Thread: Floorwork in clubs

I'm wondering: what ever happened to Egyptian dancers doing floorwork during their restaurant sets? Is it because the general public doesn't care for it or has it just gone out of style or is has it just become a lost art? I'm also wondering if there are any good dvds for learning floorwork (I would especially like to do floorwork with sword, but also for a couple of slower pieces that I'm working on).

When did floorwork disappear and where did it go?

Yoninah,f::

Well floorwork was initially banned in the Arabic clubs in Detroit when I first started dancing in the 1980's. I used to do floorwork all the time in the Greek clubs. Once the last Greek club closed in the late 1990's I went back to work in the Arabic clubs and by then the ban on floor was lifted and I performed it. Dancers in my area, however rarely perform floorwork now because first of all they aren't trained to do it, and secondly, the musicians aren't as well trained either and tend to play just party music.

I basically taught myself floorwork from watching other dancers in Greektown that did it and from video. Unfortunately, I have no videos of my shows from that time period. If you like sword an old school dancer, Delilah, did some great sword work. I personally don't care for her "dance" style but she did some amazing floorwork.

The dancer in this thread does some good sword work although I questioned her music choices:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/music-trad...ect-music.html

I've sure I've heard a number of times that floor work at public venues is illegal in Egypt. Can anyone confirm this?
Rosette

Originally Posted by Rosette

I've sure I've heard a number of times that floor work at public venues is illegal in Egypt. Can anyone confirm this?
Rosette

If you mean can I point you to the law - no. But I understand from very reliable sources it was one of the things banned post-revolution. The exception is floorwork used in folkloric - which usually is just a level change.

I heard that this one is good: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5NiDrxsxQ]YouTube - Flawless Floorwork with Ruby - DVD trailer[/ame]

Corey Zamora has an instructional DVD out specifically about old-school floorwork .......

I've heard that Ruby's floorwork dvd is quite good. I used to teach floorwork more, but stopped for a while- there's only so much I can get into 75 minute classes and unfortunately, it was one of the things that I let go of. I was actually thinking of integrating it back into Levels 2 and 3 in the fall- and perhaps in the summer, but we'll see.

I don't remember who said it (wish I could), but someone once told me that if I did floorwork for Egyptians, they'd say "why is she rolling around on the floor? Get up!" No idea if that has any basis in anything, but it stuck with me, which is why I wish I could confirm it (or un-confirm it!)

As for restaurant dancing around here (since we live in the same area), the 3 places where I have danced/dance at- either don't have a stage or it's very seldom used. It's just icky to think about doing floorwork around tables where the floor is gross and people having to look down to the floor to see the dancer- yuck! Depending on the raised-stage restaurants, there would have to be careful costume considerations (to avoid Raks Beaver at just the wrong height)- I think for most, it's just easier to avoid it altogether. I don't know how the restaurant owners feel about it. As far as private gigs, I incorporate floorwork into sword and shamadan pieces, but that's pretty much it, and of course, it depends on the set-up of the venue. I will never put myself into a situation where I am down on the floor and people are all around me- that just wouldn't work for me.

Originally Posted by Lesedi

I heard that this one is good: YouTube - Flawless Floorwork with Ruby - DVD trailer

I like this DVD a lot. I think floorwork went out of style with the rise in popularity Egyptian-style dancing in the late 80's and 90s (I do think it was banned in the 50's in Egypt) and modern Egyptians costumes with straight skirts which make floorwork very difficult. My understanding is that it used to be part of the standard American Oriental set.

The other difficulty with floorwork is that in a lot of clubs, floorwork is really hard to see unless there is a raised stage or a more open floorplan. A dancer may go to do floorwork, and then most people can't see the dancer. And it does require a lot of strength!

But maybe with the return of Turkish and American Oriental, it will come back into fashion?

A few examples of sword and floorwork:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuYiQpzJeUU"]YouTube- Neenah performing a Sword Dance with Tarkan Music[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aRVvGnwLKw]YouTube - Elizabeth Strong....Amazing Dancer!!![/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBeMvBy-v-I]YouTube - shabnam sword dance[/ame]

Originally Posted by mathkitty

A few examples of sword and floorwork:
YouTube- Neenah performing a Sword Dance with Tarkan Music

Does she have the sword balanced on her chin?....or in her mouth?!

I've never seen anyone do that. Head, hip, chest,.....

Originally Posted by ZivaSelina

Does she have the sword balanced on her chin?....or in her mouth?!

I've never seen anyone do that. Head, hip, chest,.....

It's on her chin- I saw a couple of clear shots with her mouth closed and it was on the chin, although from a few angles, I wasn't sure!

And of course Aida at 4:25
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywqSRPv4MCg&playnext_from=TL&videos=xmo9lc Q9ApM]YouTube - Aida best belly dancer ever[/ame]

Piper

YouTube - USS Saratoga CV-60 1984-87 Cruise-Athens Greece Port Call 06

Originally Posted by norma

And of course Aida at 4:25
YouTube - Aida best belly dancer ever

Piper

YouTube - USS Saratoga CV-60 1984-87 Cruise-Athens Greece Port Call 06

Great videos, thanks for posting Norma!

Thanks for posting the videos! I agree, I hope it does come back in fashion.

I've never associated Egyptian dancers with floorwork. I've always thought of it as a part of Turkish or Arabic style dancing. I love floorwork, but it's hard to perform in a club or restaurant unless you have a good venue for it--if you're not on a raised stage, you lose most of your audience if you're down on the floor for an extended period.

Since we're sharing videos, let's not forget Melina's sword and dagger act--it's pretty amazing!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCEJueA_JnU]YouTube - Melina of Daughters of Rhea's Belly Dance Sword & Dagger Act[/ame]

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

Corey Zamora has an instructional DVD out specifically about old-school floorwork .......

You can't go wrong with Corey Zamora.

I'm loving the Ruby DVD and recommend it to everybody, lots of good drills to build strength and really take your time down there.

I think if enough of us work hard at it, it'll eventually come back...I hope..g.:

Reviews on my web site for floor work videos:

Classic Cabaret Floor Work: A Video Review By Shira

Floor Work Made Simple, by Mahisha: A Video Review By Shira

Bellydance for Body Sculpting - Floorwork (originally named Bellydance for Body Sculpting - Floor Work): A Video Review By Shira


As for Yoninah's original question, I think floor work went out of fashion in the U.S. because:

1. There was a decline in restaurants that offered raised stages for the dancer to perform, and there's no point in doing floor work in a venue without a raised stage.

2. Rise in popularity of Egyptian dance eliminated the need to do floor work because it was banned in Egypt in the 1950's except for when you're doing "traditional" dances such as shamadan. If one's chosen style is Egyptian, then floor work is really not necessary.

3. Shift in costuming trends. It used to be common for dancers to make their own skirts and pants, and therefore washable fabrics were used with a minimum of fancy sequin work. If your costume got dirty from rolling around on the floor, it wasn't a big deal to wash it. It used to be common for dancers to wear full skirts instead of straight skirts, and full skirts are more conducive to floor work than straight. It used to be common for dancers to wear pants or leggings under their skirts, and now that's no longer common. All of these changes affected the practicality of floor work. But none of these changes apply to tribal, which is why you still see floor work widely done in the tribal world.

4. Floor work is difficult. It demands a lot of flexibility, core strength, and upper body strength. Not everybody is willing to do what it takes to develop the necessary muscle tone.

Doesn´t Saqra have a DVD about floor work?


Edit:
Here´s the info on Saqras website:
"FLOOR DANCING TECHNIQUE

How to structure a floor routine, steps, and steps appropriate for working with a prop. Dramatic dropping decents included, including the flat style of "Turkish Drop" (but this move is not recommended for anyone... especially anyone who can't naturally sit on the floor very, very easily between their feet). Run time: Approx. 1 hour. DVD $22 - Prices include shipping to US"

Never learned floor work myself so I don´t do it,but love to watch it...who knows,maybe one day:)

Rayhana local NYC does awesome floor work I bought her VHS from a workshop I went to. I also reference Jehan's DVD as well a Floor work really isn't my thing, but I did learn it just to have in my "dance box". Besides who knows what is on them floors nowadays..


Alrana

Originally Posted by *Shira*

Reviews on my web site for floor work videos:

Classic Cabaret Floor Work: A Video Review By Shira

Floor Work Made Simple, by Mahisha: A Video Review By Shira

Bellydance for Body Sculpting - Floorwork (originally named Bellydance for Body Sculpting - Floor Work): A Video Review By Shira


As for Yoninah's original question, I think floor work went out of fashion in the U.S. because:

1. There was a decline in restaurants that offered raised stages for the dancer to perform, and there's no point in doing floor work in a venue without a raised stage.

2. Rise in popularity of Egyptian dance eliminated the need to do floor work because it was banned in Egypt in the 1950's except for when you're doing "traditional" dances such as shamadan. If one's chosen style is Egyptian, then floor work is really not necessary.

3. Shift in costuming trends. It used to be common for dancers to make their own skirts and pants, and therefore washable fabrics were used with a minimum of fancy sequin work. If your costume got dirty from rolling around on the floor, it wasn't a big deal to wash it. It used to be common for dancers to wear full skirts instead of straight skirts, and full skirts are more conducive to floor work than straight. It used to be common for dancers to wear pants or leggings under their skirts, and now that's no longer common. All of these changes affected the practicality of floor work. But none of these changes apply to tribal, which is why you still see floor work widely done in the tribal world.

4. Floor work is difficult. It demands a lot of flexibility, core strength, and upper body strength. Not everybody is willing to do what it takes to develop the necessary muscle tone.

Yes, all of this!