Thread: Dancers with expertise in Lebanese music and dance...help! (Suha, are you out there?)

To any and all with expertise in Lebanese music, belly dance, and folklore...

I am in love with this song by Wadi' el Safi. The name in Arabic is بترحلك مشوار The name is transcribed a bazillion ways in English, "Betrohlak Meshwar" is close. Here is a YouTube clip of the original. The version I have is track 4 from a CD called "Raks Sharki Vol. 1" (Mohammed Ali).

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdoo_uX32DQ]YouTube - وديع الصاÙ�ÙŠ / بترØ*لك مشوار Ø*Ù�لة Ù�ÙŠ الكويت[/ame]

My questions are:
This seems like it would be an appropriate (and fun) song to dance to, but is it?

ETA: I have the lyrics...I'm just concerned about how to approach the song stylistically.

And if so, how? i.e. what would be the best stylistic approach to this song? Raqs sharqi with debke-ish flavor? Or something else? It has a folksy feel...in the same way that a song like Tahtil Shubbak gives an Egyptian beledi feel, this gives that same feeling, but with a Lebanese accent. Does that make sense? Or am I talking out of my nether regions?

Also, what costuming would be appropriate?

Heeeeelp!!!!!!!!! I love the song, but I want to do justice to it.

Thanks in advance!

Nisaa

Bumping up...Heeeeelp, Lebanese experts...

Anybody know how to contact Suha Deeb?????

What about babelfish.com I love Lebanese music too but I get leary when I don't know the words to a song so I usually use instrumentals. Doesn't that suck being that limited?

I've got the lyrics (it's about the guy wanting to take a walk with a girl, she says no, etc.)...that's not what I'm concerned about. It's not really a "belly dance" song per se. So I'm just trying to figure out movement/costuming style.

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

What about babelfish.com I love Lebanese music too but I get leary when I don't know the words to a song so I usually use instrumentals. Doesn't that suck being that limited?

BTW don't assume you're "safe" if you use instrumentals!!! Many, many Arabic instrumentals are arrangements of pieces that have/had lyrics.

Didn't think of that - thanks!

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

Anybody know how to contact Suha Deeb?????

are you on facebook??? shes over there and on my friend list.

Originally Posted by cbarros

are you on facebook??? shes over there and on my friend list.

No, unfortunately I'm not on there! D'oh!

I am on a Lebanese quest also. I have purchased wonderful dvd's from Bellydance Marketplace on Paypal. She is very helpful too. You can purchase a lebanese dvd with a variety of dancers. The costuming and music is fabulous.

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

BTW don't assume you're "safe" if you use instrumentals!!! Many, many Arabic instrumentals are arrangements of pieces that have/had lyrics.

Wow that is good to know!

Kathreen Saab in NC is a fabulous teacher and well versed in Lebanese everything. She really has encouraged me to immerse myself in the culture. It helps that I look Lebanese!..g.:

I used to see Suha on orientaldancer.net maybe you can find her there? I think Maria Aya knows how to get in touch with her, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cbarros
are you on facebook??? shes over there and on my friend list.

Originally Posted by nisaasaintlouis

No, unfortunately I'm not on there! D'oh!

Check with Mark Balahadia . . . I believe he is talking to her all the time AND I think he might know something about Lebanese styling. Didn't he just teach a workshop somewhere on Lebanese style??

Thanks! I didn't even think of that! Sent him a PM...hopefully he will chime in!

I'm not a Lebanese expert, but this song is one of my all time favorites and so is Wadiia3 - used to dance to it a lot for Arabs from Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine. I always think of this as "folksy" and did a "balady" style with occasional debki steps thrown in, especially on the choruses. The Arab audience received it well. If you can;t find Suha, Mark Balahadia should be able to tell you lots about Lebanese style.

Originally Posted by leylalanty

I always think of this as "folksy" and did a "balady" style with occasional debki steps thrown in, especially on the choruses. .

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking! Thank you SO much for this!

The Arab audience received it well. If you can;t find Suha, Mark Balahadia should be able to tell you lots about Lebanese style

Hopefully one of them will chime in here too.

Again, thanks! :)

Nisaa

Beautiful song! And you're right...it's not a belly dance song per se but if you have a good version that was composed especially for ra2s shar2i, ma leish (why not)???

However, I've never seen anyone dance to this song before (nor have I thought of dancing to it myself) but typical Oriental movements should be fine, I don't think dabke steps are necessary either as the song doesn't have that "dabke" feel or rhythm. I'll speak with Suha to see what she has to say.

xoxo Mark B.

P.S.

There are however, Lebanese songs that were made for and/or perfect for dancing. Ya Dala3 by Sabah comes to mind :)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K0J5BUtNfM]YouTube - SABAH - Ya Dala3 ( dalaa ) - صباØ* - يا دلع[/ame]

Thanks Mark! Your response is reassuring; at least I know I'm not doing anything TOO off the wall here! The version I have has a bit of a heavier feel to it, which is why I was feeling I might need to throw in a little debke flavor and/or "beledize" my movements.

I love Ya Dala3 but for some reason this song has stuck with me and I really want to do something to it!

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Mark Balahadia

Beautiful song! And you're right...it's not a belly dance song per se but if you have a good version that was composed especially for ra2s shar2i, ma leish (why not)???

However, I've never seen anyone dance to this song before (nor have I thought of dancing to it myself) but typical Oriental movements should be fine, I don't think dabke steps are necessary either as the song doesn't have that "dabke" feel or rhythm. I'll speak with Suha to see what she has to say.

xoxo Mark B.

P.S.

There are however, Lebanese songs that were made for and/or perfect for dancing. Ya Dala3 by Sabah comes to mind :)

YouTube - SABAH - Ya Dala3 ( dalaa ) - صباØ* - يا دلع

Suha is quiet active on facebook