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Saidi Dance- Without the Cane!

DarkestDesert — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:58:00 GMT

So I was thinking the other day about Saidi cane dance and that there must be stylization where one can dance without the cane, and what would it look like. I have not seen anything like that around my area or anyone doing it on video that I can remember. Well, today I was on Youtube going through some videos and found a video of such a scenario.

I LOVE it!
She starts out with zills at first and I adore the movements she is using. And her arms! ::fl

I want more though. Post your videos of a saidi without cane!

YouTube - Autumn Ward: Egyptian Dance

Also, does anyone know where I cane learn this sort of thing, like DVD's?
For clarification, I understand that this video is not exactly Saidi cane dance, more like a traditional mix, but I love the folkloric feel of it.,r:;

Article on Zar ritual in Middle Eastern Dance

Lauren_ — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:28:36 GMT

My students are working on a unit on rhythms, and I'm doing some articles for them on the topic.

This morning I finished an article on Zar ritual (Ayoub rhythm) with a focus on how it might be interpreted by a bellydancer.

I thought other dance students and dancers might find the information useful as well. It's at Bellydance styles - Zar ritual

Lebanese wedding debke

Aziza_UAE — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:53:39 GMT

I went to a friend's wedding in Byblos, Lebanon last weekend and here's a clip of the bridal couple making their entrance at the reception with the debke troupe.

YouTube - Christiane and Phil's wedding

So is belly dancing just plain boring?

norma — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:26:39 GMT

When I first started belly dancing I just LOVED it. Belly dancing was so unique, only the strong and brave attempted to dance professionally. It was not mainstream at all in the US. We just gobbled up whatever we could from overseas but every dancer had her own unique style. I used to just love to go to restaurants and watch dancers dance to a live band.

But, now some 30 years later, I get bored watching belly dancers. I still get a thrill watching some great moments of great dancers, but in general I'm bored with the majority of what I see out there. Even if they dance to a live band they are doing combos after combos rather than feeling the music and going with it. And I LOVE belly dancing! But most of what I'm seeing just falls flat. I'm so sick of over-choreographed, fusion type dancing.

So, if I'm bored, what about the general GP who doesn't love the art, the music, the culture, etc. They don't appreciate the nuances and subtly of Egyptian music and style. They are looking for tricks and stunts, etc.

I think that the more belly dancing tries to become mainstream and acceptable to the GP, the more boring it gets.

TO TUCK , OR NOT TO TUCK (ze pelvis, that is)...thoughts?

honoluluhabibi — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:43:15 GMT

Hey ladies

I thought it would be a good refresher to take a 'poll' of sorts and hear differing options of the act of 'tucking' one's pelvis while belly dancing.

I've consulted other bio-mechanic/kineseology folk who stress, as i do, that a 'neutral pelvis' allows more range and is more 'natural' for the body.

Understanding that the medical model isn't reflective of everyones bodies, as we have all unique bodies...I wanted other's feedback on what they employ and or teach to their students.

( I've noticed that frequently, esp. within the tribal fusion techniques, dancers are instructed to tuck the pelvis/lower lumbar spine , to "save the back from strain". )

Ideas???

Just an awesome video

AllyisLuma — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:56:02 GMT

Sometimes Group improvised tribal can be so boring or awkward to watch, and them sometimes it's so mesmerizing and totally amazing. Just sharing the video of ATS.

YouTube - BibiSF DJ Cairo // SFBG + Fat Chance...

Bellydance on Haloween

_Kepi_ — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:44:56 GMT

So I have a performance on October 30th, which is Halloween. I'm thinking of doing beladi as Elvira. What do you think?

Have any of you done Halloween events or Halloween themed parties? What did you all do for them?

Spinoff: Debke DVDs

Ainsley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:07:21 GMT

The Dancing to Debke Music thread inspired me to revive an old question in the hopes that someone might have a new answer: Are there any good debke instructional DVDs out there? To say my debke is rusty would be an understatement!

The only one I know of is a Magdy el Leisy workshop DVD carried by Little Egypt, but the $50 price tag is a bit steep for me without knowing that the contents are really worthwhile. Can anyone comment on it?

delete - answer found

Jungleflowers — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:35:14 GMT

delete

Shamadan

Nabila-Nazem — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:39:39 GMT

I've got my own totally fabulous mentors whose brains I will pick, but I want other opinions as well.

I have a shamadan that I received as a gift, and it is time to market it more aggresively. Since I'm going to be an exhibitor at a bridal show, having the shamadan on the table (with LED candles) will be a really good eye-catcher. People will ask me about it, and I can talk from here to eternity about the cultural significance of shamadans and zeffas. But the actual logistics of how the show will work? I'm a little uncertain. On the off-chance someone wants to book a shamadan show, I have to know what options I can reasonably offer.

My question is this: what show formats do you use at weddings and similar events when you include shamadan?

My market is not the super-traditional ME community, it is more the regular American audience. It is important that I keep the show fast-paced and crowd-pleasing for non-BD-familiar types, so I feel that I need (and have) a little more leeway with my music and show-format choices while still respecting the culture.

How would all of you incorporate shamadan into your shows at non-ME weddings? Is it always (and only) used for a procession? Do you ever do a shamadan/zeffa-style entrance into the reception and then a regular show later?

What music choices (in addition to the traditional ones) might you use?

Thanks!

Persian!

Aradia — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:11:56 GMT

So I have been revisiting my Persian dance training from years ago, and working on some new pieces, I did a search on youtube, and found this priceless video!!

YouTube- tehran iran dance 1

So we are not the only ones absorbing someone elses culture, LOL!! This is very different from the Iran my Grandparents lived in when I was a kid! Love the Michael Jackson clothes and bi level hair cuts, a flashback to my generation!

Dancing to Dabke music

Maysa_Dancer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:41:35 GMT

I recently used the song Layl wo Rad by Wael Kfoury for a fun belly dance choreography. I love the song and was really pleased with the choreography until I was told that some people might find it offensive to use a song like this, which is often used for Dabke. I hadn't ever heard that before, and have seen other choreographies performed to this same song. Any thoughts?

If you aren't good at something, do you still try?

mrsnj20 — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:43:12 GMT

My question is " Do you feel that you are really only good at one style of middle eastern dance, but try to dance the other styles anyway?"

For example, I feel like I can perform Beledi or Saidi pretty well, but as much as I like to do it, I feel like I am not good at classical oriental styling. I try to perform oriental style sometimes, but always wind up disappointed with my performances. Maybe part of this is that I find earthy music more fun and playful, although I love to listen to classical Egyptian songs.

Do you stick to the style that you are naturally better at, or do you keep trying to master the others?

Dancing for a Bulgarian Crowd

SatinWorship19 — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:39:28 GMT

I have a Bulgarian wedding coming up and I'm curious to see if any of you have performed for Bulgarian audiences before. The bride's side is Bulgarian and the groom's side will be an Eastern European/Russian mix. I know belly dance is huge in Bulgaria, and the bride chose a belly dancer for her reception because she and her friends used to enjoy watching belly dancers in the Bulgarian nightclubs.

Anyone care to share any firsthand experiences, anecdotes or observations?

Syrian bellydance style?

Geesou — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:12:00 GMT

I would like to ask - do you know something about Syrian bellydance style? Does it really exist? I ask becouse at my country (Poland) there is one instructor (very popular, one of the polish dance precursors) She is half Syrian and she claims that she teach Syrian bellydance style. In my opinion, her dance is rather Egyptian, but she uses a lot of decorated hands and arms movements (circles, waves, rolles, hand figure eights, movements similiar to Indian mudras). She says that it makes dance Syrian. She also sometimes does acrobatic figures, like splits. I found her as very good dancer, but I'm a little confused about this "Syrian style" I've never heard about it from other teachers and I didn't find any sources. Can you help me?