SharqiDance Belly Dance Classes
  • Home
    • Sign Up!
  • Online Classes
    • Unstoppable Shimmies
    • Beginner Belly Dance
    • Intermediate Belly Dance
  • In-Person Classes
    • Intro to Belly Dance
    • Belly Dance Basics
    • Belly Dance Drills & Performance Skills
    • Private Belly Dance Classes
  • About Us
    • About the Teacher
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • Blog Map

Muwashahat - Poetry as Music & Dance

2/26/2018

0 Comments

 
​If you are drawn to belly dance for its flowing, poetic elegance more than for its rhythmic shaking of the hips, you will absolutely love muwashah dance!  
 
Muwashahat (also spelled muwashshahat) is the plural of muwashah (also spelled muwashshah), which is a genre of Arabic poetry in musical form that dates back to 10th century Moorish Spain (Al-Andalus)! Today, these traditions are still popular in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria and Lebanon. 
 
There is no reference for how people danced to this type of music back then, but in the 1970's the famous Egyptian choreographer Mahmoud Reda presented the muwashah as a dance spectacle on a stage for the first time in modern history. He invented this new genre of dance by imagining how the rhythmic patterns and lyrics in this type of music should be expressed, while adhering to Middle Eastern aesthetics and cultural norms. 

Watch this video of one of Reda's famous muwashah choreographies (performed by Nesma Al-Andalus Company in 2011) to get a sense for what this type of music and dance sounds and looks like:
​
Mahmoud Reda has been one of the most influential figures in Middle Eastern dance, famous for his stage adaptations of various Arab folkloric and social dances. The dance steps, traditions and methodologies he created are still popular among belly dance performers, teachers and choreographers today! 

When you watch this video, do you notice similar steps and movements to those seen in belly dance? What are some elements and characteristics that are different, and unique to this dance? 

If you'd like to learn more about muwashah poetry, music and dance, be sure to check out the references below! 
​
References:
Farida Fahmy - Muwashshahat Raqisah 
Encyclopaedia Britannica - Muwashshah

The Arab Muwashsha and Zajal Poetry and their Influence on European Music and Song

0 Comments
    Picture

    Author

    Yamê is a Brazilian-American
    raqs sharqi dancer based out of New Jersey, USA.
    As the owner of SharqiDance, her mission is two-fold:
    empowering students to find inner joy, confidence and self-love in a positive and supportive dance community, and educating students and audiences around the world on the beauty and intricacies of Middle Eastern dance and music. 

    RSS Feed

    View Posts By Category

    If you'd like to read more articles by Yamê or SharqiDance's guest authors, please view our blog map here. 
    blog map

    Archives

    October 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

What Our STUDENTS Are Saying

"You have to give this dance a try, it's so much fun! Yame is so helpful in teaching and telling you all you need to learn! You won't be disappointed!"

Lila, SharqiDance student

FOLLOW US 

  • Home
    • Sign Up!
  • Online Classes
    • Unstoppable Shimmies
    • Beginner Belly Dance
    • Intermediate Belly Dance
  • In-Person Classes
    • Intro to Belly Dance
    • Belly Dance Basics
    • Belly Dance Drills & Performance Skills
    • Private Belly Dance Classes
  • About Us
    • About the Teacher
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • Blog Map