Thread: youtube clips with great backbends

I'm looking for some inspirational youtube clips showing wonderful, fluid, graceful backbends -- the kind where the dancer gets a gentle arch to the back, the head is released, and each vertebrae contributes a bit to the bend, rather than the back looking like its making a 90 degree bend in just one region.. Can be any style of oriental or fusion dance. Doesn't have to show extreme, touch-your-head-to-the-floor backbends. Well-executed smaller ones are fine too.

I'm really looking for backbends executed while standing, but floorwork ones will be appreciated also.

FYI this is for my own exploration. I'm not teaching backbends to students.

It doesn't exactly fit all your criteria, but since I know you appreciate Golden Age Egyptian dancers, I MUST share this clip of Naemet Mokhtar: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8P8s_510Ao]YouTube - Ra'asa Naemet Mokhtar[/ame] The backbend occurs approximately 1 minute 34 seconds into the clip.

Um. Wow. Beautiful but freaky. That is definitely one that comes all from one place though. Not what I'd ever want to achieve for myself. So far, I've found this one I really like:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9OidS5kHKQ]YouTube - Bellydance by Nathalie[/ame]

beautiful and amazing backbend. Does anybody know what the "dish towel" means? A tradition, or just playing? thanks

OH, Dina always does a really nice one at the beginning of Tahtil Shibbak, but the only clips I can find on youtube don't show it from a good angle.

The very best angle is on her video -- oh, dang it, drawing a blank, the one at the Lebanese club, with Fatme Sirhan, Amani in the audience and the God-awful costumes????

ETA: Yeah, real helpful, Lauren. I hate getting old!

Originally Posted by ssipes

Um. Wow. Beautiful but freaky. That is definitely one that comes all from one place though. Not what I'd ever want to achieve for myself.

Hee hee, I knew that it wasn't what you were looking for since it indeed all comes from one place. But I couldn't resist posting it on a thread titled "youtube clips with great backbends"!

I love Cassandra's back bends. Could only find one example on youtube...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQFXYti5Pe0&feature=user]YouTube - Raks Sharqi[/ame]

*shameless self promotion*

Not one of my favorite videos of myself... I was 16.

[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Cu69cAhAx8"]YouTube - Mary Ellen Donald and RaZan play for Vasha Hatal[/ame]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

OH, Dina always does a really nice one at the beginning of Tahtil Shibbak, but the only clips I can find on youtube don't show it from a good angle.
The very best angle is on her video -- oh, dang it, drawing a blank, the one at the Lebanese club, with Fatme Sirhan, Amani in the audience and the God-awful costumes????
!

Monte Carlo ..g.:

The back bend that sticks out in my mind is done by Rindala. It starts at the 6:00 mark. WOW!!!!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgtrzCL0-SQ]YouTube - Rindala[/ame]

Shameless self promotion II

Any of my youtubes. It is the one thing everyone agress that I do well.

{{{HUGS}}}

Nadia Jamal did great wacky backbends similar to Naemet Mokhtar but waaay faster. Unfortunately, not on youtube :(

As soon as I read this, I remembered this clip! I love the way Shabnam does floorwork, and backbends.

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=dBXmiZ05xq4]YouTube - Shabnam taxim[/ame]

Thanks guys!

Vasha -- very lovely!

Tahiradancer -- what's your youtube handle?

Another self-plug.......
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbEsDh6GULA]YouTube - Melania brief floorwork[/ame]

Originally Posted by ouroboros

Monte Carlo ..g.:

THANK you. I was all

Originally Posted by ssipes

Thanks guys!

Tahiradancer -- what's your youtube handle?

Tahirabellydancer

Personally, I like my Raqs B vid best, but it's pretty much a standard move thanks to my Turkish / Lebanese based first teacher.

{{{HUGS}}}

I loved you back bend! And I have never seen anyone do the floor shimmy with out their leg shaking vigorously. Yours look so elegant

Originally Posted by melania

Another self-plug.......
YouTube - Melania brief floorwork

Katy! Katy! Katy!
Amazing smile and super bendy back.

I SO want this costume!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5qPtnZ7JsA]YouTube - Katie كيتي[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkVBcXBMWmo&feature=related]YouTube - Katie كيتي[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytM0tG5gLL8&feature=related]YouTube - Katy[/ame]

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

The backbend is about two minutes in:

[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ZyjIoXyJXQ"]http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ZyjIoXyJXQ[/ame]

Elizabeth Strong is my hero in so many ways: the backbend, the romani stylings...
Sigh.

do not know how to post a youtube here
but i do have a floor section posted including turkish drop

the clip is good
but
i hate the pants!

Originally Posted by zamora

do not know how to post a youtube here
but i do have a floor section posted including turkish drop

Yes, Cory, I have yours in my playlist already! Your floorwork is amazing!

Thanks Toria :)

Tamra-henna CA's is pretty here:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocq4L3zMv24&feature=related]YouTube - Tamra-henna-My Music Intro Taqsim[/ame]

Originally Posted by MelanieLA

Another self-plug.......
YouTube - Melania brief floorwork

Fabulous, love this clip, MelanieLA!

Hey, if I may ask.....how did you condition your muscles to eventually be able to do this, or are you very flexable naturally already? Thanks!

I hope Melanie is still as flexible 2 years on!

This zaar dancer is doing the scariest backbends I've seen.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQyohrTlSiM]YouTube - Meran - zaar - en Colette[/ame]

Originally Posted by Love_Bellydance

Fabulous, love this clip, MelanieLA!

Hey, if I may ask.....how did you condition your muscles to eventually be able to do this, or are you very flexable naturally already? Thanks!

Thanks!
Hmmm, I've always had good natural flexibility, but I've done yoga and floorwork for about 15 years, so I think my practice is what does it. I studied w/Suhaila for a while, and she really taught me how to hinge back from a kneeling position, using, of course, your glutes for strength :). I still do this type of floorwork in my regular shows.

Here are a couple of more recent examples of the types of backbends I use, in a few fusion pieces; not the greatest quality footage, but taken from the show I produced in September '09:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWFTlVzZ8w&feature=related]YouTube - Trance Dance[/ame]
slow, controlled, from kneeling at 3:08-3:20
spin to a drop to backbend at 4:32-4:42

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPEno_IpS8s]YouTube - Calendar Girls[/ame]
slow, from kneeling at 1:40-1:50
and full backbend from standing at 2:37-2:45

hope you enjoy!

Kahina:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUeUQE8ggJw]YouTube - Kahina - 3º Encontro de dança do ventre de vitória da Conquista Ba[/ame]

Shabnam:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omqcllXTls]YouTube - Shabnam floorwork taxim[/ame]

Evgenia Kopteva

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8XOodMfEC4]YouTube - Evgenia Kopteva (final)[/ame]

Mariyah:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZKLlPB-8fo]YouTube - Mariyah- Bellydance Performance at Rakkasah East 2008[/ame]