Evolution of Randa.......

[Shaunte]

I first saw Randa perform in Egypt in 2007 and was immediately struck by how different she was...but not in the Fifi vs. Mona vs. Soheir Egyptian dancer kind of way. She was completely different. It was a bit of a shock to my system. But what was undeniable was that she was absolute perfection by anyone's standards. I sat there watching her thinking...wow she is a performer's performer. It was very refreshing. When I saw her perform for the second time last month at ACN to the SAME song but with a completely different approach, I was awe struck all over again. She is one of the few belly dance entertainers that I know of who continues to get better each time I see them! After her show I went up to my room and looked up her old clips that I had saved but hadn't seen in awhile and nearly fell out of my bed at the transformation that she has made since she first came on the scene....from the obvious technique, to her stage presence, confidence, and style that she has made all her own.

I wanted to post these clips (old to new) as inspiration to anyone who may feel like it's impossible to dance with the power and technique of Randa....regardless of your style. IMO it's not impossible after seeing Randa's progression...it's just near impossible, lol jk......and takes LOTS of hard work and determination. As Randa said in class....you have to eat, sleep, and dream about this dance..g.: It's not just rhetoric.....Randa is definitely proof of that. She's definitey inspired me to get back in the studio and work on becoming the best dancer I can be....

Enjoy!!!!



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD0f8Y2nQP0]YouTube - raKS[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPtG86En-k]YouTube - Randa[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB75nuELOq0&feature=related]YouTube - Randa Kamal 2[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Faii0u_TV8]YouTube - RANDA[/ame]

[ejaghana]

100% in agreement with you Shaunte! She just gets better and better! Mind you I've never seen her dance in person!

This is my first time seeing that last clip. That shimmy she did with her back to the audience...WOW!

[Bellydancingcaroline]

Does anyone know who the designer is of the yellow costume with th e curly flouncy bits on it.

[anala]

Ok...TOT (totally off topic) - whats with the waist chains on both Randa and Dina. Is that a reminder to not eat too much, suck it in? Or ....never, ever sit down? How do they stand it?

[SamarDahab]

i was at ahlan wa sahlan in 2007 and i gotta say, I didn't like her much. that was i think my first time seeing her at all. i thought her dancing was so heavy and rough.

well since then i've seen how much so many of you love her on the boards so i started investigating her on youtube. and i started to like her.

i really want to see her live again to see what i'll think now. i think that she's so very different, like you said. it really makes me believe that it's okay to dance it like you. she's totally original now that she's taken out alot of the Dina stuff from the earlier videos.

[ejaghana]

Does anyone know who the designer is of the yellow costume with th e curly flouncy bits on it.

I beleive it's an Eman.

[Mark Balahadia]

I'm sure you've all seen the article on the GS: Yasmina writes of Randa for the Gilded Serpent

I agree with the article about "dala3". Randa is not "dala3" which could be one of the big reasons for her not being well known in Egypt.

[Lauren_]

Wow. Thank you for posting the progression, that IS amazing. It helps to remember that even Randa wasn't always Randa. I'm inspired.

[laura 2]

It helps to remember that even Randa wasn't always Randa. I'm inspired.

I'm with you on that SERIOUSLY mind-blowing concept.

[mmouse1534]

THanks for posting these Shante!! She is just awesome!

[anala]

I actually liked her dancing in the 3rd clip the most. It was not quite as stylized as the 4th. The 3rd seemed more heartfelt. Share with me the reasons why the 4th clip is an improvement...cause I'm not seeing it.

[akashablue]

I'm sure you've all seen the article on the GS: Yasmina writes of Randa for the Gilded Serpent

I agree with the article about "dala3". Randa is not "dala3" which could be one of the big reasons for her not being well known in Egypt.

I have a new found respect for her after reading that article. It's not that I didn't respect/like her before. There are SO many dancers in Egypt trying to make it big but she strives to be an artist and create her own style.

I love that!!! ..g.:

[Shaunte]

Does anyone know who the designer is of the yellow costume with th e curly flouncy bits on it.

Yes, Eman Zaki designed it. I carry it at my boutique www.cairocouture.com

[Shaunte]

I'm sure you've all seen the article on the GS: Yasmina writes of Randa for the Gilded Serpent

I agree with the article about "dala3". Randa is not "dala3" which could be one of the big reasons for her not being well known in Egypt.

Yes I read the article and also have an even greater respect for her. I also believe this is why it's taken longer for her to get recognition from her own. Her style is not anything I really want to incorporate into my own....I still preferred Dandash that weekend.....but as another dancer I have a great deal of respect for the hard work that Randa has put into developing her own style and for the performer she has become....

[Shaunte]

Wow. Thank you for posting the progression, that IS amazing. It helps to remember that even Randa wasn't always Randa. I'm inspired.

My sentiment exactly

[Shaunte]

THanks for posting these Shante!! She is just awesome!

No problem

[Shaunte]

I actually liked her dancing in the 3rd clip the most. It was not quite as stylized as the 4th. The 3rd seemed more heartfelt. Share with me the reasons why the 4th clip is an improvement...cause I'm not seeing it.

I think it's a matter of taste. the 3rd is my favorite as well and probably always will be. I'd choose a more soulful performance any day. IMO Randa is first and foremost now known for her technique. I think in the 4th, or most recent clip, she's doing moves that are a little more technically difficult. I think in the beginning, Randa did a complete overhaul from stage presence, technique, musicality, and building choreography. From this point on, if Randa's style continues to progress I think the focus will be more in technique and showcasing more difficult moves. She may continue fusing more western moves as well.

[anala]

Thanks for that, Shaunte...but I really like the spontinaity and the rough edges of the 3rd. PS Lili Gamal has the yellow dress!!!

[Shaunte]

Thanks for that, Shaunte...but I really like the spontinaity and the rough edges of the 3rd. PS Lili Gamal has the yellow dress!!!

I agree with you. That performance seemed almost 100% emotion. This is an assumption on my part but it appears that she is performing for an Egyptian Audience??? Maybe that had something to do with it.

Ah yes!!!! She actually purchased that costume from me and is also the one who first showed me that video. It was great, when she came over for the fitting after the costume arrived I turned on the song and she performed part of the Randa choreography from the video Randa would have been very proud, Love that girl!!

[Anousheh]

I'm sure you've all seen the article on the GS: Yasmina writes of Randa for the Gilded Serpent

I agree with the article about "dala3". Randa is not "dala3" which could be one of the big reasons for her not being well known in Egypt.

It's a fantastic article and helps you understand Randa and I agree with you about her not being 'dala3' being at the centre of her lack of major fame in Egypt. I think clip 3 (which was probualy my fav) shows this. She is all about the dance; not softening up her audience and the emotion is very internalised at times in that 3rd clip; she was so inside the music almost like the spainish 'duende'. I can prehaps see some audiences used to being pandered too by dancers feeling isolated and distanced by this. She does lack that softness that others express; her prescence is v. strong and v. in control which is rare. Not to mention demanding (in that her dance kind of demands attention with such strength and determination shown in each movement.)
Thank you for posting those clips; they and the article helped me understand her dance more.

Anousheh

[sumayasaahir]

Im at a loss with Randa. I see a lot of Dina in her. She is definitely more sharp and powerful. But there is just something...off.

Like she is a more westernized dancer. Which is why Im surprised at raqia's comment about her "This girl has more feeling and natural understanding of oriental dance than any new dancer I’ve seen for a long long time,” Raqia said at the time."

I agree that she is a dancer's dancer tho. Thanks for posting!

[tootah]

The 3rd one is a very emotional song by Om Kulthoum, wherewhich her love is driving her crazy, causing her not to sleep, etc. That is probably why she, Randa, appears so emotional. It reminds me of the way Dina also makes it a point to dance to the words as well (esp in Om Kulthoum.)

[anala]

Ahha..the song is familiar but I cant name it...what is it called?

[jody]

Im at a loss with Randa. I see a lot of Dina in her. She is definitely more sharp and powerful. But there is just something...off.

Like she is a more westernized dancer. Which is why Im surprised at raqia's comment about her "This girl has more feeling and natural understanding of oriental dance than any new dancer I’ve seen for a long long time,” Raqia said at the time."

I agree that she is a dancer's dancer tho. Thanks for posting!

Her style was more traditional Oriental at that time. That was many years ago, and she has developed a very unique style that does incorporate a fair amount of Western dance elements. I saw her perform at ACN in 2006 and her stage presence is like a tornado. She has incredible power.

[tootah]

Anala,

It is called "be'eed 'anak" which means "Away From You". As in "Away from you, my life is torture".

At the end of the song, she gives props to Eman Zaki. I can't make out if she is saying she made that specific costume only or all the costumes or what.

I like Randa a lot. I am, though, with those who say she was sorta copying Dina (esp. in the beginning of her career) who has a style that was at one point very unique to her. However, that might now be a moot point, because I believe Dina has completed changed the face of this dance as we know it forever, both for the good and the not-so-good. I am not saying Randa doesn't have her own style--I think she does. I also didn't mind her when she first started out, but I do agree she is now a bit more polished.

I also do think Randa is going to be the next Big Dancer in Egypt. She knows Lucy and Dina are nearing retirement (Lucy apparently in her 50's, Dina 50 or so I think?) and Fifi is already retired. Hence the new image. But I can't think of anyone else on their way to being a household name there.

[anala]

Thanks Tootah.

[tootah]

You are so welcome, Anala :)

[joanneraks]

Anala,


I like Randa a lot. I am, though, with those who say she was sorta copying Dina (esp. in the beginning of her career) who has a style that was at one point very unique to her. However, that might now be a moot point, because I believe Dina has completed changed the face of this dance as we know it forever, both for the good and the not-so-good. I am not saying Randa doesn't have her own style--I think she does. I also didn't mind her when she first started out, but I do agree she is now a bit more polished.

I also do think Randa is going to be the next Big Dancer in Egypt. She knows Lucy and Dina are nearing retirement (Lucy apparently in her 50's, Dina 50 or so I think?) and Fifi is already retired. Hence the new image. But I can't think of anyone else on their way to being a household name there.

I agree. With both the part that yes, she probably was inspired by Dina, but that Dina has been so instrumental in shaping modern Egyptian Oriental dance that you can't *not* be affected by her legacy. And that Randa is definitely going to be an important part of Egyptian dance from here on out. I already see Randa's style being sprinkled around. It's nice. Now that she's a stronger, more individual dancer, she has some interesting things to add.

[katja]

I actually saw Randa 1996 in Sweden, that is mentioned in the article about her on Gilded Serpent and must say, yea she has progressed...a lot.

But I´m also a bit torn in my opinion about her. I would like to more softness to her dancing, sometimed she is just over the top for me. But I hugely respect her for creating her own voice through her dance and being a true artist.

[selenakareena]

RANDA is one of the most inspiring and amazing dancers I've ever seen!~~~I LOVE and ADMIRE Her!~~~She's a Channel of electric feminine POWER and energy! Beautiful and breathtaking, especially up close and in person! WOW!
Eating, drinking and breathing belly dance. A True Artist!
Dance on Randa! iawah! Shukran.....
Can't wait to be honored to see her again,(In Sha Allah)
Brightest Blessings to you all!
Dance on~~~~~~~~~
MySpace.com - Selena - 42 - Female - Monticello, New Mexico - www.myspace.com/selenakareena