Perception of Randa

[amity]

I saw 3 different types of Egyptian dance-and please, anyone else pipe up on their opinion. I saw folkloric, oriental, and then modern. Randa is definitely a modern dancer-sharp, crisp movements. I think Raqia summed it up unintentionally for me. She told me I wasn't strong enough of a dancer to overpower the music. I love Randa's style, but it's just not me.

Beat me down but my conclusion is that I think folkloric dances with the music/meaning,oriental floats with the music/meaning and the dancer plays the music on her body, and modern Egyptian is all about overempowering/outshining the music.

[banatsusan]

looking for big stick to beat Amity LOL
Interesting perspective. I don't agree that modern Egyptian overpowers the music. Maybe some dancers, at some points in the music...maybe, I guess it depends on what you hear in the music. I studied with Randa while in Cairo and I thoroughly enjoyed her interpretation of the music. Most movements were strong but others were not and every one of them felt to me like they went with the music. I also had a chance to take a private lesson with Mona (whom I would classify as oriental/classical) and she really pushed me to make my movements stronger and sometimes much larger than what I would normally do. Much of what we see on video/DVD is not what the dance really looks and feels like when you see it live as we all know. I always had this mental image of Dina on stage "twitching" her butt because that's what it looked like to me on tape but seeing her live brought a whole new dimension and I now see her movements as very strong and well defined. At any rate, I just started all this to say that all the dancers I saw and/or studied with had different ways of playing the music with their bodies, reguardless of their folkloric/oriental/modern styles.

[SummerSahar]

Originally Posted by norma

Of course all the students and Americans would think the dancer fabulous. All the musicians, ME patrons would say, she's not a dancer or all she does is spin, or she's not listening to the music. They really don't like dancers that spin a lot and do a lot of traveling steps. They want someone who dances to the music with feeling and forget the theatrics.

I gotta totally disagree with this. In the last year I've taken to studying jazz dancing again and I really enjoy peppering my shows with arabesques, fast spins, pas de burres, chasses, and all kinds of other jazzy moves. It's quite apparent in my dancing, and the ME audiences LOVE it (where I'm from, at least). I would HOPE that traveling steps and spins don't cause me to dance detached from the music (from what I hear from audience feedback, it doesn't). I have a feeling the patrons in the Persian restaurants I dance in would be bored stiff if I stood still too long and just "felt the music" :-) Maybe it's a Persian thing....

[*Shira*]

Originally Posted by SummerSahar

I gotta totally disagree with this. In the last year I've taken to studying jazz dancing again and I really enjoy peppering my shows with arabesques, fast spins, pas de burres, chasses, and all kinds of other jazzy moves. It's quite apparent in my dancing, and the ME audiences LOVE it (where I'm from, at least). I would HOPE that traveling steps and spins don't cause me to dance detached from the music (from what I hear from audience feedback, it doesn't). I have a feeling the patrons in the Persian restaurants I dance in would be bored stiff if I stood still too long and just "felt the music" Maybe it's a Persian thing....

Actually, Persian classical dance does have a lot of ballet-like influences, including traveling steps and spins, so I'll bet that does play a role in the positive feedback you get from the Persians in the audience. Also, I would expect that generic Americans would like the jazz influence too because it looks familiar and comfortable to them.

[caroline_afifi]

I agree with alot of points here about Egyptians having not heard of Randa. All the points raised were valid i.e. economics etc. but Asmahan is one of the big wedding favourites right now so she is well known, but they still dont really favour Randa. I have also asked why and one of the reasons is they said she is very 'beledi' meaning low class. I personally love her as she is bold and sassy but not too over the top with it. I like Asmahan but when I saw her rising out of the tulips at 3.00am (Nile Hilton wedding) it was all too much for me...

[Sashy]

Originally Posted by caroline_afifi

I agree with alot of points here about Egyptians having not heard of Randa. All the points raised were valid i.e. economics etc. but Asmahan is one of the big wedding favourites right now so she is well known, but they still dont really favour Randa. I have also asked why and one of the reasons is they said she is very 'beledi' meaning low class. I personally love her as she is bold and sassy but not too over the top with it. I like Asmahan but when I saw her rising out of the tulips at 3.00am (Nile Hilton wedding) it was all too much for me...

<one of the reasons is they said she is very 'beledi' meaning low class.>

Not being white skinned myself i hate to say it ,but it is well known that the majority of Egyptians consider white skinned people as "higher classed",and less than white,tannish other skin colors "lower class or beledi".Anyone who has been in touch with Egyptian culture and ways has to know that they are a class obssesed society in which people are judge on their level of academic education and economic income.The same applies to the kind of work or job you hold.Working on entertainment world and tourism,for example,is considered very low class in their eyes.

[anala]

The femal archetypes thread gives me a thought on this...would Nagwa be popular in Egypt right now? In this climate a Dalla is non threatening and cute. Ma’alima may be just too threatening right now, but her turn will come, when the economy booms and they want an example of a woman who knows how to get things done! Just a thought....

[kamilia]

Originally Posted by anala

The femal archetypes thread gives me a thought on this...would Nagwa be popular in Egypt right now? In this climate a Dalla is non threatening and cute. Ma’alima may be just too threatening right now, but her turn will come, when the economy booms and they want an example of a woman who knows how to get things done! Just a thought....

Haha, Anala, that's great! With a slow economy and the threat of a conservative theocracy within a decade, what is Egypt looking for in a dancer these days?

[zumarrad]

That's a good point, but then, look at what they're WEARING. The costumes these days are outrageously revealing. And then you have people like Tito getting up there and belly dancing (yes belly, not folklore). It seems that alongside growing conservatism there's some really hardcore risktaking going on among belly dancers with a bit of clout. It's very interesting.

[Mark Balahadia]

I don't like Randa either!

Ironically enough, Tito seems to be slightly more well known than Randa. An Egyptian "friend" of mine went to Sharm l'Sheikh for vacation and saw him at a club there. He said that he was "quite gay" and he was very impressed by his dancing.

I don't know what could be worst, being a male belly dancer in Egypt or being a female dancer in Egypt. la7me shaking (quoting Kamilia's expression), regardless of gender is very naughty!!!

[kamilia]

Originally Posted by Mark Balahadia

I don't like Randa either!

Ironically enough, Tito seems to be slightly more well known than Randa. An Egyptian "friend" of mine went to Sharm l'Sheikh for vacation and saw him at a club there. He said that he was "quite gay" and he was very impressed by his dancing.

I don't know what could be worst, being a male belly dancer in Egypt or being a female dancer in Egypt. la7me shaking (quoting Kamilia's expression), regardless of gender is very naughty!!!

Hey, Mark! Female dancers are obviously worse for society because they have vaginas

[Mark Balahadia]

Originally Posted by zumarrad

That's a good point, but then, look at what they're WEARING. The costumes these days are outrageously revealing. And then you have people like Tito getting up there and belly dancing (yes belly, not folklore). It seems that alongside growing conservatism there's some really hardcore risktaking going on among belly dancers with a bit of clout. It's very interesting.

Well you know, back when things were less conservative Nagwa sometimes came out in some ridiculous costumes and even took off her bra in a movie (that slut!). Maybe there's a correlation between growing conservatism = more skanky belly dance wear.

[kamilia]

I take your Nagwa, Mark Balahadia, and raise you one pair of panties. All of Egypt saw Nahad Sherif (actress/dancer/personality) naked on the big screen back in the 60's or 70's.

I don't know why people get on the new dancers about their costumes: at least they're WEARING them!

As conservatism becomes more of a royal pain in the ass, the 2dab/vice squad are easier to pay off and dancers wear more revealing costumes.

[caroline_afifi]

My daughter returned from Cairo last night and informed me that Randa was no longer dancing on the Nile maxim or the Marriot Nightclub.
Fatima is on the Maxim now apparently thrusting her bosom to the audience (much to the delight of my mother in law) and Suraya has taken over at the Marriott Nightclub.

[rakgirl]

oh no. where's Randa? Hopefully she's going on a world tour

[caroline_afifi]

She is still in Cairo as I know someone who is meeting with her on Wednesday. I am going on friday and will ask about unless someone else knows anything?

[nefertitibellydancer]

This topic is so interesting ´coz i never thought she is not famous in there. On contrary my last teacher of belly dance said that she was the most "in" in the business now and that every dancer that comes to egypt want her worshops. Norma said that she used a lot spin and travelling steps, and i couldnt agree more... i learn her style and it hurts my feet :P i like more when the dancers use the ground.