Thread: Persian Music for Bellydancing?

Hi! I'm new to these forums, but I didn't find anything recent on this topic when I searched.

So, I'm dancing at a Persian New Year party this month and they've asked for persian music. Does anyone have any good suggestions or resources for persian music that's good for bellydancing? I know they like persian pop music, but I have no way to get translations or at least what-the-song's-about for the music and I'm wary to dance to music I don't know what they're saying!

So, any ideas? Thanks!

Caliana

I don't know much about Persian music, but when Miles started Mondo Melodia, Andy was one of the artists he recruited. (IIRC, "Yalla" was the song they were promoting at the time.) Here's his web site: ANDYMUSIC.com

Persian dancing has a lot differences from bellydance in rythms,steps,mood...do they want you to bellydance to persian music?

Have you trained any khaleegy style?:)

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

Persian dancing has a lot differences from bellydance in rythms,steps,mood...do they want you to bellydance to persian music?

Have you trained any khaleegy style?:)

I know Persian dancing is different from bellydance, though I have little knowledge of persian dance style. Yes, they asked for bellydancing to persian music, which is why I think they may just want some pop songs included. Usually I just do upbeat arabic music for a Persian audience, but since it's specifically a Persian New Year's party I want to accommodate them if I can. :-)

Yes, I know a little khaleegy. Is it related?

Thank you!

Songs about Nourouz will be an instant hit:)
Andy that Tourbeau suggested is good for this event.

Apart from hair tossing and hair whirling,
bandari from the south of Iran has a lot in common with khaleegy.

Here is one "oldie but goldie"pop bandari with Leila,good for gigs:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdc0RaG_9Tg]YouTube - Joni Joonam[/ame]

Remember:most of the videos that turn up on YouTube when searching for bandari is...well you know what many clips tagged "bellydance"are like>:-/

The best that I could find containing both khaleegy and bandari to compare was this(very good dancegroup!)
Bandari dance aren´t always so lively and jumpy as in this clip but it gives you an idea:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUqPrl28YuU&feature=PlayList&p=5D3399DF138 F394F&index=0]YouTube - Iranian Dances[/ame]

Calmer base steps are small moving circles in time with the beat,pelvic locks and tight shoulder shimmy+hand shimmy.

A good bandari dancer in an all male party(the man in the white galabeya):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGY1Vw3lPkY]YouTube - bandar abbas(rohanda&milad)[/ame]

Thank you both for the music ideas! And great videos Emma-Bessa, thanks for sharing!

Do you know what the "Jooni Joonam" song is about? Or have any idea how I can find out what it (and other songs) are about? I like to know what I'm dancing to!

Thanks for your help!

Have you googled Robyn? It doesn't look like she's updated her web site recently, but Dr. Friend is one of the leading authorities on Persian and Iranian dance. Click on "About Persian dance" on her home page http://robynfriend.com/ and http://home.earthlink.net/~rfriend11/mesa86.pdf for some background info on the role of the arts in Persian and Iranian culture.

That's really interesting. Thanks Tourbeau!

Hi again,sorry for not replying!

Sadly I don´t speak any farsi at all...so I can´t help you with translation of songs:(

Some of the internationally known persian dancers I admire are Robyn that Tourbeau suggested,Laurel Victoria Gray,Helene Eriksen,Miriam Peretz and of course Katherine St.John:)

The uzbek dancer Schahlo is very nice also:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85OGpn35gig&feature=related]YouTube - Schachlo persischer Tellertanz[/ame]

I love that clip of Schachlo. That is one of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen. <sigh>

Amani Jabril dances and teaches Persian. You might want to search her videos on YouTube to see if she has any posted.

Originally Posted by dunyah

I love that clip of Schachlo. That is one of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen. <sigh>

Yes,she really have that "naz" going on:)

More classical with Miriam:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vi5fa2ZLwo]YouTube - Persian Dance[/ame]

Whoa. If I didn't know how to do it I wouldn't take the gig. Not to be snarky or anything. Just wanna warn you that I've found that that audience can be a bit critical.

Iran is a very diverse country,much more than Egypt for example

And as all Bhuzzers know:
Q:What is "Egyptian dance"?
A:A *lot* of different styles...

Many persians in the US,Canada and Europe are used to being entertained with bellydance to 6/8 pop songs-
yes it´s true that persian audiences can be "hard to please".
I think the reason for that is that their culture is often misunderstood and misrepresented...(like people believing they are arabic)
Studying Iranian dances a few years have been rewarding,interesting and much like studying arabic dance styles.There is always more to try and learn...

One of my (bellydance)dance students is in Isfahan right now,being an exotic attraction.
Can´t wait to learn some armenian steps from there when she gets home this summer:)


My learning curve:P
1.C***,I don´t know nothing about this dance:O

2.Aha,it´s a kind of airy-fairy dance floating around in glittery SCA garb!

3.What?
There´s afro-iranian dance,turkoman-iranian,kurdish-iranian dance too?:O

4.So this term we will learn Balouchi and Gilaki style?*rips hair*


5.Back to step one...

Thank you emma-bessa for the lovely persian dance clips. They are lovely to watch!

Originally Posted by dancingrrrlz

Whoa. If I didn't know how to do it I wouldn't take the gig. Not to be snarky or anything. Just wanna warn you that I've found that that audience can be a bit critical.

Thanks! Certainly if they were asking for Persian dancing I would not take the gig since I don't know how to perform any Persian dance styles! They know they are getting bellydancing and not Persian dancing and were just asking if I might dance to a persian song or two. The Persian community here loves their pop music and I think that is what they are asking for. I was just asking here if anyone knows of any good Persian songs that are popular and not inappropriate for bellydancing to. :-)

I like Sandy's Doktor Avasi, from Ding Dang, and it went over well when I worked at a Persian restarurant last year. Also Shoreh Solati's Boro, or Nazi June are fun songs for pop. I can post them in the music area if you want to hear them.

KS

I second Laurel Victoria Gray (she is SO nice) and Amani Jabril. You could call them or email for advice? Both are wonderful dancers, and I believe they've both spent quite a bit of time in the region. Amani has a really fun dance style, and Laurel's knowledge is stellar.

Originally Posted by s1dur1_sab1tu

I like Sandy's Doktor Avasi, from Ding Dang, and it went over well when I worked at a Persian restarurant last year. Also Shoreh Solati's Boro, or Nazi June are fun songs for pop. I can post them in the music area if you want to hear them.

KS

Hi Kittie!

Would you mind posting the songs you mentioned? I'd love to hear them! Do you know what the song lyrics are about? (assuming they have lyrics)

It's been a long time since I've seen you! Hope all is well in Tulsa! (This is Caliana from OKC, Dustin the drummer's wife... :-)

Originally Posted by s1dur1_sab1tu

I like Sandy's Doktor Avasi, from Ding Dang, and it went over well when I worked at a Persian restarurant last year. Also Shoreh Solati's Boro, or Nazi June are fun songs for pop. I can post them in the music area if you want to hear them.

KS

Thank you for the pop tips!
I work with a bandari live band so I seldom get to hear more pop:)

BUT now I remember;there´s one artist here in Sweden that made a big hit song about a girl ripping his heart in two pieces(often danced to)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUYV4yCrlk&feature=related]YouTube - Boro Boro[/ame]

Great info!

I, too, have been asked by a Persian restaurant owner to play different music for Norouz (sp?). He keeps saying he will bring me some music he likes, but has not yet. Usually he just asks for Persian house/pop/dance type music for me to bellydance to, but seems like he's asking for more this time. I've told him I'm not comfortable attempting to represent a dance style I have not studied, but I am happy to work with him on using appropriate music he enjoys for my bellydancing. So far that seems to be acceptable to him, fortunately. But I think it might be time for me to seek out some workshops for better understanding and preparation for the future. :)

Yes! I would be interested in taking a workshop about persian dance too! So I can at least be better informed about it! :-)

I don't know anything about Persian music but a friend told me that this song will get people up dancing. It's a hit from back in the late 90's or maybe early 2000's by Moein. It's a Bandari song and I have NO IDEA what the lyrics are.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPwqhJ8BFNM"]YouTube- Moein - Bigharar (Bandari)[/ame]

Maria just posted a gorgeous new video and in part of it she uses Persian music. She has the music credits in the info section. She is just fabulous and I love the song!
YouTube - orientdancer's Channel

posted while stressed

Hmm....

The artist emma-bassa mentioned is Arash. He identifies as an Iranian Hip Hop artist.

Provided you think your crowd might go for that sort, and you like it, he is mostly a pretty safe bet as all the lyrics of his [ones I have researched, I warn] are innoccuous-- if miles from the 'authentic' Perian songs some of the others have mentioned ...as I say, he does bill himself as a hip hop artist. Contents as described :)

But it sounds like that might be what your crowd is looking for?

Search for Tike-Kardi as well, it was an immensly popular hit of his and the lyrics are love-song esque.

I don't speak farsi, but have [apparently] pretty accurate translations for a few- Boro Boro and Tike Kardi included if you wanna hit me up for them.

Anyway, HTH somewhat, I am no expert.

I found this great song a while back on CD baby by Raya Halil, and I
understand she's Persian. Here's a clip from youtube:


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU-W8x396zg"]YouTube- arabic music - HEB EL HAYAT- Raya Hilal - arabic star[/ame]



I love this song!

Originally Posted by Amira_Siddiqah

Hmm....

The artist emma-bassa mentioned is Arash. He identifies as an Iranian Hip Hop artist.

Provided you think your crowd might go for that sort, and you like it, he is mostly a pretty safe bet as all the lyrics of his [ones I have researched, I warn] are innoccuous-- if miles from the 'authentic' Perian songs some of the others have mentioned ...as I say, he does bill himself as a hip hop artist. Contents as described :)

But it sounds like that might be what your crowd is looking for?

Search for Tike-Kardi as well, it was an immensly popular hit of his and the lyrics are love-song esque.

I don't speak farsi, but have [apparently] pretty accurate translations for a few- Boro Boro and Tike Kardi included if you wanna hit me up for them.

Anyway, HTH somewhat, I am no expert.

That´s great! Wonderful that you have translations that you are willing to share:)

Arash lives here in Sweden and is a popular performer(Iranians are one of our biggest immigrant groups)
But young persian speaking audiences all over the world should like his catchy pop songs(never heard him rap or do any hiphop yet?)

BTW,He represented Azerbadjan last year in the Eurovision Song Contest

For more traditional Sima Bina and Dastan Ensemble makes heavenly music;here is a classical style performance from this weekend(Persian new year) with my lovely teacher doing a solo(her choreo):
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zzf8Uu9Nws]YouTube - Persian dance at Annexet, Stockholm, nouruz 2010. Part 1.[/ame]