on the big white blousey dress--I put "give up" in quotes, because of course once you reach the point of being excited about wearing a galabiya you don't feel like you're giving up anything. It takes some real confidence in your dance skill to feel like you will be able to entertain people without the beads and sequins, and that you won't just look like a squirming shapeless blob. I did my first white galabiya show this last summer and I second guessed myself about it right up to show time. Then I took a look in the dressing room mirror, surrounded by everybody else in their glitz and glam and/or tribal grandeur, saw my inner Fifi looking back in the mirror at myself and was pretty proud of myself for representin'.

So I don't know, maybe deciding to wear a white galabiya is some kind of belly dance rite of passage, at least for those interested in Egyptian style ;-)

"My inner Fifi"!! Love that!

Okay, but does it have to be white? I look like Pasty Death in white. But I'm all about dresses and galebeyas these days. I didn't get into this at a young enough age to be gaga about the sparkly bedlah; dresses work just fine for me; I prefer them.

Originally Posted by Taj

"My inner Fifi"!! Love that!

Okay, but does it have to be white? I look like Pasty Death in white. But I'm all about dresses and galebeyas these days. I didn't get into this at a young enough age to be gaga about the sparkly bedlah; dresses work just fine for me; I prefer them.

You can wear pretty shiny ones if you want.

Myself, I am powerfully attracted to the idea of getting a manlyman galabeya but one that is *charcoal*. I've seen a few - Tito wears one in one clip - and I get the impression they are a little less formal than the white ones. Certainly they'd be more practical in this part of the world. Some of the Saudi guys living here at present wear dark ones to university or in town, but always white on those occasions where the Saudi students' association is presenting some cultural event or other.

do where does one find a white galabiya, anyway? I have hunted no end on every online shop i know of & google doesn't help! I've been wanting one for a while. Would settle for a decent pattern if I really have to.

good question, I'd like to have some shopping recommendations, too.

I think galabeyas of all colors are HOT! On men *and* women! But, like I said it the other thread, it's definitely an acquired taste and not everyone will end up acquiring said taste.

Jilbab Online Store: Men Galabeya - Al Jilbab

No idea if it's very nice or not.

I am not sure but I think Tito must have his made custom. The flare is so big around the bottom. So I love the white galebaya idea, but want mine with darts!

As an aside..I saw Cassandra do a Zar in a very loose galabaya , not even a hip band, on a vid a few years back, and it still stands out as one of the best performances ever!

Okay, my white one is a man's galabiya that I got on Ebay from a man's shop in Oman. Cotton poly and very tailored. I added long torso darts in the front and back. It has a long buttoned placket in the front. Last winter I wore it for the first time and I was in the dressing room deciding how far up I should buton it. I was wearing a gold sequined costume bra under it. Must have been thinking outloud cause another dancer in the dressing room said "Fifi would have it unbuttoned all the way down." So I did the same so the bra peeked out.

I have another one I got from DeeDee at Little Egypt. It is a silky polyester fabric in fuschia. Fitted in the bodice and flared below. Very soft and shimmery. It isn't listed on their site. You have to email and ask her about them.

I have two long pieces of silk--one for around the hips and one to tie up my hair. It brings out the inner Fifi.

Souzan

Bay Area dancer Ahava won the Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant in May of this year and wore a white gallabeya in her preliminary number. It was fantastic!
Link to a photo: Belly Dancer of the Year 2008 Pageant Winners

When we saw Tito dance in Redwood City a couple of months ago, my friend and I decided we wanted all his costumes! I mean for real, we are ready to straight up copy. I would love to know who his costumer is.

Originally Posted by Lara L

do where does one find a white galabiya, anyway? I have hunted no end on every online shop i know of & google doesn't help! I've been wanting one for a while. Would settle for a decent pattern if I really have to.

Since you said you'd be interested in a sewing pattern... Go to Folkwear Sewing Patterns with Timeless Style and look under the category for "Caravan". One of the patterns is for an Egyptian men's shirt. This is essentially a hip-length version of an Egyptian men's gallabiya. I have never seen an Egyptian man wear a shirt-length version of it, I think Folkwear just shortened it to make it attractive to U.S. pattern buyers. Anyway, buy that pattern and extend the "shirt" to be floor-length, and you have yourself a very credible gallabiya.

Make it out of white (for a dressy look), tan, light blue, or charcoal cotton fabric if you want to make it look like you bought it in Egypt. I've also seen striped ones with narrow stripes.


For those who want to buy one, you could try contacting Scheherazade Imports in Richmond, Virginia. I doubt the web site would show them, but you could call/email to inquire.


I personally wouldn't wear the men's gallabiya look in a show. Reason: I saw Fifi's "gallabiya-and-shisha" act live in person in Cairo in 1999 and found it boring. I really liked other parts of her show, but not that. I have to confess, every time people talk about it here on bhuz I find myself wondering why people like it so much and want to emulate it! <smile> Now, don't get me wrong - I really like watching Fifi dance. I just don't feel a need to wear a men's gallabiya myself. A women's gallabiya, yes, but not a men's.

And didn't Ahava wear one for the Fifi show in Dallas this year? And Debbie Smith wears them. Aida Nour, Mona, Lubna, Faten?

I know you all have read the other thread I started on this. What I told the gals who asked me why I was wearing a man's shirt was that it was a personal statement for me. I feel like I am woman enough to do it. I am a tough survivor and I operate in a man's world, but inside I am a woman and I take that man's garment and wear lots of flashy jewelry and tie a big fluffly pastel bow in my hair and around my hips and make it mine. To me that is what Fifi's shisha number is all about.

I love the women's galabiyas but that would open up a whole nuther can of worms--whay are you dancing in a mumu?

Souzan

Funny you should be talking about this now....I was *just* talking to my mom about how I want to do a folkloric piece for my student showcase this year (I -the teacher - always do one solo in the show) and I am going to wear a white galabiya. My mom's immediate reaction was "Oh no. Why would you do that? I like you so much better in the fancy costumes."

I'm going to put an "explanation" paragraph in the program, so people "get it".

"gallabiya-and-shisha" act live in person in Cairo in 1999 and found it boring

I agree, all I can think is that the anticipation of having the great star come and sit at my table must make that act work in real life...but as far as watching it...pffftttt.

One of the most inspiring performances is Mona in a white (guy's?) galabiya on the video sold through Turquoise Intl. I love, love, love that performance, and she is so smokin' hot and saucy in that costume!

Just my two cents, I only wear the male white thobe when I'm trying to project the "ma'alima" character. If I'm just doing straight up beledi I wear a regular women's galabaya.

I'm one of the people who looooooves Fifi's shisha schtick (that's hard to say fast!) but just because she is SOOO good at playing the ma'alima character...even though there isn't a ton of actual dancing involved in it, it's just fun to see her get into the character.

Nisaa

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

Just my two cents, I only wear the male white thobe when I'm trying to project the "ma'alima" character. If I'm just doing straight up beledi I wear a regular women's galabaya.

I'm one of the people who looooooves Fifi's shisha schtick (that's hard to say fast!) but just because she is SOOO good at playing the ma'alima character...even though there isn't a ton of actual dancing involved in it, it's just fun to see her get into the character.

Nisaa

Exactly!

Originally Posted by zumarrad

You can wear pretty shiny ones if you want.

Myself, I am powerfully attracted to the idea of getting a manlyman galabeya

That's *it*! I want a manlyman galabeya that's *shiny*!

Originally Posted by Taj

That's *it*! I want a manlyman galabeya that's *shiny*!

I have the pattern Shira mentioned and am thinking of making one out of some fabulous white Egyptian cotton I bought. it has silver lurex threads running through it. The pattern shows the tunic length on the cover but includes the full length one as well.

Or you could contact DeeDee at Little Egypt. My fuschia one is shiny and silky. She has them in white.

Souzan

What a fun thread. I'm a big fan of galebeyas too. One of my favorite performances was seeing Tamalyn Dallal dance in a simple galebaya, hip scarf, head, scarf and zills to beautiful saidi music. It was wonderful!

I don't have one in white, but I do have one in assuit.

Originally Posted by maliam

What a fun thread. I'm a big fan of galebeyas too. One of my favorite performances was seeing Tamalyn Dallal dance in a simple galebaya, hip scarf, head, scarf and zills to beautiful saidi music. It was wonderful!

I don't have one in white, but I do have one in assuit.

Loved your assiut galabeya in the shamadan video. Did you make it or buy it?

Originally Posted by dunyah

Loved your assiut galabeya in the shamadan video. Did you make it or buy it?

Thank you! I bought it from someone in Egypt. I just got more assuit fabric to sew a skirt too!

Originally Posted by Souzan

I have the pattern Shira mentioned and am thinking of making one out of some fabulous white Egyptian cotton I bought. it has silver lurex threads running through it. The pattern shows the tunic length on the cover but includes the full length one as well.

Or you could contact DeeDee at Little Egypt. My fuschia one is shiny and silky. She has them in white.

Souzan

That will be next on my list. Right now eshtabellydance is making me a girlygirl shiny one!

Originally Posted by Souzan

Or you could contact DeeDee at Little Egypt. My fuschia one is shiny and silky. She has them in white.

That's where I got mine--she calls it the Aida Nour galabiya. I was so surprised by now nicely the polyester fabric feels and drapes. One word of warning though, it's not totally opaque.

I actually have a very pretty black and silver sequined galabiya that would do quite nicely for baladi performances, but for this particular number I wanted white, with a red hip scarf, as there was a zar involved (as well as some Saidi, for which I wore one of those round white pillbox-type hats). For a general public number I would stick with the black and silver.

Originally Posted by Souzan

And didn't Ahava wear one for the Fifi show in Dallas this year? And Debbie Smith wears them. Aida Nour, Mona, Lubna, Faten?

I know you all have read the other thread I started on this. What I told the gals who asked me why I was wearing a man's shirt was that it was a personal statement for me. I feel like I am woman enough to do it. I am a tough survivor and I operate in a man's world, but inside I am a woman and I take that man's garment and wear lots of flashy jewelry and tie a big fluffly pastel bow in my hair and around my hips and make it mine. To me that is what Fifi's shisha number is all about.

I love the women's galabiyas but that would open up a whole nuther can of worms--whay are you dancing in a mumu?

Souzan

This.

Also, to my eye women's galabeyas are sometimes quite fugly. I like things that are plain and not overfussy IRL and many of the women's galabayas I've seen are very froufrou and while they must be really comfy, they don't appeal to me.

My former teacher scored a fantastic one in Cairo that is black and subtly shaped - it skims the torso without hugging it, so it hints at the shape beneath rather than obscuring it completely, and is a little flared below the hip, and the sleeves are flared as well. It's decorated on the front on one side with wheat-coloured embroidery. VERY sophisticated and nice, but not really a dancing garment. It looks best with nothing round the hip. You'd want to lounge in it.

I love Fifi's and Aida's performances in the white galabeeya. As far as I know, Fifi originated the act in her nightclub shows one of which I saw back in the early 90s. IMNSHO, if a dancer can't project the "attitude" and the sauciness of Fifi and Aida Noor (who I believe started doing it later), then it's best for her to stick with folklore in a pretty, shiny, sequined and beaded girly galabeyya or sharqi in a pretty, shiny, sequined and beaded gown or bedla.

Without the cheekiness and attitude, a female dancer's show in a man's galabeyya turns into either a folklore/Saidi number or sharqi in a man's outfit. I've seen plenty of the latter (sharqi in a man's outfit) and to me it's a total disconnect of costume and dance style. To an Arab audience, a woman either performing in a man's galabeyya without attitude or doing folklore/Saidi in a man's galabeyya would make no sense. ..c::

Because I'm not comfortable performing with all the cheekiness of either a Fifi or an Aida, I don't do either the white galabeyya thing or melayya leff. I stick to folklore/Saidi in girly galabeyya and sharqi in gown or bedla. ..g.:

a woman either performing in a man's galabeyya without attitude

Is it the same attidude one would use while dancing in a western mans shirt, tie and hat? Kind of a - I could kick your butt if I were'nt so damn sexy!

Originally Posted by anala

a woman either performing in a man's galabeyya without attitude

Is it the same attidude one would use while dancing in a western mans shirt, tie and hat? Kind of a - I could kick your butt if I were'nt so damn sexy!

Close but not exactly. Definitely it's about being sexy! But, it's not about kicking anyone's butt. It's about challenging society's concepts of normal female behavior. Fifi's original set was her dancing in a man's galabeyya, with a long neck scarf (which men often wear with any galabeyya) which she tied around her hips after getting on the stage and walking boldly but flirtatiously around the stage smoking a sheesha (waterpipe-which was really lit and producing smoke). On the stage there was a typical Egyptian coffee/tea house table and a typical coffee/tea house chair. In Egypt and most of the eastern Mediterranean, it is not acceptable behavior for a "good girl" to go to an ordinary coffee/tea house by herself. There are exceptions to this rule, but it's true for the great majority of coffee/tea houses.

By going to the coffee/tea house while not accompanied by a man, she is being cheeky and defying the rules of acceptable female behavior. By wearing men's clothing in public, she's also defying acceptable female dress. And, until very recently, smoking a sheesha in public was not considered normal female behavior,

She's saying "Hey, whaddya mean this is only for men?! *I* can do it too -just watch me!" The flirtatiousness softens the defiance enough so she appears feminine and sexy while remaining strong and challenging to social rules. It's not about dancing but more about social commentary. That's why those who aren't very familiar with life of the streets might find the act a bit boring while a Middle Eastern audience will find it entertaining, sexy and a lot of fun.

ahhhh...context is all.

My "kick your butt" assertion is not too far of the mark, more like - I dare you to make me stop (and then I can kick your butt if you try). ;-)

There is nothing left to be cheeky about here...or is there?

Originally Posted by leylalanty

Close but not exactly. Definitely it's about being sexy! But, it's not about kicking anyone's butt. It's about challenging society's concepts of normal female behavior. Fifi's original set was her dancing in a man's galabeyya, with a long neck scarf (which men often wear with any galabeyya) which she tied around her hips after getting on the stage and walking boldly but flirtatiously around the stage smoking a sheesha (waterpipe-which was really lit and producing smoke). On the stage there was a typical Egyptian coffee/tea house table and a typical coffee/tea house chair. In Egypt and most of the eastern Mediterranean, it is not acceptable behavior for a "good girl" to go to an ordinary coffee/tea house by herself. There are exceptions to this rule, but it's true for the great majority of coffee/tea houses.

By going to the coffee/tea house while not accompanied by a man, she is being cheeky and defying the rules of acceptable female behavior. By wearing men's clothing in public, she's also defying acceptable female dress. And, until very recently, smoking a sheesha in public was not considered normal female behavior,

She's saying "Hey, whaddya mean this is only for men?! *I* can do it too -just watch me!" The flirtatiousness softens the defiance enough so she appears feminine and sexy while remaining strong and challenging to social rules. It's not about dancing but more about social commentary. That's why those who aren't very familiar with life of the streets might find the act a bit boring while a Middle Eastern audience will find it entertaining, sexy and a lot of fun.

In conclusion, Fifi is kind of like Madonna.

Aside: tips for blowing smoke out one's nose?