Thread: Jordan and Jordanian dancers

Hi everybody,

Are you aware of famous Jordanian oriental dancers? I don't think I have ever heard of any.. would be curious if you know maybe one of the famous dancers has roots in Jordan (like Samara seems to be Iraqi from what I've heard, but worked in Lebanon; Randa Kamal seems to have Maghrebine roots but was born or grew up in Egypt etc).

Thanks!

I've never heard of a dancer from Jordan. It seems like they import them though, usualy overseas dancers on contracts or dancers from Syria or Lebanon. Samara is a special case. Most dancers in Lebanon seem to be Lebanese, Brazilian or Russian.

Thanks for the info! So many people go to Jordan for contracts from what you've heard?

I hear a lot about Egypt or the Gulf states, sometimes Lebanon (not so much though).. do you know of many foreign dancers who went to Jordan, or also, say, Syria?

I've been told that most of the dancers working in the hotels in Amman, Jordan are Brazilian. The dancers in the hotels and resorts in Oman all seem to be Brazilian as well.

Forgot to add that my teacher here in Dubai is Jordanian though she's never performed in her home country.

Interesting!! how's her style? is there a Jordanian "taste" at all? I've seen cousins of mine who have lived in Jordan all their lives dance - hard to tell whether differences in movements are just because they are a. not professional, b. bringing in their personality for social dancing...

I was under the impression that public performance of raqs sharqi is illegal in Jordan....???

you're sure???????? Amman is a very modern city...

....

Originally Posted by dinavienna

you're sure???????? Amman is a very modern city...

Oh no, not sure at all. Thus the question marks. I just vaguely remembered having read it once.

hmmm.. I've never been there. and it IS a country of extremes. Tribalism and conservativism are very strong, also in the capital in many social classes, and not only the poor ones (like the parliament is ultra conservative - blocking stricter laws against the punishment of honour killers for years despite the royal family's efforts to have such laws passed).
On the other hand from pictures and family living there the picture you see in the streets is a bit like Istanbul or other fashionable Mideastern cities, many very chic and fashionable women.. your comment made me wonder if there is some reason behind virtually no Jordanian native dancer being known though. I hope that's not the reason..

No, that's not true. Many of the major hotels in Amman and the resort areas have bellydancers performing.

Originally Posted by Mihrbanu

I was under the impression that public performance of raqs sharqi is illegal in Jordan....???

Glad to hear that!

Originally Posted by dinavienna

hmmm.. I've never been there. and it IS a country of extremes. Tribalism and conservativism are very strong, also in the capital in many social classes, and not only the poor ones (like the parliament is ultra conservative - blocking stricter laws against the punishment of honour killers for years despite the royal family's efforts to have such laws passed).
On the other hand from pictures and family living there the picture you see in the streets is a bit like Istanbul or other fashionable Mideastern cities, many very chic and fashionable women.. your comment made me wonder if there is some reason behind virtually no Jordanian native dancer being known though. I hope that's not the reason..

You are onto something with the tribalism. (Have actually lived among the clans in remote areas.) It is one thing to get a degree, dress a la mode and move on up in society. That can be a point of pride among even very conservative families. Becoming a a dancer is another thing: it is considered a disgrace to family honor.

Originally Posted by niamh

You are onto something with the tribalism. (Have actually lived among the clans in remote areas.) It is one thing to get a degree, dress a la mode and move on up in society. That can be a point of pride among even very conservative families. Becoming a a dancer is another thing: it is considered a disgrace to family honor.

And this is exactly why there are few/no Jordanian nationality dancers.

So do you think these views are stronger in Jordan than in other Arab countries??? I know my family strongly disapproves of bellydance (well not my cousins, they took lessons, but most of them informally/secretly.. and I think their teacher wasn't Jordanian, I'd have to ask though if she was Arab at all, now you made me curious if maybe's she's a foreigner; and I know my cousins made a big secret out of the lessons, and could never dance in public.. but hey, same for me I was never allowed to take lessons, and now that I do my family's not exactly happy :) ); but I'd have thought this not any stronger than in other Arab countries.. why would there be more Egyptian dancers? because it became a profitable trade with the movie industry maybe, and where's a lot of money and fame more people are willing to break the rules?

Interestingly, there's no Maghrebine dancers I can think of either.. basically most of the famous bellydancers came from or went to Egypt and Lebanon.. right?

P.s. I mean no big name Maghrebine dancers present in movies or on TV from what I know except for if they went to Egypt.

Originally Posted by dinavienna

So do you think these views are stronger in Jordan than in other Arab countries???
Interestingly, there's no Maghrebine dancers I can think of either.. basically most of the famous bellydancers came from or went to Egypt and Lebanon.. right?

Belly dance music and dance is separate from the music and dance traditions of the tribal peoples of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. When in the city with my relatives, my folks would sit in stony silence while the girls and women who were raised in the city would do their social belly dancing (acquired by copying what they saw dancers doing in movies. Taking fomal lessons, seriously practicing or learning zills were all big no-nos even for city girls.)

I suspect these views may hold in other regions of the Arab world where tribalism is still strong such as Upper Egypt. Even in heavily urbanized areas one cannot generalize as Arab society is made up of many diverse threads. Like ballerinas up to Edwardian times, belly dancers are considered in the mind of the general public to be women of shady morals: you can enjoy their performances and even call it art, but it is not a viable career path or even a respected hobby for the average Jane. ("If you re so artistic why don't you do ballet? Is it bcause you are overweight?" Said to me by a FORMER friend.)

Originally Posted by niamh

Belly dance music and dance is separate from the music and dance traditions of the tribal peoples of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. When in the city with my relatives, my folks would sit in stony silence while the girls and women who were raised in the city would do their social belly dancing (acquired by copying what they saw dancers doing in movies. Taking fomal lessons, seriously practicing or learning zills were all big no-nos even for city girls.)

I can relate to what you are saying, definitely! And I now understand some things better.. I also know of the "when you're interested in the arts and dance, why don't you learn RESPECTABLE dancing?" (for me it wasn't ballet, but ballroom I was encouraged to do by my parents).

Sorry your friend said something that offensive to you!! ..c::