Thread: Meleya Leff - how quickly to unwrap?

So, I've been watching videos of Meleya Leffs and was wondering how long you should wait to unwrap? I've heard that you should draw it out, but I've also seen dances where the person unwraps right away. Is there a standard on this or can the dancer do whatever they want? Inquiring mind wants to know.

Based on what I've seen, it's a choice. Depending on your intention for the piece, the music you're using, etc.

Funny, I've never really thought of it as 'unwrapping' exactly, that sounds more like American Cabaret veilwork to me. I'm sure it could be done in a way that's classy/flirty and entertaining, especially if the costume underneath is something unexpected. I'm having a vague memory of seeing a baby Dina do something like this under a Marlboro sign in an ANCIENT video... not with a melaya but with a cape, maybe? Of course, the costume she finally revealed was outrageous!

My group is working on Faten Salama's choreo (her background is Egyptian folkloric troupe) and we basically enter, dodder back and forth for a bit, then throw it open and spin like mad!!! The music sort of demands it, though, I can't imagine keeping the melaya closed and doing anything else in that section, and it's early.

hmmmm... that's kinda what I'm thinking. Maybe it depends on when the music says - check me out! I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't supposed to stay wrapped for a while. Thanks!

Yep, depends on music. Although I wonder if the quick unwrap is due to the dancer feeling she cannot hold the audience while wrapped? Good milaya (in my mind) requires heaps of character and attitude.

Also, the "unwrap" isn't the end. The second milaya choreo I learnt had the dancer entering and barely on stage unwrapping - then rewrapping in a couple of beats. Throughout the song she re-wrapped another half a dozen times I think.

Originally Posted by kashmir

Yep, depends on music. Although I wonder if the quick unwrap is due to the dancer feeling she cannot hold the audience while wrapped? Good milaya (in my mind) requires heaps of character and attitude.

Also, the "unwrap" isn't the end. The second milaya choreo I learnt had the dancer entering and barely on stage unwrapping - then rewrapping in a couple of beats. Throughout the song she re-wrapped another half a dozen times I think.

YES, that seems to be Faten's style, too. We spent a good portion of her workshop learning how to rewrap at lightning speed, she seemed to consider it THE basic skill one needs for melaya.

Originally Posted by kashmir

Yep, depends on music. Although I wonder if the quick unwrap is due to the dancer feeling she cannot hold the audience while wrapped? Good milaya (in my mind) requires heaps of character and attitude.

Also, the "unwrap" isn't the end. The second milaya choreo I learnt had the dancer entering and barely on stage unwrapping - then rewrapping in a couple of beats. Throughout the song she re-wrapped another half a dozen times I think.

Yes, heaps of character and attitude along with wrapping and re-wrapping multiple times is what I learned from Raqia Hassan. There are no real rules, though, so you could enter the stage wrapped up, then only unwrap once or twice, then discard the melaya and go on with your dance. But then, is it melaya leff? As Raqia taught, it's a theatrical piece about a young woman going out shopping - not necessarily for fruits and veggies, but maybe for a potential husband or at least someone to flirt with.

Oh, I love the idea of wrapping and unwrapping again and again. This could be a choreo I have to play with.