Oriental Dance, from the Middle East, is expressed in ‘Regional’ Styles as well as the individual ‘style’ of the dancer. There is Ice Cream and there are Many Flavors.

I Love the Lebanese Flavor….

When I think of the essence of Lebanon, I think of BEAUTY!

The country is beautiful. The cliffs of the coast and offshore rocks stand firm with the warm shimmering Mediterranean Sea gently splashing and foaming on shore … Downtown Beirut always glowing pink with the light playing on the rose-colored stones of the revitalized old buildings… The crisp air mountains with rushing pure rivers and falls…. the rich warm agricultural fields of the Bekka Valley…the heady fragrances of Roses, Gardenia, Jasmine and Fil…waft about in country gardens and on city verandas.

All of these flavors and more are the Lebanese style.

The people are of extraordinary beauty …many with black hair,blue or green eyes. ..yet, no matter the color , one always sees beautiful powerful eyes!

The Lebanese Love to Play Music… Dance, Sing, and Dine on delicious dishes that look like works of art .

The Art of Living is beautifully expressed in the Lebanese style of life. It is from this milieu that the Oriental Dancer of Lebanon graces us with her dance.

Lebanese Belly Dance is first of all, glamorous…very feminine costumes..rich, ornate, elegant bead-work with soft flowing fabrics and almost always accessorized with high heels. The Dancer’s make-up, as is also true with Lebanese women in general, is Artistic, Exotic and Flawless.

 Lebanese Oriental Dancing style is spirited and coquette.. athletic yet soft..strong yet feminine…it is playful, sassy and demure all at once!

So…since  ’a picture is worth a thousand words’….here is the late Great Lebanese Superstar Nadia Gamal in an Egyptian movie..circa 1960′s.  

Nadia is Too Adorable!

And this introduction to Lebanese style would not be complete without watching the present day Beautiful, Spectacular Superstar Oriental Dancer of Lebanon, Amani.  Amani has captured the hearts of  The Middle East and the world with her graceful and articulate style…her beautiful theatrical productions and innovative ‘Dance Theatre’ motifs on film and stage.

The following Amani video production is from a few years ago. It is still frequently played on Music Video  TV Programs throughout the Middle East and beyond. In Amani’s captivating style she weaves her magic modern fairy tale of our beloved Ancient Dance. Enjoy!

Amani… pure magic!

This is only a small taste of the rich, ancient mosaic of Lebanese Style. The Music and Dance of Lebanon is an experience of excitement and joy that spills forth from this Ancient Land. 

Wait! I hear music in the streets of Beirut! The ‘Paris of the Middle East’ is alive and dancing with Pop Culture…..

but..that is a story for another time….