Thread: Native Dancer DVDs, performance and instructional

hello,

I would really like to study native(Arab not Turkish) dancers movements and interpretation of the music, so can people suggest both performance and instructionals dvds that feature these dancers?
Maybe youtube channels that are good as well.
Also, foreign dancers that have achieved that "near-native accent" in belly dancing would work too.
List them here please!
Thanks in advance!

Hi there!
as for dvds, Priscilla recommended me a fantastic rhythms and rhythm interpretation dvd by a wonderful native dancer.
Nesma Rhythms:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Rhythms-Oriental-Dance-Khamis-Henkish/dp/B000FS9MQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1254205473&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Rhythms of Oriental Dance with Nesma and Khamis Henkish (DVD with CD): Nesma, Khamis Henkish: Music[/ame]

Else what are you looking for? Inspiration? you probably are aware of the channels featuring many of the classical dancer channels:
YouTube - hashan15's Channel
YouTube - baadrobot's Channel
YouTube - gypsy8522's Channel
YouTube - Kirabellydancer's Channel

If you are looking for names definitely check out the youtube videos by Mona Said, Fifi Abdo, Suheir Zaki, Nagwa Foad, Samia Gamal, Naima Akef.. i will be uploading some stuff by Naima Akef soon.

If you want to check out my channel it only has 2 videos by contemporary dancers I love performing in Egypt, Randa Kamal and Leila (she s American, but really learned how to dance for the local audience and appears on tv frequently.. I put info on her in the video text):
YouTube - dinavienna's Channel

Other more contemporary fantastic dancer are Samara and Amani from Lebanon. I really love the Gulf style videos:
He has some fantastic dancers
YouTube - IraqiRomanceKing's Channel
starting on page three the colourful ladies at the very right, next to last line..
hope that helps!

if you want to learn Native dancers technique the Little Egypt videos are well worth it. Large selection to choose from, not perfect production quality, but LOTS to observe and learn.

Ranya Renee is an Egyptian style dancer I ADORE, check out her Baladi and Modern Oriental..

Also, when this question comes up, I always recommend the Masters of Egyptian Choreography series. There's one that features Randa Kamel. She breaks down and teaches one of her signature choreographies. There's another one with Diane Tarkhan with two choreographies. Finally, there's one that features Leila of Cairo, an American dancer who dances professionally in Cairo. She's a lovely dancer, but that one is the hardest to follow, so I'd save that one until you've had a lot of practice in the Egyptian style.

I second the recommendation for the Ranya Renee DVDs. I haven't seen the Little Egypt ones, so I can't really comment.

Thanks for the links!
gayiii, perhaps you attended the same workshop as I did last night (I won't post details in case you don't want to disclose your location) :) Anyhow I was looking for the same thing.

Hannah

dvd's from aisha alli, in culver city , ca.

Thanks for the recommendations guys!
I have the ranya renee baladi
I'll look into the little egypt ones
any specific little egypt ones that people like?
It's a shame that there aren't more native dancer dvds out
A company like world dance ny should invite one of these dancers to make an instructional...

ya that would be great!
although WDNY has these dvds with amazing concept and chaptering.. I doubt the Egyptian stars will want to create such a well thought out dvd :)

the Little Egypt ones I've seen are Dina's 2008 workshop and Dandash both from Dallas. The quality is moderate, you see the dancer on stage and a few students in the first rows, they basically do combinations, have the crowd follow, and explain some things on their technique whilst moving. it is nice because it opens up their style somewhat. i used to not be a huge Dina fan, but seeing her break down her combinations made them somewhat.. clearer, and more appreciated, by me.

The LE dvds are fine if you're a visual learner. If you're looking for a precise breakdown of where the weight shifts, am I pulling or relaxing this bit of my body etc? Then you're likely to struggle.

It is also good to be able to go over a move time and again, kinda harder to do watching youtube clips!

oooh thought of someone - Shareen el Safy. She does a good job in breaking down the movements.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

He has some fantastic dancers
YouTube - IraqiRomanceKing's Channel
starting on page three the colourful ladies at the very right, next to last line..
hope that helps!

Just a quick word of caution:
most of his videos with dancers are overdubbed with different music than the dancer is actually dancing to.

Example:For a dancer who trained egyptian+lebanese styles and listened to the music it´s easy to tell this is Amani dubbed over:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2st9i0vNE&feature=channel_page"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2st9i0vNE&feature=channel_page[/ame]

But also the Iraqi dancers are dubbed over so the music and dance doesn´t match!

Ya I once noticed he dubbed different music over Dina jamal. What he does is putting Iraqi music though, so I would not say the Iraqi dancers necessarily do not dance to the original music.
I dont have sound boxes here, but this is the kind of dance I love watching on his channel:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXBlKtDyt0&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - ما اظن يجيبة البخت - ردØ* Sajeda obied - el ba5at‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoupRN2EH74&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - Ùˆ الله لاصعد بالجمسي sajeda obied - jemsi‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A28Cn9U7os0&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - انكسرت الشيشة - ردØ* Ùˆ تØ*شيش Sajeda Obied sheesha‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QgFq3nC31E&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - خيوه بنت الديرة Sajeda Obied 5ayooh bint el deera‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A28Cn9U7os0&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - انكسرت الشيشة - ردØ* Ùˆ تØ*شيش Sajeda Obied sheesha‬‎[/ame]

I know way too little about gulf style music, but for these dancers the music seemed to fit,a t least for me.

hey!
I noticed he put different music for Dina Jamal. But what he does is puting Iraqi music over every other dancer, so I did not think the Iraqi dancers music had been changed.

This is what I love watching on his site:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXBlKtDyt0&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - ما اظن يجيبة البخت - ردØ* Sajeda obied - el ba5at‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoupRN2EH74&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - Ùˆ الله لاصعد بالجمسي sajeda obied - jemsi‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A28Cn9U7os0&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - انكسرت الشيشة - ردØ* Ùˆ تØ*شيش Sajeda Obied sheesha‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSi43JQloWI&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - على مهلك يابو كذيلة Sajeda Obied - 3ala mahlak‬‎[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QgFq3nC31E&feature=channel_page]YouTube - ‫ساجدة عبيد - خيوه بنت الديرة Sajeda Obied 5ayooh bint el deera‬‎[/ame]

I have no sound boxes where I am now - but when I first watched the dances, the music and dance seemed to match for me! there again, I know very little about this kind of music..