Thread: youtube clip - Baladi

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRigLZsDvA]YouTube - Belly Dance - Egyptian Style, baladi[/ame]

this is beautiful dancing, I love the style, very early days Hilal style. this is how I would like to dance.

I see some baladi, but...not sure if it's quite what I think of when I think baladi--she had some interesting modern dance look to her style. It isn't quite as "earthy" as I consider baladi to be.

Curious what others think.

Originally Posted by mish_mish

I see some baladi, but...not sure if it's quite what I think of when I think baladi--she had some interesting modern dance look to her style. It isn't quite as "earthy" as I consider baladi to be.

Curious what others think.

I thought the same thing as you - not very earthy. The hands and arms are seem especially airy and more ethereal to me, like I'm more used to seeing in an Orientale piece.

I also think there is an attitude that must come through in baladi--a sly, playfulness that just didn't come through in that performance. Baladi, to me, isn't stuffy or cool and collected--the dancer isn't detached at all in the baladi style.

DaVid is a good resource--I'm sure he can intellectualize it better than I can.

she's doing oriental in a baladi-style costume to a baladi progression. how... interesting. she gets into a little more about 2 minutes in. did anyone else find it anticlimactic??

Yes, I agree that there isn't the earthy essence of baladi that you'd see if this was an Egyptian dancer (or a very good imitator), but it's a bit harsh to entirely throw cold water on Starglow's admiration. I think the girl in the clip shows some sound technique, her musical interpretation is good, and I thought that the moves she chose were mostly appropriate to the style...even if executed somewhat less than 'authentically'.

Getting philisophical...is being 'authentic' the most important thing, anyway? We all move and feel the dance differently. Why should we try and be cookie-cutters of other dancers? I for one am trying to accept that, while I can be respectful of our dance's history, and intellectually study and choreograph saiidi and khaleegy (for eg) to try and be 'authentic', it never quite comes out just right when I perform it. But then, I'm a blonde Anglo from Australia, so rather than beat myself up about my lack of Egyptian-ness, I'd be better off concentrating on being the best dancer I can be... in my own style.

(Better stop, I just quoted 'Centre Stage'. Arghhh!)

Sadly, I discovered partway into the clip I'm biased against that Hilal name. I was surprised to learn that about myself, since all I know about Soraya Hilal is what I've read here on Bhuz, and a few clips I've seen of her dancers.

When I realized a few minutes into the clip that I was watching with intent to dislike rather than enjoy the performer, I stopped watching. I, too, saw the modern dance influence and very Westernized loftier-than-thou styling... but I don't know what I would have seen if I hadn't seen the word 'Hilal' before I watched the dancer.

How do I cleanse myself of this prejudice?

Nice hipwork. :) Would like to have seen more expression tho. Thanks for sharing!

She's definetely talented. A very nice dancer, her interpretation seemed sinous to me which I don't associate with baladi.

Lauren, knowing that you have the prejudice is the first step. Now go immerse yourself in hilal styling so you can completely pick it apart and decide if you like or hate it. :-)

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

Yes, I agree that there isn't the earthy essence of baladi that you'd see if this was an Egyptian dancer (or a very good imitator), but it's a bit harsh to entirely throw cold water on Starglow's admiration. I think the girl in the clip shows some sound technique, her musical interpretation is good, and I thought that the moves she chose were mostly appropriate to the style...even if executed somewhat less than 'authentically'.

Getting philisophical...is being 'authentic' the most important thing, anyway? We all move and feel the dance differently. Why should we try and be cookie-cutters of other dancers? I for one am trying to accept that, while I can be respectful of our dance's history, and intellectually study and choreograph saiidi and khaleegy (for eg) to try and be 'authentic', it never quite comes out just right when I perform it. But then, I'm a blonde Anglo from Australia, so rather than beat myself up about my lack of Egyptian-ness, I'd be better off concentrating on being the best dancer I can be... in my own style.

(Better stop, I just quoted 'Centre Stage'. Arghhh!)

I think you missed the point--I am not saying the clip was bad or that she was a bad dancer, I just said, "Not quite what I think of when I think of baladi."

She's a very skilled dancer - no doubt about that. I can see why you enjoyed this clip. I wouldn't begin to pick her apart because I'm currently working hard at baladi myself and it's harder than it looks. But like the others, I get more of an Orientale feel from this. When I think baladi, this is what I appreciate....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzXOqqLEVQY]YouTube - Fifi Abdou Baladi[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiUl0lj62ck]YouTube - Ahmed Zaki & Fifi Abdou[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3ZRJ8ahy0]YouTube - Egyptian belly dance NAJLA - رقص شرقي Ghannili sheway[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7jM6Zz-knw]YouTube - Yasmilah[/ame]

Originally Posted by mish_mish

I think you missed the point--I am not saying the clip was bad or that she was a bad dancer, I just said, "Not quite what I think of when I think of baladi."

I was just thinking that it might not be nice for a newcomer to Bhuz to post "I like this dancing, I want to be able to dance like this" and then we all jump out and say "Oh no, not like that! That's not what it should be like." I was probably being overly sensitive on Starglow's behalf, and you (or the other posters) didn't mean it that way at all. But I think that sometimes on Bhuz we become a bit prescriptive over what constitutes acceptable dancing (very much slanted towards authentic Egyptian styling) and I think that can be off-putting for newer members or those that like other styles.

Well, I think it was a good discussion. I am really enamoured of baladi right now, and I'm trying to learn everything I can to understand it better so that I can do it right. The first clip didn't feel right to me but I couldn't articulate why - and I liked reading the discussion from people who know more about it. And I really enjoyed watching the clips Adi Shakti posted.

The OP shouldn't feel intimidated. No one put down the dancing in the clip - it just became a discussion of whether it was authentic baladi or not. I for one learned a lot from the discussion, so thank you.

I didn't mean to sound discouraging either! She's quite a lovely dancer, and I really did find her interpretation interesting (even though her elegant arms are a musical/costume "mismatch" to my eye). I was taught that baladi style dancing should look like you're at home with the Egyptian housewives boogyin' down to your favorite song...this dancer was definitely projected and elegant and on stage. By anticlimactic I meant it would have been nice if the dance had an "end"...or even the final, exciting part of the progression. She kind of dances off stage mid-song.


Lauren, if you're willing to give her a try again maybe start 2 minutes in? ETA Nevermind.

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

But I think that sometimes on Bhuz we become a bit prescriptive over what constitutes acceptable dancing (very much slanted towards authentic Egyptian styling) and I think that can be off-putting for newer members or those that like other styles.

I think I was going by the title of the clip, which of course is what the YouTube poster used and not Starglow. Because the clip is titled "Egyptian Style, Baladi", I was expecting more of a traditional Egyptian interpretation and based my comments on that. I think nasila put it very well, what I've been taught Baladi style is - "should look like you're at home with the Egyptian housewives boogyin' down to your favorite song".

But someone pointed out that the song is a Baladi progession, so the title might be referring to the *rhythm*, not the style.

hi there, I haven't run away and hidden, just on the other side of the world and sleeping.
I'm not exactly new to bhuz i used to be nigma before and my early influence was Hilal, who is egyptian but trained in america under the Martha Graham influence (I think) can you see it now?
although Hilal used to claim to be traditional (her music is anyway) she is more open to being called a contempory dancer these days and of course her style has altered too but I like the older style. I'm impressed with her creativeness and she does have a great connection with the music.
I for one am glad we have so many styles within this genre that we can take from. not everyone can be sassy or wants to show flesh or dance with a veil.
I have never been comfortable with the caberet element of this dance and naturally leaned towards expressing myself and the music in otherways just tribal girls prefer there look and style.
and remember that baladi is a dance of the people so whatever the people are into so shall it reflect in dance.

[QUOTE=nasila;130362] I was taught that baladi style dancing should look like you're at home with the Egyptian housewives boogyin' down to your favorite song...this dancer was definitely projected and elegant and on stage.
QUOTE]

quite right. this style of baladi was created for the stage.

I think Adishakti did a wonderful job on finding those baladi clips, especially the first one with Fifi Abdou (even though she's awesome anyway). Though this may sound cheesy , I want to name that post "Now That's What I Call Baladi!" ..l;,

The clip that starglow posted didn't give me that baladi feel, but it was absolutely lovely dancing, and starglow go for it if that's what you like. Good luck to you in everything you do!

Starglow, I believe we all need to have belly dance role models--regardless of the name of this clip, if it touches you and inspires you, that's what's important. Sorry if I got hung up on the title of the clip or sounded discouraging. That wasn't my intent at all. As Laura pointed out, youtube clips are named by the person posting them. The dancer, herself, may not have called the clip Egyptian Baladi.

Thanks Belldancefanatic, thats sweet.
Mish mish, no worries you didn't discourage, all's cool.

You're absolutely welcome starglow!

What is the song in the Fifi Abdou Baladi Youtube clip?

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

What is the song in the Fifi Abdou Baladi Youtube clip?

Beledi Alwad...same song as the last clip she posted (with Yasmilah - that one's from Leila's CD). :)

Originally Posted by nasila

Beledi Alwad. :)

Thank you! I should have got that since they said it in the beginning of the song. I can be a ditz sometimes! ..l;,

The first clip was nice but not what I consider "beledi". She definitely seems to be influenced by modern American caberet or just plain old western influences. The clips of Fifi to me, are quite on pointe.

Now this is another beautiful beledi progression my Mona "Saeed". I don't know how to embed a clip yet so I'll just post the link. Notice how the first dancer seems to be so choreographed? Fifi and Mona are just feelings. That to me is the "essence" of beledi.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr2t1xdeCh4]YouTube - mona saeed منى سعيد[/ame]

I absolutely LOVE the costume that Mona wears in that clip!

And I agree that improv and feeling the dance is essential to beledi. I'm not much of a fan of choreo anyway unless it's for a big event. I believe half improv and half choreo makes a nice balance in any bellydance style performance.

Thanks for posting, Norma!