Thread: Dark Fusion Bellydance Sashi

It makes it better for a Western understanding of theatrical setting.

Tamrahenna I am glad there are people keeping it alive and hope it becomes the fashion again some day!
I think Nelly and Hanan started something they thought was chic..

Dandash is still workin' the old style (or was a few years ago).

True.
She's absolutely fantastic! Probably my favorite contemporary.
She also does lovely impersonation of the big stars and their particular style. I saw her impersonate Fifi's and Soheir's style on a video some time ago, so amazing!

I think it is impossible to keep dance of any style the same because it is always evolving. I am not against this but I also like to preserve the originality of any dance. I also love some fushions because I think they go together well.

That being said and not being a big fan of goth, I have to say, however, that I admire Ariellah immensely. I love watching her technique and execution, and if she ever offered a workshop where I live, I would be the first one to sign up, just to be able to absorb some of her ability.

I may be the only one but has anybody else noticed that shaabi has a lot of hip hop in it? Bhangra too. . .?

Dinvienna, you also know that Soraya of New Jersey likes to dance in the tradition of Fifi and Sohair Zaki. I love that style best. But I do have to say that I just ADORE Randa Kamel!

I've never considered performing in the goth style as I'm not a huge fan; however I do like Ariellah quite a bit. I took her fusion workshop at Northern Lights last year. She is super sweet and her technique is just impeccable.

I think the term goth can be open to interpretation. In Ariellah's workshop she asked several dancers what goth meant to them and everyone had a different answer.

Sashi's clip has gothic music and a goth inspired costume, the movements look like tribal fusion to me. I like this video of her dancing to Switchblade Symphony, her movements are so clean and fluid.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1UwJH8L8HE]YouTube - sashi gothic bellydance[/ame]

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I also feel that it's important for those of us who love the older style to continue to do that style to the best of our abilities - I am not ready to give up and walk away from the older style and "give in" to inevitability.

I'm always a little...OK, a lot baffled by the thought that "goth", or "tribal" or any of the other "new forms" will "take over" for any of the older forms.
Naming, sure. I have huge, big problems with the naming issues in this dance from, from the "how much of it is 'belly dance'", to the use of "belly dance" as a term to begin with, given it's origins. There's a lot of misconstrued and misunderstood history here...but frankly, it didn't start with the Tribal folks, and lots of "ol skool'" dancers have a part to play in how things turned out. Many of these "new style" dancers started with more "traditional" forms, and got their understand of what this dance is about from those teachers.
And it is notable that the really deep survivors, people like Morocco (who I get to see today, yay!), Artemis, and their ilk are the ones who started studying this dance not just as a dance, but took an academic interest as well.

But what I've seen is years upon years of people worrying about, and even experiencing real, live instances of a "new style" swiping gigs and interest and students -- while overall, Tribal et. al. seems to bring many more dancers into the "Big Tent" than it steals from someone else in that tent. And none of these new forms have actually "displaced" the older forms in terms of interest -- the restaurant scene, overall, didn't fall because Fat Chance came on the scene. I'm seeing in my area (southeastern US) more and more workshops from all manner of teachers, including international. The trend seems, to my eye, to be overall growth in all sections of this dance, and I don't see a lot of evidence that, say, Egyptian Raqs Sharqi is actually falling by the wayside in the West (in Egypt, it might be a different story...)
As we rightly critique these forms for their potential to distort the history and public understand of this dance, I'm also thoughful of that aspect, as well, and wish there was a good "umbrella" term of all the various spinoffs and alternatives to Raqs Sharqi.

Anyway. I've gotta get to a workshop. :)

sashi has a raqs sharki background.

I don't know how correct I am so kindly correct me if I'm not but recently an Egyptian instructor stated that there is no longer any raks beledi in Egypt; the new dance is raks shaabi and raks beledi has fallen by the wayside. I have also heard from another Arab instructor that this is not wholly accepted either.

I like it. Just something different. Although, I am not sure I could achieve it. They have workshops in my area for this. I am not sure what else is out there in my neck of the woods, that doesn't require me to travel an hour away for my genre. There is Cabaret, but it is the same night as my Oriental classes, so unfortunately I can't check that out. I will be taking ITS though. Just to branch out and learn more.

I seen Sashi in the related videos that are usually listed when you are watching a particular video.

Ariellah is my favorite....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2DCIrdoxsM]YouTube - Gothla - Ariellah[/ame]

and Aepril from my area. I have seen her perform and I think she does a great job. I would pay to see her again.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-fOpPOQXh0]YouTube - Aepril Schaile at Raks Spooki, Regent Theater, Arlington MA[/ame]

Hmmm... in my impression baladi and shaabi are so different, and will surely continue to coexist.
One major difference being most Egyptians and particularly dancers' (pro or hobby) heart is warmed by a baladi piece, and everybody will dance to it on festivities. Shaabi many middle or upper class people will not allow on their festivities, and will rather die than dance to (for its vulgarity and low class).
Also I believe not every bellydancer likes to dance to it. Dina - I mgiht be wrong - seems to be the first one to really embrace it, and she' s appeared in quite many shaabi music videos and tv performances.. but that is her, and not every Egyptian bellydancer will do it. I've never seen Randa dance shaabi.. and beware, the early shaabi like Ahmed Adaweya, if cheeky and explicit sometimes, is quite different from today's. I personally find it way classier, and have an interest/turn off relationship with modern shaabi. I'm not sure it's for me - and I really cannot stand Saad.
I was not a big fan of his music before, and that killed it for me:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFDsX0rJgz0]YouTube - saad alsa3'eer[/ame]

So.. I'm not Egyptian.. but I cannot see that happening. that is like saying rap will take over blues or folk music.

Ewww, that video is disgusting! I didn't even watch it for more than a minute!!

I was hoping for a review of this dvd, has anyone tried it? It's on my wish list as I love Sashi's style but I find her clip dosen't quite show a clear section of instruction. Which is why I like WDNY sample clips, you can get some idea of what the instructional is actually going to be like.

I'm a big fan of gothic belly dance, and of dark fusion in general. I've had the good luck to see dancers like Morgana, Tempest and Ariellah perform, and am looking forward to Gothla UK this year.

All the goth dancers I have had the good fortune to see perform, or to take classes with, have had a strong grounding in the more traditional forms of the dance. My teacher specialises in industrial fusion and impro tribal, but she makes sure her students have a solid grasp of traditional dance, rather than plunging her beginners straight into fusion.

All I'm thinking is how hard I work to get my students' elbows OUT of their sides

That I don't get! I don't know whether Sashi started this trend, or if it evolved elsewhere, but it seems to be quite popular posture for many gothic fusion dancers. That and carrying the shoulders quite high during arm movements and shoulder rolls.