Thread: Melaya in Bedlah?

I hope this isn't a silly question! I would like to choreograph a cute melaya leff routine. But, I typically perform in a nightclub/restaurant setting and don't want to wear the typical melaya dress for a whole set (even though it's really cute). Has anyone done a melaya in regular costuming? It's so sassy and matches my "dance persona" so well that I really would like to incorporate it. My audiences are typically a mix of mostly Arabs and some Americans so I think it would go over OK

Safiyah, maybe you could use the song you like and dance to it with the saucy personality, but without the melaya prop? Then you wouldn't have all the constraints of portraying a recognizable particular folk character, but you could still play with the music and the attitude.

If you plan the choreo from the beginning to be melaya-friendly, you can then use the same dance in non-restaurant settings such as seminar shows by adding the dress and the melaya.

How about a compromise? Something that covers your mid-rift but isn't the stereotypical Alexandrian style dress (which I avoid as a rule anyway)? Such as a tight fitting (shortish) beledi dress - with lots of sparklies? Alternatively, do a meleya lef without unwrapping and showing your bedlah - it's the attitude that counts and you can be quite sassy without unwrapping completely.

Finally, if you must, I do have video of Nani doing a meleya in bedleh - although every time I see it I cringe

I've seen it done in a normal costume on a boat in Cairo. The dancer came out, and kept the melaya on for the whole dance, just revealing a shoulder, and a bit of the costume here and there, then at the end, she took it off and did another set in her costume that was underneath.

I've been working on a milaya dance for one of my advanced students, to be used in restaurants. She will do it mid-set, and just pick up her discarded veil to use as a milaya. We discussed the idea of grabbing a real milaya for the dance. but I don't think it would look right.

Safiyah, keep us posted on what you decide to do. Milaya dances are so cute....

I've done meleya in a fancy galibeya as part of a set--you can find examples of dancers like Fifi Abdo doing the same on YouTube. I personally wouldn't do it in bedleh, though. I think it would detract from the idea of the character. Even when I use meleya in a set, I enter with it and do my first song with it, then discard it and move on to the rest of the set, which then continues the baladi theme.

i agree, especially if there are m.e. people in the audience, not to do it in a bedlah unless you keep the melaya on the whole time. they might not understand the show/staging reasons behind your choice and think you don't know it is a "dress" number.

could you run off stage, throw a galabeya over your head and then run back & do the number? you know how any costume change ups the "ohhh ahhh" factor, even if you go from $800 bedlah to $25 galabeya :)

Well, there's a thought! I've been wanting one of those cute lycra galabeyas for assaya routines, so at least I could justify the purchase by telling myself I can use it for beladi or assaya as well. I know that the Alexandrian dress, head scarf, etc. was a part of the role, that's why I wasn't sure how to work it in...I thought surely you ladies had done it at one point in time during a 20 minute set!

I'll probably file it away for a spring project when I feel a little more adventurous but definitely want to do it, so I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for the advice!

Here's the Fifi video I was thinking of:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ZYEB6kloQ]YouTube - Fifi Adbo[/ame]

There's your excuse for the sparkly galibeya Here's another super fun one from Asmahan in a gorgeous dress that would do just fine for the rest of a routine:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmGofRQen4M]YouTube - Asmahan[/ame]

Originally Posted by Safiyah

I know that the Alexandrian dress, head scarf, etc. was a part of the role

A recent addition actually - just do it Cairo style. (But do use either a meleya or heavy fabric - not a veil)