I've finally started looking at the dvds I bought in Uzbekistan. Many of them have bellydancers in costume on the covers but when you buy in the souqs in this part of the world one rule applies - what you see usually isn't what you get :-)
Anyway, it turns out the dvds were great value, costing the equivalent of about $2 and most of them have 50-70 different MTV-style clips on them, Arabic, Persian, Armenian, a few Turkish and of course lots of Uzbeki. In most of the Uzbeki dvd clips there'll be a scene showing the background dancers wearing modern clothes, then further on they'll be in bellydance costumes doing a couple of moves, and then later on the same girls in traditional Uzbek costumes. This clip is a bit different as all the dance is 'bellydance-style' though not in costume. The song's called 'Leila' the singer's Amran (Armenian or Kurkish, anyone know?)
24 December, 2010
22 December, 2010
Nile musicians: Kom Ombo, Egypt
If you've done a Nile cruise you might recognise these musicians who play in the garden restaurant in Kom Ombo, Egypt.
20 December, 2010
29 November, 2010
Lebanese bellydancer: 1980s
Back to the days of big hair and shoulder pads. 'Habibi ya Eini' with camera effects galore.
28 November, 2010
Nahla performing in Dubai
Egyptian dancer Nahla, performing at 'Al Hadheerah' in Dubai, November 2010
Nelly Fouad
Despite the poor sound, rolling film etc these videos were all we had back in the 70s and 80s, and we watched them over and over to learn the Egyptian style. The music is by Metkal Kanawi. Nelly's been one of my favourites since the early days.
01 November, 2010
Nagwa Fouad: nightclub show (red bedlah)
A nightclub performance by Nagwa Fouad. I'm not sure about the back up dancers' wedding veils and beach shorts at the start of the routine, but once Nagwa arrives its a great show.
Nagwa Fouad: nightclub show Pt 2 of 2
The second part of a nightclub show, drum solo and finale. A performance with Nagwa's usual passion.
Nagwa Fouad: nightclub show Pt 1 of 2
The first part of a nightclub show by Egyptian dance star Nagwa Fouad, great back-up dancers.
29 September, 2010
Dances from the Silk Road III
Folkloric dance troupe performing at Nadir Divanbegi Madraasa in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
27 September, 2010
26 September, 2010
Dances from the Silk Road I
A folkloric dance troupe performing at Nadir Divanbegi Madraasa in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Filmed on 23rd Sept. 2010.
08 September, 2010
Heyatim: green/orange gelabeya
Heyatim's a popular Egyptian dancer/actress from the 1970s. This clip shows her in a studio performance followed by a top example of 'effects gone mad' that has her on top of a Cairo roundabout, on the beach etc.
Mona al Said: blue galabeya
A conversion from an old video tape to mp4. Mona al Said in a blue galabeya. Unfortunately its not the whole performance, but with these old video tapes we had to take what we could get :-)
Dina: the safety pin dress
Egyptian bellydancer Dina in a dress that takes its inspiration from the Gianni Versace safety pin dress worn by Liz Hurley.
Dina: compilation
I found this compilation of snippets of Dina on the end of a video tape of Egyptian dancers from the 80s. Along the way someone's removed the live music and dubbed in 'Moghram Ya Leil' as the soundtrack.
29 August, 2010
Dina: Cairo hotel performance
A round of applause for Dina, the woman who has singlehandedly saved the Egyptian lycra industry. The clip was filmed, I think, at the Cairo Sheraton. The first section shows Dina in one of her skin tight lycra dresses. In the second part of the clip which is filmed in the same location, she's wearing a regular bedlah in apricot.
Fifi Abdu: pink bedlah (Al Ismailia concert)
Another clip from Fifi Abdu's outdoor performance in Alexandria:
Dina: a compilation mix
I found this compilation of snippets of Dina on the end of a video tape of Egyptian dancers from the 80s. Along the way someone's removed the live music and dubbed in 'Moghram Ya Leil' as the soundtrack.
22 August, 2010
16 August, 2010
12 August, 2010
Egyptian bellydancer Hendeya: purple/yellow bedlah
Hendeya wears one purple shoe and one yellow shoe to match her bedlah and skirt.
Nadia Gamal
Unfortunately this tape is almost totally black and white as its probably a 10th generation copy....still that's not a problem for dancers as Nadia's movements are clear and the soundtrack is stable. Setrak Sarkissian is the drummer in the striped jacket.
Fifi Abdu: black/blue short dress
Lots of audience interaction including getting Mona Said up to dance with her. The costume has a long ruffled train arrangement that Fifi ditches fairly quickly.
Samara: white costume with maribu
Just a short piece, unfortunately the rest of tape has too much flicker and roll. Samara had the same design costume in lilac.
06 August, 2010
Setrak Sarkissian
Lebanese-Armenian drummer Setrak Sarkissian is a legend in Arabic music with a career playing tabla for many of the most famous singers and bellydancers in the Middle East. This clip is a rarity as it showcases Setrak himself. Many Western dancers would know Setrak from his music cds.
Setrak was recently awarded the St. Mesrob Mashdotz medal by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia.
Setrak was recently awarded the St. Mesrob Mashdotz medal by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia.
Neriman Aboud: very early days
So early that I didn't even recognise her....fortunately the song gives her name. Even so, the dance style has Turkish influences that have disappeared in later clips. Neriman's liking for 'skirts split up to there' is still very evident though :-)
Samara: a costume that 'makes you go hmmmm'
A costume that'll be great if she gets peckish during her show :-)
18 July, 2010
10 July, 2010
05 July, 2010
Bellydance in Egyptian movies
I had a day off work yesterday feeling sick and sorry for myself BUT the up side was that I could snuggle up in bed and watch Egyptian movies and record some of the 'dance bits'. So here they are, quite a variety, it starts with a Nubian theatre troupe, there's some scenes from the 70s (its supposed to be a dance competition which is why the 3 girls all dance to the same piece), then there's a lovely piece by an unknown dancer (again the storyline is that its an audition) next is the very latest from Amr Diab and finally a clip featuring former bellydancer Nabila Obaid. LOL, sometimes I almost like being sick.
Yemeni music and dance: Inbah Brothers Pt 1
Yemeni music and dance, brothers Ali and Yahia Inbah, the song is 'Sheikh al tayer' (Ruler of the Birds). The knife worn by the men is called a jabeyah and in Yemen, all males, even some very young ones, wear one.
Egyptian dancer: Nany
Nany is the younger sister of Bouzy and Suzy who are both well known dancers in Cairo. Thanks to Samasen for the the info.
04 July, 2010
Syrian dancer Reem al Khayam
Full performance by Syrian dancer Reem al Khayam. Thanks to Samasen for the ID.
Bellydance in the movies: 'Haret el Gohari'
The bellydance scenes from the Egyptian movie 'Haret el Gohari'.
Kuwaiti singer Ahlam: 'Kamaresha'
This setting is called a 'jalsat' a Kuwaiti occasion where there's music, singing and dancing. The guests can sit and enjoy the music or get up and dance. The audience in this clip is wonderful! The jalsats were discouraged under the previous ruler of Kuwait but are now becoming more frequent under the new ruler and are appearing on tv again. The singer in this clip is Ahlam, a Bahraini born singer who's made a career as a popular wedding performer in Kuwait. This is her version of 'Kamaresha' an old song originally performed by Abu Bakr Salim from the Hadramaut in Yemen. The song talks about her heart being light as a feather because of love. Ahlam is married to a Qatari rally driver and has one child.
01 July, 2010
Diana Haddad: Khaleeji song
A lovely khaleeji piece by Lebanese born singer Diana Haddad. Ignore the dial in numbers in the right hand corner as they disappear eventually.
28 June, 2010
Nagwa Fouad: Ali Looz Pt 1
Finally, a clip of 'Ali Looz' where Nagwa isn't superimposed on the tabla!
Nadia Gamal: assaya
This is part of a well known video of Nadia Gamal, you'll be able to lots of other clips from the same vid on Youtube. Depending on who tells the story, Nadia was born in 1935, or maybe another year, in Alexandia or Beirut to parents who were either Lebanese, Greek and/or Italian. Whatever the story, she was a wonderful dancer. Sadly she died in 1992.
19 June, 2010
Egyptian bellydance star Lucy: Part 2 of 2
Part 2 of a beautiful performance by Egyptian dancer Lucy at her peak.
Egyptian bellydance star Lucy: Part 1 of 2
Part 1 of a beautiful performance by Egyptian dancer Lucy at her peak.
16 June, 2010
Neriman Aboud: Tiger Costume Pt 1 of 2
Tiger print is one thing, but the tiger faces on the front and back of the belt are, umm, excessive.
13 June, 2010
10 June, 2010
Bushra: sword/assaya P2 of 2
Part 2 of a performance at a huge outdoor concert at Beiteddine in Lebanon. The show starts with a khaleegi piece using double sword, there's some assaya with a tabal player and a drum solo.
Bushra: sword/assaya Pt 1 of 2
Part 1 of a performance at a huge outdoor concert at Beiteddine in Lebanon. The show starts with a khaleegi piece using double sword, there's some assaya with the tabal player and a drum solo .
07 June, 2010
Camelia (Patricia): Pt 1 of 2 red bedlah
A Lebanese tv performance, I'm guessing its a game show and the car was a prize, there's also a washing machine and kitchen appliances shown too. The dancer is Camelia in the early days when she was still known as Patricia.
06 June, 2010
Fifi Abdu: 'Nour al Ayoun'
Another clip from the movie 'Nour al ayoun'. Based on a story by Naguib Mahfouz the movie stars Fifi Abdu as a poor country girl who becomes a dance star in Cairo. The movie follows her character's rise to fame to the conclusion where she takes revenge on the man responsible for the death of her father.
Carineh: Hawaiian style costume
Carineh performing at a harbourside party in Lebanon. Hawaiian style costume.
02 June, 2010
Fifi Abdu: 'Nour al ayoun'
Absolute gold!! This clip shows most of the dance scenes from the Egyptian movie 'Nour al Ayoun'. Based on a story by Naguib Mahfouz the movie stars Fifi Abdu as a poor country girl who becomes a dance star in Cairo. The movie follows her character's rise to fame to the conclusion where she takes revenge on the man responsible for the death of her father.
In this clip, the first part you'll see is a pastishe used by the film maker to quickly show the progression of the character from small time wedding dancer to featured star. We see Fifi's character sewing her own costumes, performing at moulids then as she moves up the ladder, having photo sessions and practicing with her personal drummer in a luxury apartment with a Nile view.
After that section, I've added the dance tableaus the character performs in her nightclub act in the movie, there's a terrific Saidi piece and a melaya.
In this clip, the first part you'll see is a pastishe used by the film maker to quickly show the progression of the character from small time wedding dancer to featured star. We see Fifi's character sewing her own costumes, performing at moulids then as she moves up the ladder, having photo sessions and practicing with her personal drummer in a luxury apartment with a Nile view.
After that section, I've added the dance tableaus the character performs in her nightclub act in the movie, there's a terrific Saidi piece and a melaya.
Nabila Metwali: A new word, 'faux-kloric'?
Nabila Metwali in a studio performance. I guess it could be best described as "faux-kloric".
Neriman Aboud: white/silver hotpants
A clip from a time when hotpants were fashionable for bellydancers.
01 June, 2010
Neriman Aboud: black shorts
Neriman is wearing a baffling costume that leaves the viewer wondering 'Why?' Is it Lederhosen? Vinyl shorts? Is it a skirt? Is it a skort?
30 May, 2010
Neriman Aboud: "Jeeb al mijwiz"
Neriman in a red bedlah, the performance starts with a debke piece to "Jeeb al mijwiz".
28 May, 2010
27 May, 2010
Dina: "The art of bellydance is dying."
=========================
At about 2.30am on a Saturday, Dina, Egypt’s most famous belly dancer, slinks on to the stage of Haroun el Rashid Night Club wearing a revealing pink outfit, accompanied by the sound of her trademark music.
Without an introduction she eases into her routine, gyrating her hips and rolling her stomach in slow, sensual motions, gradually raising the tempo with ever more daring and titillating movements of her thighs and torso.
The audience, made up of upper class Egyptians, Gulf businessmen and tourists as well as a smattering of westerners, is enthralled.
Dina is practising an art that dates back to the Pharaohs, but belly dancing, or raqs sharqi, is these days more often condemned as immoral than celebrated as a national pastime, as religious conservatism grows in Egypt.
In May, Dina caused an uproar after giving a brief performance at a high school party. Apart from the storm that ensued in the media, 17 Islamist and independent lawmakers filed an urgent inquiry with the education minister, and Nabih al Wahsh, a well-known lawyer, filed a lawsuit against her for “seducing students”.
Ali Laban, a legislator and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, called for talks with the culture, education and interior ministers, while Sherif Omar, who heads the education committee in parliament and is a member of the ruling National Democratic Party, referred to the incident as a “catastrophe”.
Dina, in her forties and who goes only by her first name, was taken aback by the reaction, though it is far from the first time her dancing has raised the ire of conservatives.
“When I heard that my dancing for five minutes while wearing a jeans and T-shirt in the prom party [caused such offence], I was shocked,” she said, sipping a cappuccino and smoking a cigarette in the cafe of the Semiramis InterContinental Hotel in Cairo, where she performs three times a week.
“Sometimes I feel I get used to these things, but I don’t, because they never cease to amaze me,” she said.
In Oct 2006, Dina was widely blamed – by officials, the media and the public – after scores of young men chased women through downtown Cairo groping them and pulling off their clothes – even those wearing Islamic headscarves and face veils.
She had been dancing with a popular singer in front of a downtown cinema to advertise a movie that was playing during Eid, and allegedly aroused the men, causing them to run riot.
“This accusation made me laugh,” Dina said. “I couldn’t believe I could be responsible for unleashing a sexual uprising by hundreds of men. It’s just unbelievable.”
Famed for her green eyes, long black hair, and voluptuous figure, sculpted by more than 20 years of dancing, Dina is now one of the only well-known belly dancers in Egypt.
“I see no hope or future for belly dancing in Egypt,” she said. “Ten years ago we were so many. Each one had her own style and audience, whether first-class belly dancers, or second and third class. Now I look around and see nobody.”
According to the Egyptian Arts Authority, 5,000 professional belly dancers were registered in the 1950s, compared with less than 100 today.
While belly dancing is legal, dancers cannot perform on state-owned television in Egypt. And in an attempt to reduce the number of dancers, authorities are giving fewer licences to foreigners and making it difficult for them to renew existing ones.
Police also monitor nightclubs to ensure that dancers’ costumes are sufficiently modest, with slitted skirts that must start below the knee. The navel is always supposed to be covered, if only by transparent material.
According to Dina, who holds an master of arts in philosophy from Cairo University, the belly dancing outfits are the main cause of controversy in Egypt, rather than the dance itself.
“I think the problem some have with belly dancing here is the dancing costume; but it has always been seductive like this, we [our generation] didn’t invent it. Like ballet – can the ballerina dance with a different outfit? We too can’t dance with our bodies covered,” she said.
Wearing a beige tank top and tightfitting pants, and a golden necklace studded with blue charms, Dina said it was becoming increasingly difficult to be accepted as a belly dancer in Egypt, where 90 per cent of Muslim women wear the veil and the trend towards conservative Islam is growing.
“If I had a daughter, I would advise her not to become a belly dancer,” said Dina, who is a widow and the mother of an eight-year-old boy named Ali.
“It’s very tough being a belly dancer in Egypt.
“I surround myself with people who love dancing, and who are very understanding, so I don’t get the feeling that I’m doing something wrong at all,” she said. “But when these problems happen from time to time, it’s a reminder that many people look down on dancing, and that it’s [seen as] shameful.”
Yet demand for belly dancing in Egypt is still high among those who approve of it, especially among the rich who can afford to pay the LE12,000 per hour (Dh8,250) rate that Dina and her band charge to perform at private functions.
“I still dance at many weddings,” Dina said. “Most of the brides are veiled but they don’t stop dancing with me and their groom all night long. For Egyptians who can afford it, a wedding means a belly dancer.”
Suha Abdel Wahab, 30, is one such Egyptian. “Of course I would never imagine myself being a belly dancer,” Mrs Wahab said. “But I had Dina at my wedding, that was a dream come true.”
Still, people like Mrs Wahab seem to be the exception.
“At my wedding, I slaughtered sheep and distributed to the poor, by the same amount of money that I would have paid to a belly dancer,” said Rasha Moustafa, 29, who wears the veil.
“I think God would bless a marriage that begins by feeding the poor not wasting money on belly dancers.”
Nonetheless, in the face of growing disdain for her profession, Dina sees herself as “the guardian of belly dancing”, and vows to continue doing what she loves.
“Belly dancing is in our blood, it’s deeply rooted in our soil,” she said. “I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
“When I get old, and can’t dance anymore, I will train belly dancers. I just hope there will be ones to train.”
25 May, 2010
24 May, 2010
Gisele Bomentre: sword
Brazilian dancer Gisele performing on a Lebanese tv panel show. Gisele now lives in Cairo where she's performing and teaching and has also developed a career as a singer. Her website is here.
Nabila Metwali: white bedlah
A short performance in a magnificent white costume, part of a nightclub show.
Camelia (Patricia)
Brazilian dancer Camelia, back in the early days when she still went by her real name of Patricia. Lovely performance. The footage is from ICN tv in Lebanon.
Ranine: white bedlah Pt 2 of 2
Lebanese bellydancer Ranine is best known as the cover girl on Setrak Sarkissian's cd Volume 19: Bellydance with Ranine ("Champagne Bellydance").
Ranine: white bedlah Pt 1 of 2
Lebanese bellydancer Ranine is best known as the cover girl on Setrak Sarkissian's cd Volume 19: Bellydance with Ranine ("Champagne Bellydance").
Ranine: with Setrak
Lebanese bellydancer Ranine in a gold bedlah, Setrak Sarkissian drumming. If you're a dancer you're sure to recognise the music from Setrak's 'Bellydance with Ranine' cd.
23 May, 2010
Gisele Bomentre: Blue/gold bedlah
Brazilian bellydancer Gisele Bomentre with an interesting way to start a dance show.
Khouloud: melaya
Egyptian dancer Khouloud, the performance starts with a melaya piece. A lot of time is spent mingling with the audience.
21 May, 2010
20 May, 2010
Samara: Pt 2 of 2 (pink)
Part 2 of Samara's performance at an outdoor concert in Lebanon. Pink bedlah with harem pants.
Samara: Part 1 of 2 (pink)
Part 1 of Samara performing at an outdoor concert in Lebanon. Pink bedlah with harem pants.
19 May, 2010
18 May, 2010
Amani: green/purple Pt 2 of 2
Part 2 of Amani's performance on Lebanese tv, in a green and purple bedlah.
16 May, 2010
Prenses Banu: Turkish bellydancer
This is Turkish bellydancer Prenses Banu in a clip from the 1980s. PB could *actually* dance unlike some of the others....
14 May, 2010
Boushra (lilac bedlah)
The guitarist is Boushra's husband. Apologies for the poor sound quality but the VHS tape sat in a storage locker for 4 years :-(
13 May, 2010
12 May, 2010
Samara: Part 1 of 2
Part 1 of a performance on Lebanese tv by Iraqi-born dancer Samara, 'The Drum Solo Queen'.
Dani Boutros with Setrak Part 2 of 2
Part 2 of a performance on Lebanese tv. Setrak Sarkissian drumming. Dani does a Turkish drop at .44
Dani Boutros with Setrak Part 1 of 2
Part 1 of a performance on Lebanese tv. Setrak Sarkissian drumming.
11 May, 2010
Amani performing at LBC party 1 of 2
Part 1 of Amani performing at an LBC party, white and pearl bedlah.
Amani: blue bedlah
Dancing to music from one of her first cds. The drummer is Amani's ex-husband Bassem Yazbek.
Margo Kalfayan: black and gold bedlah
A short clip of Lebanese dancer Margo Kalfayan in a black and gold costume.
Camelia / Patricia
A short clip of Brazilian born bellydancer Camelia. The clip is titled "Patricia" as in the early part of her career she was performing using her 'real world' name.
09 May, 2010
Gizelle: Part 2
Part 2 of a performance by Brazilian dancer Gizelle in a black/silver costume. Gizelle lived and performed in Lebanon for many years.
Gizelle: Part 1
The first part of a performance by Brazilian dancer Gizelle in a black/silver costume. Gizelle lived and performed in Lebanon for many years.
Sibel Can: Turkish bellydancer
Sibel Can (pronounced Chan) started as a bellydancer but is now best known as a singer.
Margo Part 1
The first section of a performance by Lebanese bellydancer Margo Kalfayan in a gold costume.
06 May, 2010
05 May, 2010
Inci Adali: Turkish bellydancer
This performance is part of a soap opera thing about a girl who works in the nightclub who wants to be a bellydancer, the star dancer gives her a big break, restaurant girl dances with star (to 'Spectacular Rhythms'). I've cut those bits out to concentrate on Inci Adali's performance.
04 May, 2010
Ranine
A clip from a Lebanese tv game show. Ranine is the dancer on the cover of several of Setrak Sarkissian's CDs.
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