Thread: bedouin dance from Nadia Gamal's 1980 teaching video

Hi,
I'm trying to find out more about the dance that Nadia Gamal teaches in the NYC instructional video from 1980 (I think that was the year). Any dance anthropologists out there know how accurate/authentic the large shoulder movements are? Or which bedouin group they belong to? She only says they are "mountain bedouin". This is the only time I have seen these large shoulder rolls & chest movements presented (mind you I am no expert) and I would like to have the source verified by 2nd observation. Does anyone know where she got her information? Is it general knowledge (which is legitimate) in the culture? I don't want to say "this is true" after hearing from just that one source. There is so little good dance anthropology research and almost no ethnology from a dancer perspective that every little gem needs to be recorded. I am looking for accuracy. Thanks for any help any of you may be able to give!

Nita

The Bedouin dancer on Ibrahim Farrah's "Rare Glimpses" DVD uses big shoulder movements. Not sure which Bedouin group that dancer and her family belong to; Bobby always called them "mountain bedouins."

Originally Posted by bintbeled

The Bedouin dancer on Ibrahim Farrah's "Rare Glimpses" DVD uses big shoulder movements. Not sure which Bedouin group that dancer and her family belong to; Bobby always called them "mountain bedouins."

Thanks! I'll see if I can find a copy of that DVD and check it out.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

The Bedouin dancer on Ibrahim Farrah's "Rare Glimpses" DVD uses big shoulder movements. Not sure which Bedouin group that dancer and her family belong to; Bobby always called them "mountain bedouins."

They were also based somewhere in Lebanon.

Originally Posted by kashmir

They were also based somewhere in Lebanon.

Duh... Should have mentioned that, for those not familiar with his work. Thanks.

I am fairly well linked to a group of people who breeda very closed specific blood line of bedouin horses... I can ask if the term "mountain bedouin" means anything to them.

Originally Posted by Basha

I am fairly well linked to a group of people who breeda very closed specific blood line of bedouin horses... I can ask if the term "mountain bedouin" means anything to them.

OT ... What's the name of the breed? Is the blood line linked to Saudi Arabia's Arabs?

Thank you very much! I just am a real stickler for accuracy & corroborating evidence, etc. so I appreciate all the help with research! :)

Originally Posted by Serpentine

OT ... What's the name of the breed? Is the blood line linked to Saudi Arabia's Arabs?

Davenport Arabians- very small group of the Al Khamsa group. Short short story- Homer Davenport saw the Arabian at the World Faire- fell in love- got Roosevelt to write him a teachers slip to go the Allepo and met with the Beduins there to visit various tribes to purchase stock directly from them. First time in the history of the Arab they were exported directly from their people to America- 28 mares and stallions shipped to US soil in 1926 (I believe). We have been trying to do what is called "preservation breeding" to maintain the blood lines.

Full of win- hands down the coolest horses EVER. (But I am bias- I love my baby)

Originally Posted by Basha

Davenport Arabians- very small group of the Al Khamsa group. Short short story- Homer Davenport saw the Arabian at the World Faire- fell in love- got Roosevelt to write him a teachers slip to go the Allepo and met with the Beduins there to visit various tribes to purchase stock directly from them. First time in the history of the Arab they were exported directly from their people to America- 28 mares and stallions shipped to US soil in 1926 (I believe). We have been trying to do what is called "preservation breeding" to maintain the blood lines.

Full of win- hands down the coolest horses EVER. (But I am bias- I love my baby)

AHHH! I have several books about this story!! They ARE the coolest horses ever. I will PM you ... don't want to hijack the thread.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

The Bedouin dancer on Ibrahim Farrah's "Rare Glimpses" DVD uses big shoulder movements. Not sure which Bedouin group that dancer and her family belong to; Bobby always called them "mountain bedouins."

That family of Dancers in Ibrahim Farrah's "Rare Glimpses" video are "Nawar", who have now been linked to the Rom people. Many of the Egyptian Ghawazee are also ethnic Nawar as well. The filming was near the city of Baalbak in the Bekaa valley.
In Lebanon the Nawar are linked with the Bedouin, perhaps because of their nomadic life style and many have inter married.