Thread: Looking for Great Dance Clips to Alf Leyla we Leyla

I know about a thousand and one dancers have performed to Alf Leyla we Layla. I'm looking for the best clips I can find, either on youtube or video. Can ya'll share your favorites? Also, Are there recordings of any of the famous greats from Egypt or Lebanon performing to this piece of music that you know of?

<3

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viKwv579ooA]YouTube - Saida performing Alf Leyla Wa Leyla at Pergamino July 2005[/ame]

ah here we go Lucy!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94tJgnJiwEo]YouTube - Arabian belly dancing[/ame]

another saida

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c7p6AFHGCw]YouTube - Saida Alf lela we lela[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzEVjk58sA]YouTube - Classic oriental dance[/ame]

Originally Posted by shems

another saida

YouTube - Saida Alf lela we lela

Ohh I loved this one!

I love this song and I love seeing the different interpretations of it. This song was the first choreography I ever learned, it was on Jillina's Bellydance Instruction Level 1 (took me six weeks to master it as I had absolutely NO previous instruction or background at all).

I have a playlist for Alf Leyla, you're welcome to browse it. There are great and not so great, but I love the diversity.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F0307480874F7B89]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/ame]

hmmm, the auto embed feature is messing with being able to display a playlist. Hopefully you can click on the title and view the playlist in Youtube.

Thanks Lauren!

doood! where can I get this recording of Alf Leyla?!?! I must have it!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFY-HDXZM4E]YouTube - Turkish Belly Dance - Didem[/ame]

This one is my favourite (Gaby is the name of the dancer):

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kJcwq7vIs&feature=channel_page]YouTube - bellydance رقص عربي Ø*ار جدا Bauchtanz musik: www.alibaba1.de[/ame]

Originally Posted by Fotia

I love this song and I love seeing the different interpretations of it. This song was the first choreography I ever learned, it was on Jillina's Bellydance Instruction Level 1 (took me six weeks to master it as I had absolutely NO previous instruction or background at all).

Awww, me too!!!

Can I offer my own? I have hair issues in the beginning, but it definitely takes off towards the end, I think.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oiyNVjE2QU"]YouTube - Tamra Henna at Kismet Hafla September 2006[/ame]

Thanks! These are all great. Tamra Henna, yours is lovely as well.

Here's Rachel George performing with Middle Earth Ensemble (for her it seems they always play this piece)...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7wqv7jVUeY]YouTube - Rachel George bellydance drum solo Lestats[/ame]

This is one of my favorite songs and here's a clip of me improvising to it. The version in the clip is my favorite by the Cairo Orchestra on Aziza's Raks CD (awa other CDs too).

To help you a little more, You won't find any of the "older" greats dancing to Alf Leila the song was released in 1969. One thing I've heard over the years (not sure if it's true) is that Soheir Zaki is one of the few (if not the only) dancers that used Om Kaltoum songs (or parts of songs in this case) back in the day.

Since Om Kaltoum was such a "treasured" singer most dancers wouldn't take on her material as Om Kaltoum was highly revered and bellydance was not, but of course now many of her songs, like Alf Leila wa leila, are belly dance classics.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxT63VlC6ng]YouTube - Anna at Shunyata DVD Release Party - Cafe Layal Houston TX[/ame]

Just a little FYI, part of Alf Laylawas actually composed in my teacher's apartment when she was working in Egypt. The musicians and dancers used to always hang out together. I sure wish I had a copy of her photo album. She even has a photo of her on Farid El Atrache's balconey.

My the way, whatever happeneed to that spoof clip? The one with the schoolgirls? That was hilarious.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfel1t_iTTI]YouTube - Sa'diyya - Alf Leyla Wa Leyla[/ame]

Originally Posted by norma

Just a little FYI, part of Alf Laylawas actually composed in my teacher's apartment when she was working in Egypt. The musicians and dancers used to always hang out together. I sure wish I had a copy of her photo album. She even has a photo of her on Farid El Atrache's balconey.

My the way, whatever happeneed to that spoof clip? The one with the schoolgirls? That was hilarious.

That's cool. Who was your teacher?

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

Can I offer my own? I have hair issues in the beginning, but it definitely takes off towards the end, I think.

that was great. and i like the "live" version choice of music. it really adds a lot.

Originally Posted by humdinger70

Here's Rachel George performing with Middle Earth Ensemble (for her it seems they always play this piece)...

thats because she has a choreography to it and teaches it on her dvds :)
yay, thanks for plugging my little monthly showcase ;)

i'll offer mine too, its just clips of middle earth ensemble playing a softer, more melodic, less percussive version (an interesting musical contrast to the other way they play it): [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbsQguIgJ1c]YouTube - Sabrina & Middle Earth Ensemble - belly dancing to Alf Leyla Wa Leyla[/ame]

Originally Posted by shems

That's cool. Who was your teacher?

Princess Madiha of Syria. You can read about her history here:
Princess Madiha – Messenger of the Dance: Why "Princess" Madiha?

I'm not sure if this will work without being logged into facebook or being her "friend", but I have a friend who has recently done a piece to this song. She's not "one of the greats", but I think she did a beautiful job with it.

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Originally Posted by Adishakti

I'm not sure if this will work without being logged into facebook or being her "friend", but I have a friend who has recently done a piece to this song. She's not "one of the greats", but I think she did a beautiful job with it.

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didn't work for me, but it might be time to make a new friend - can you link me to her profile so I can send her a friend request?

this is turning into a great little thread. So many good dancers on bhuz, I'm tellin ya.

Originally Posted by norma

Princess Madiha of Syria. You can read about her history here:
Princess Madiha – Messenger of the Dance: Why "Princess" Madiha?

Oh yes! I've heard of her. How cool for you that you got to study with her.

Originally Posted by shems

didn't work for me, but it might be time to make a new friend - can you link me to her profile so I can send her a friend request?

this is turning into a great little thread. So many good dancers on bhuz, I'm tellin ya.

She's listed on facebook as "Kelly Caliana". Definitely time to make a new friend - she's sweeter than sweet!

Originally Posted by norma

Princess Madiha of Syria. You can read about her history here:
Princess Madiha – Messenger of the Dance: Why "Princess" Madiha?

I gotta watch her videos - I assume they are on YouTube?

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

This one is my favourite (Gaby is the name of the dancer):

YouTube - bellydance رقص عربي Ø*ار جدا Bauchtanz musik: www.alibaba1.de

OOOOH I have never seen this clip. I LOVE it!

I like all of the clips posted here..g.:

Originally Posted by Fotia

I gotta watch her videos - I assume they are on YouTube?

Unfortunately, no. The only clips there would be of her dancing back in the day would be in Japanese movies and such. She never mentioned having copies of those. In her beginner video she danced a couple of times. In the Elegant Dance DVD she made with a choreo to Setrak's Samara she of course dances the whole routine in workout clothes, but it's still an amazing performance. I think that is still for sale. Most of the video of her now is teaching, not performing.

But you should see her Alf Layla. A thing of beauty.
I studied with her for almost 20 years and could never come close to it.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

OOOOH I have never seen this clip. I LOVE it!

I like all of the clips posted here..g.:

I love it too. But unfortunately I think Gaby is not performing anymore...

Originally Posted by shems

doood! where can I get this recording of Alf Leyla?!?! I must have it!

YouTube - Turkish Belly Dance - Didem

u guys!!! I would also love to know where I can find this version!!! Does anyone know??