Thread: What is Egyptian Tribal?

I have a flyer for a Momo Kadous workshop coming in September. The second day's workshop is just described as "Egyptian Tribal (Bedouin Folkloric)". I'm wondering what that will be exactly - Saidi, Ghawazee, Nubian, some combination thereof? I see he's teaching the same workshop in several cities, so has anyone taken it already and knows what style of dancing this will be?

If he says it's Bedouin folkloric I'm guessing the dance will be rooted in Bedouin dance.

The Bedouins are a nomadic ethnic group. They are culturally distinct, quite different from Saidi, Nubians, and Ghawazee.

If you ever see "Badawiya" in a movie title, that's a reference to a Bedouin. For example, the Egyptian movie title "Gharam badawiya" means "The Love of a Bedouin Girl".

Originally Posted by zumarrad

If he says it's Bedouin folkloric I'm guessing the dance will be rooted in Bedouin dance.

And what does that look like compared to more cabaret style Egyptian dance?

Couldn't tell ya. I'm guessing there won't be a lot of arabesques though, although if Momo is from a Reda background, which I think I read he is, there could be a few.

It may well be related to what Hossam Ramzy is plugging [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Hossam-Ramzy-Bedouin-Tribal-Gypsies/dp/B000VXWKEU"]here.[/ame] I really do get the impression the use of "tribal" in these situations is a kind of marketing, in the hopes that it will attract people who don't think they're interested in indigenous dances.

Hossam Ramzy and Serena have an instructional DVD on Bedouin tribal dance and also a music CD.

Here's a clip (not Serena): [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MGbv_uhKOo]YouTube - bedouin folklore in marsa matrouh[/ame]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I'm guessing there won't be a lot of arabesques though, although if Momo is from a Reda background, which I think I read he is, there could be a few.

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I really do get the impression the use of "tribal" in these situations is a kind of marketing, in the hopes that it will attract people who don't think they're interested in indigenous dances.

Or could it be an attempt to reclaim the word 'tribal' to refer to *actual* tribal people?

Or could it be an attempt to reclaim the word 'tribal' to refer to *actual* tribal people?

Heaven forbid!

Originally Posted by Zamira

I have a flyer for a Momo Kadous workshop coming in September. The second day's workshop is just described as "Egyptian Tribal (Bedouin Folkloric)". I'm wondering what that will be exactly - Saidi, Ghawazee, Nubian, some combination thereof? I see he's teaching the same workshop in several cities, so has anyone taken it already and knows what style of dancing this will be?

I just took an Egyptian Tribal class. I'd say its like folkloric gypsy dancing. Lots of strong hip / pelvic movements and wrist twirling.

Originally Posted by Zamira

And what does that look like compared to more cabaret style Egyptian dance?

I can't speak for Momo Kadous interpretation of "Bedouin Tribal", but I do have the Ramzy's dvd and cd on the subject. I haven't worked through the instruction yet, but have watched the performances a few times. This dvd is teaching what I would describe as Bedouin Folkloric dance, as previous posters have said, the Bedouin's are a specific cultural group that have their own traditions and dances. I am guessing Ramzy and Kadous use the term tribal to either reclaim the name for actual tribal people or to market it to those who do not think they are interested in folkloric styles. Perhaps they use it for both reasons. One of the performances on Ramzy's dvd is a Hajjalah dance (a type of dance seen in other folkloric dance performances).

Many of the movements can be used and seen in a more folkoric or earthy style of oriental or cabaret. In this dvd there are a lot of strong hip moves, level changes, hip circles and vertical eights, hajallah walks, and folky expressions. It is different since the performances are staged as group dances in folkloric costumes with a different intention than cabaret/oriental solo style. It isn't synchronized group improv like you see in American Tribal either. I think both cab and American tribal dancers would enjoy it as it has good performances and it is always nice to learn about folkloric dances that inspire both oriental and fusion styles. You can see clips from the dvd on Hossam Ramzy's website: Egyptian and Middle Eastern Dance and Percussion | Bellydancing CDs and DVDs | Hossam Ramzy (follow the link to information on Bedouin Tribal).

My guess is Momo Kadous would have a slightly different approach than the Ramzys as I heard this dvd is a little different than Reda styles Bedoiun dances. My guess is if you have seen any Reda style Hagalla you may have some idea of where Kadous is coming from. I would love to hear more from someone familiar with his take on Bedouin dance. I have a folkloric dances dvd from the 1970's where Kadous performs as a member of a troupe--when I get a chance I'll look at their hagalla number to see how it compares to Serena and group.

Originally Posted by AishaSakinah

I just took an Egyptian Tribal class. I'd say its like folkloric gypsy dancing. Lots of strong hip / pelvic movements and wrist twirling.

What style was your class? Was it Bedouin or dances from another tribe? I think there are many groups that could be described as "Egyptian Tribal". I didn't see much wrist twirling in Serena Ramzy's performance though there was a lot of clapping and a lot of framing and expression in the wrists. I don't recall a lot of wrist coiling in Reda influenced folkloric troupes interpretation of Hajallah either, but I haven't seen that much Bedouin-inspired styles other than the Hajallah. Your description does make me think you may have been learning a style inspired by a different group of tribal people than Bedouins. I'd be curious to hear more since I find folkloric dances very interesting...g.:

Originally Posted by zumarrad

I really do get the impression the use of "tribal" in these situations is a kind of marketing, in the hopes that it will attract people who don't think they're interested in indigenous dances.

It's genious! You hit both the Eygyptian AND the Tribal market would increase numbers and the amount of money coming in... genious I tell ya!

put a folksy section in your cab routene...dance away!
shows your versitility!
tribal, USED to refer to the tribes of the middle east....where we get our dance vocabulary.......
we had to get the word off our web siote, due to AMERICAN GOTH FUSION TRIBAL stuff, put us into a search engine for such stuff.
very sad
now we have to use "ethnic"

I took the class in question and we worked on Hagallah, Sallooni and dances from Marsa Matrouh.

Momo Kadous defines any dances done by bedouins/tribes in Egypt as tribal.

DaVid

Hi DaVid,
I'd love to see what these dances look like. Is there a clip on YouTube or somewhere else where we can see them?

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by david

I took the class in question and we worked on Hagallah, Sallooni and dances from Marsa Matrouh.

Momo Kadous defines any dances done by bedouins/tribes in Egypt as tribal.

DaVid