Cultural Styles of Middle Eastern Dance
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Egyptian Folkloric and Theatrical Styles |
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Baladi Robust yet sensual earthy urban folkloric style popular throughout Egypt, but mostly stylised in Cairo and made popular through films. More refined than folk, but deep seated and earthier than classical dance, it is usually performed in a kaftan or dress with a hip scarf and/or head scarf. Aissuit dress (black with silver embossing) is popular attire for baladi. Downward hip moves are a prominent feature. |
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Saiidi and Asaya Stealthy cane dance from El saiid, where men in kaftans dance a sprightly matial arts like dance with heavy canes. Women's Saiidi is known as 'Raqs Asaya'. The men's version uses heavier canes and is known as Taktib. |
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Oriental or 'Raqs Sharqi' Classical bellydance, usually in two piece costume with more armwork, ballet inspired turns and refined hip work. Dramatic and sensual, with many changing moods, often danced to orchestral pieces. |
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Eskenderaya (Milaya) Flirty Alexandrian dance with a milaya, or heavy veil, formerly used as a fashion accessory in the 40s. Dancer wears a bourka - netted face veil, and a frilly mid-knee length dress. |
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Shaabi Fun, modern form of urban 'street dance' or 'dance of the people', similar to baladi, but danced to more up-tempo music. |
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Hagalla Festive dance of the Western Desert, heavy black kaftans and woven face veils. Tribal and earthy with mostly hip moves. |
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Fellahi Festive shimmy and fast-paced celebration dance of the farmers. Uses pots or doffs (tambourine) whilst dancing in village dress - sometimes floral print with head piece lined with pom-poms. |
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Zaar Egyptian trance-like ritual dance used for religious ceremony. Borkhul (incense) is sometimes brought out by the dancer in a brass holder, and the dance begins slowly, building up to a frenzied trance state, with hair flicking. |
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Ghawazee Vibrant gypsy dance with finger cybals and focus on hip moves. A kaftan or shirt that is tight fitting on top, with wide skirts and pantaloons. |
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Nubian Sprightly folkdance from Nubia with African overtones, usually performed in a white cotton kaftan with colourful embroidery. |
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Zaffah Wedding procession, usually with many drummers and mizmar players with a folkoric dance group in the centre of the festivities. |
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Shamadan Dance with fully lit candlabra balanced on head, classical movements usually performed in a dress. |
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Lebanese Styles |
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Modern Raqs Sharqi Ultra-modern bellydance, especially performed for television and live concerts with extremely creative costumes and up-to-date MTV moves, music and attire! |
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Dabke Strong group dance performed with group linking arms and using heavy footwork in sync with each other. Tradition dress with pantaloons. Also performed in Syria and Jordan. |
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Turkish Modern and Folkoric Styles |
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Rakkass Flamboyant cabaret bellydance done in two piece costume with alot of hip work, especially hip lifts and shimmies. |
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Chiftetelli Sensual to fast rhythmic patterns known as chiftetelli usually performed in two piece costume. Also danced in Greece. Focus on undulations and pelvic tilts upwards. |
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Karsilama Turksih folkdance in 9/8 rhythm with syncopated steps, done in a group. Folk style costume with pantaloons, and zills often played. |
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Mastika Literally meaning 'drinking song' this is a rather parodied version of fast Turkish dance, with many pelvic tilts upward and hip lifts. |
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Moroccan and Algerian Fringe Styles |
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Shikhat Festive Moroccan tribal women's dance with many moves mimicking birth ritual and was a former 'wedding night' dance. |
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Guedra Earthy blessing ritual performed by Berber tribes, includes dancing on knees and flicking moves of hands and wrist. |
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Tunisian Earthy traditional North African dance in cotton dress with long plaits. Earthy hip moves and steps, often celebrated in a group. |
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Ouled Nail Earthy yet poised dance from the Oulid Nail tribeswomen from the Algerian fringe. Highly decorated tribal costume with long skirts and coins. |
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Iranian, Arabian Gulf and Sufi Styles |
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Persian Motreb Elegant Iranian dance with a hanky, dressed in kaftan with flowing sleeves. Refined footwork and concentrated hip moves. |
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Khaleegee Dance from the Arabian Gulf performed in an ultra long gold-embroidered kaftan which is held in the hands whilst dancing. Includes refined, rhythmic footwork, hand gestures and hair flicking moves. |
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Zaafen Yemeni group dance featured at weddings and celebrations. When performed by men, very sprightly steps in a group similar to dabke, but with athletic squats - like Cossac dance. Women perform a gentler version. |
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Whirling Dervish Sufi male dancers who turn for lengths of time to Koranic music to reach nirvana or and enlightened state through this practice. |