Posted on : 17-06-2009 | By : Kathreen | In : Styles of Belly Dance
Stand (and shimmy) by your Man!
Often Americans and Europeans think of Oriental Dance as only a performance dance. In the Middle East, the dance is the cultural dance of the people. All women do this dance…little girls learn to dance watching their mothers, sisters, aunts and other women in parties (haflas) weddings and just family gatherings. Women of all ages dance..as in any country. The movement is the natural movement of the culture to the music of the culture.
I thought it would be fun, from a learning perspective,in terms of natural movement and style, to see some classic representations of Egyptian women ‘ Dancing for their Man’ from Egyptian movies.Watching from this personal and intimate perspective illuminates many aspects of the dance!
Here is Sahar Hamdi in an Egyptian film..’Dancing for her Man’.. Oops! or is that someone else’s man?..Oh Well..It’s cute and fun!!!
This clip shows the light hearted entertainment quality of the dance in the Middle East. Whether it is on stage or in the privacy of an intimate setting, the nature of this dance is ‘Fun’ seduction.
There is just something about seeing an Egyptian actress dancing in their nightie, gallabaya, or home dress…with a scarf tied around their hips that emphasizes the pure joy of this dance!
Here is a treasure with Aida Ryad dancing!
Notice how the men join right in…feeling festive after a couple of whiskies and enamored with his beautiful dancing lady! Too funny!!!
This subject just wouldn’t be complete without our darling ‘Bint Al Balad’ (Daughter of the Country) Fifi Abdou…confirming that you don’t have to show everything…you just have to show up…do the right moves and carry a big stick!
Wow! Now that is an inspiration!
So, Girls…what are you waiting for? Get creative put on your nightie and Hizzy Ah Wiz ( shake like a duck)!
Kathreen!
Ma’shallah, these clips are adorable, and to the unitiated, absolutely a fresh look at the dance through the cinematic eye. Humorous indeed! Thanks for this peek into another world!
.-= Karima Sultan´s last blog ..The San Diego Renaissance Faire is coming in 2009 =-.
Delilghtfully entertaining!
Thank You Kathreen.
oxox
Delilah
These clips are wonderful! My favorite “bellydancing for your man Egyptian style” clip is the one with Taheya Carioca dancing for her husband on their wedding night.
And you are right, I’ve had much more of a blast dancing in pajamas early in the morning.
Katherine,
I enjoyed watching all of the “Dancing for Your Man” clips. This may sound strange, but I think I would feel less nervous dancing for a group of total strangers than for those I have known for years. I know my husband, Paul, would love to see me perform in full costume. Because he has totally supported my obsession with belly dancing, he deserves to see me dance in full garb.
Kathy
These clips and comments were both funny and intense–I can relate to Kathy’s comment. For such moments was Grappa invented, right? I enjoy belly dancing alone to my closet sliding glass door. If my husband only knew!
I find Fifi Abdou the most sensuous of these three, although Sahar Hamdi reminds me of my ex sister in law, Soyaiya. In Saudi Arabia, where I lived for 17 years as the wife of a Saudi, the women belly dance together onstage at weddings. The catch is that there are no men present. But there is a stage. and it is used later for the bride, who stays up there most of the time, and then the bridegroom comes in several hours later and sits next to her.
Anyway, at one such wedding before the bridegroom showed up, Soraiya, whom I had never seen bellydance, bounded on stage and suddenly did a really good Sahar Hamdi dance. It was a lot more spirited than I expected from my relative! I asked her afterwards if she did that often for her then-husband, Tarek. She said, “No, otherwise we would have too many children.”
I love all of the clips. Cute and funny and so sassy!
Hugs,
Petite FiFi
Of course I love all the women dancing for thier men, but my favorite is FiFi. What great hips she has and her beautiful smile is awesome! I remember dancing at my first show that Kathreen had in her stuido in Kitty Hawk it was so beautiful and it was mirrored back to me by all the people in the room, men, women and children. What a great connection dance is!
Pat