Thread: the Raqia machine

is it just me?

or does anyone else feel that Raqia is a bellybot producer?

Dont get me wrong, the dancers are lovely, and given the chance, Id jump to study with her (well, gimp at this point), but they all seem to dance the same...a la Dina style.

The latest case in point: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9H2AAL8N9Y]YouTube - DALILA OF CAIRO IN MADRID ( 8 MARCH 2008)[/ame]

I agree. I would think that was dina dancing if I didnt know any better.

She was like Dina mixed with Randa, in my opinion. Not original, but then, perhaps her style is still developing. Even Randa's style resembled Dina's tremendously when she started.

Can we talk about this costume as well? Is she gonna shoe my horses too?? That is just odd!

I didn't think the whole thing looked unoriginal, really. Her movements fit her body well, and she seemed comfortable with them. It's most disturbing when everything just looks unnatural and forced.

Although her costume ...

It's probably an Eman Zaki original design and cost $1,000 or something.

Actually, I thought she was very watchable and the costume kind of grew on me as she went along.

She was less outrageous than Dina, which I kind of liked. I don't know enough about the Raqia machine to say anything about that. But in the article about Randa on GS, it sounded like Raqia saw Randa and liked what she was doing, so maybe Randa's style wasn't completely molded by Raqia?

Another belly chain!!! Wazzup with that? New rule for the "Code" - no feet higher than your waist.

She wasn't bad, but gawd that costume is really unappealing! I wonder, could the Raqia similarities come from her giving her dancers choreographies to follow?

i quite liked this one: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Iw4NqpDGM]YouTube - DALILA BELLY DANCE[/ame]

The costume was distracting. I don't think it fit the performance/music. I don't know what the heck that costume is, but her dancing was quite lovely nevertheless. And I'm not a Randa or Dina expert, so I won't comment on that. Just my two cents.

BDF

Hmmm...I've got to think about that.

I know that Soraya Zaid from Brazil has been a student of Raqia for a while and performed her choreographies in her technique videos. But with her performances, she seems to have her own style because of her hip work.

Leila of Cairo, I'm not sure because I haven't seen a lot of her performances. Yasmin and Kazumi(?) has studied with Raqia. So has Astyrd Farah de Michele. I wonder if she'll comment on this?

I think there a lot of people watch and/or study Dina's performances or Randa's and their moves get stuck in their memory or they practice being like a particular dancer. Dina's like a rock star in the belly dancing world. She's got a huge fan base. I'm surprized, I know I shouldn't be, how much of an influence she is on dancers. But I'm guessing here.

People who study under certain masters do tend to resemble them, especially if those masters are technically demanding and create work for the dancers to perform. You can tell a Balanchine ballerina, why not a Raqia belly dancer? On the one hand, people demand standardisation in BD, on the other hand, they complain when it happens...

Sumaya - thanks for posting that second clip. I saw much more of Randa's influence in that one. I realize that I did not state in my earlier post that I quite like her, but then, I am a huge fan of both Dina and Randa's modern style.

I liked both clips but preferred the second one! I do see a ton of Dina and Randa in both, but it seems like she mostly has her own style.

She has her own cd out if anyone is interested.
Photo Album

Yeah I can see the Dina-esque style, the fall back and pull up. Even the head position with her bangs.hair slightly in her face.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

You can tell a Balanchine ballerina, why not a Raqia belly dancer?

ITA ... Raqia has done great work in transmitting the dance, I feel especially to non-natives.

Her choreographies are intricate and capture nuances in the music that help with understanding. I used to think it was over-choreographed but I've changed my mind and eternally regret that I missed her workshops when she was here in Perth back in 2001.

I liked the second clip, but it's definitely different from what I thought of as modern Egyptian dance. But I haven't seen the last 2 AWS videos, so is this actually the MODERN modern Egyptian dance?

I liked both but the second one had too many kicks and arabesques for me. The music was great though.

Originally Posted by jilyan

ITA ... Raqia has done great work in transmitting the dance, I feel especially to non-natives.

Her choreographies are intricate and capture nuances in the music that help with understanding. I used to think it was over-choreographed but I've changed my mind and eternally regret that I missed her workshops when she was here in Perth back in 2001.

Raqia is coming to Dallas in November and Astryd de Michele is coming in January - I'm looking forward to attending both workshops - I've had only one Raqia workshop before, but I think at this particular point in my dancing, I will get a lot more from her teaching.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Raqia is coming to Dallas in November and Astryd de Michele is coming in January - I'm looking forward to attending both workshops - I've had only one Raqia workshop before, but I think at this particular point in my dancing, I will get a lot more from her teaching.

I think you'll really, really enjoy Raqia this time around ..g.:. I went to the workshop in MD last May for the second time and goodness...she's incredible. She taught with a bandged leg but that didn't stop her. Her absolute love of dancing is infectious.

Originally Posted by damiena

She was like Dina mixed with Randa, in my opinion. Not original, but then, perhaps her style is still developing. Even Randa's style resembled Dina's tremendously when she started.

I agree with Damiena... don't most of us copy dancers we admire as we're learning? Hopefully, over time she'll tweak what she's learned to make it more her own. She did a lovely job, I thought. Even if a tad bellybot'ish. It'd be interesting to see how this dancer develops.

I've never studied with Raqia in person, but I would like too. I think what draws me personally to her style is that her style has a lot of emotional content and interesting directional changes that I don't see in many choreographies. They always have interesting bits I can use in my own dance.

Astryd de Michele - WOW - She came to Seattle recently when I lived up there...and she was wonderful...very approachable and friendly. And she had lots of juicy moves to boot!!!

Oh....so many workshops...so little money ..cr.:

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Raqia is coming to Dallas in November and Astryd de Michele is coming in January - I'm looking forward to attending both workshops - I've had only one Raqia workshop before, but I think at this particular point in my dancing, I will get a lot more from her teaching.

who is hosting these workshops?

As for the clips, I liked them both. I had to watch them with no sound, so I am just going on movements here, no musical intepretation.

The first one, I did see some Dinaesque stuff, but no one can do Dina quite like the original. So i guess you could interpret it as an adequate imitation or an individualized take on a very specialized style.

the second clip was very Randa influenced. chicken wing turn, super straight arms, high kicks and laybacks, but she has a softness to her dancing that I find missing a little in Randa.

I think she's a good dancer and look forward to seeing more of her, but damn she stole my idea for a costume with suspenders ..cr.:

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Raqia is coming to Dallas in November and Astryd de Michele is coming in January - I'm looking forward to attending both workshops - I've had only one Raqia workshop before, but I think at this particular point in my dancing, I will get a lot more from her teaching.

ooooh I'm so JELLUS!! (but not h8ting on ya never that )

i'm currently working on an interview with dalila, so if you have any burning questions for her please pm me asap

will update re: when / where it will be published when its completed.

Regardless of who she is imitating or not..........I like both videos... It os nice to see people being able to portray different styles..... love both costumes! keep up dalila!

Originally Posted by amanda_raqs

who is hosting these workshops?

Isis is hosting Raqia (Isis and the Star Dancers), and Tatika is hosting Astryd (Tatika's Treasures: Your Emporium for Belly Dance Music and Instruction)

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Isis is hosting Raqia (Isis and the Star Dancers), and Tatika is hosting Astryd (Tatika's Treasures: Your Emporium for Belly Dance Music and Instruction)

Thanks!!! I don't know if I can afford to make it in November, but I am really going to try and get there for Astryd in January. I just wish airfare from SLC to Dallas wasn't so expensive!