Why do belly dancers need to know about Saidi? If you have some experience with raqs sharqi (commonly known as "belly dance") you might have noticed that in order to be a well-rounded dancer, it's necessary to know so much more than just belly dance! The classical music we use, as well as our entrance songs and drum solos feature shifts in rhythm and instrumentation that are important to understand and reflect in our dancing. These different "sections" within our music take us on a journey through different Middle Eastern musical genres. Some of those genres are specific to certain regions of the Middle East, where people might dance a certain way which reflects their customs and traditions. It's important for us to know the regional dances that go along with the types of music that come up for us often, so that we can interpret our music appropriately. Saidi... Sa'idi... Sa3idiOne of the regional/folkloric genres of music that comes up for us the most is Saidi. The word Saidi (صعيدى, sometimes spelled Sa'idi or even Sa3idi) means from Upper Egypt. Upper Egypt, or the Said, is a region in the south of Egypt. This region is known as "Upper Egypt" because it has a higher elevation than the north of Egypt, which is known as Lower Egypt. (Fun fact: since the north of Egypt is lower in elevation than the south of Egypt, the Nile river flows to the north. Notice in the map below, how the Nile river delta flows northward into the Mediterranean sea) Image source: Cacahuate - Wikimedia Saidi people speak their own dialect of Egyptian Arabic and have unique customs, music, dances, and traditions. The word Saidi can be used to refer to anything that comes from Upper Egypt. In the context of belly dance, when we talk about Saidi we are usually either referring to music and/or dances from the Said region, or to Saidi rhythm. Tahtib: Saidi Martial Art & DanceAn important tradition in the Said is a dance and martial art known as tahtib (or tahteeb, تحطيب), where participants engage in mock fighting with sticks, done to music. The roots of this practice date back to ancient Egypt, where it was used as a military skill, alongside archery and wrestling. These days, tahtib is mostly practiced as a social game or as a mock fighting dance for entertainment, traditionally done by men. Tahtib in its native context Tahtib as a mock fighting dance performance Stick Dancing for WomenIn more recent decades, women developed their own versions of stick dancing (raqs assaya) for performance, playfully imitating the men's movements in softer, more feminine ways. In the women's versions of Saidi-style raqs assaya, a smaller and lighter stick or cane (a stick with a hook at the end) is used. When danced as part of a belly dance performance, the stick or cane might be decorated with shiny metallic tape or sequins. Female dancers often wear glamourized versions of baladi dresses when dancing to Saidi music. Belly dancer Vanessa of Cairo performing Saidi with a cane Belly dancer Arielle performing Saidi raqs assaya with two sticks Egyptian belly dancer Sahar Samara performing Saidi raqs assaya Dancers Kareem GaD and Taly Hanafy performing a Saidi duet Saidi MusicSaidi music typically features the tabl baladi, darbuka, and daff on percussion and the very distinct mizmar and rebaba on melody. A very common rhythm in Saidi music is Saidi rhythm, a 4/4 rhythm played as "dum tek, dum dum, tek." Saidi rhythm is also found outside of Saidi music, so the rhythm alone does not necessarily mean that a song or section of a song is Saidi. Saidi music also features a variety of other rhythms, such as malfuf (2/4), fellahi (2/4), maqsum (4/4), baladi (4/4), and others. So it's important to consider the instruments and the feeling of the music and to do some research before deciding on how to interpret it. Famous Saidi song, Luxor Baladna, played by Upper Egypt Ensemble Luxor Baladna translation Additional resources: Wikipedia - Tahtib Shira.net - Saidi Dance Oriental Dancer - Saidi Dance SharqiDance - Saidi Rhythm for Belly Dancers Was This Post Helpful?Was this post helpful? Did you learn something new about Saidi music or dance? If so, hit "like" below and leave a comment with your feedback!
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What if I told you that most of the countless hip isolations we do in belly dance come from just 6 foundational hip movements? Would that motivate you to practice these movements for a few minutes on a regular basis? What if there were 6 videos you could reference, to learn the technique for each of these movements... Would that make learning this beautiful (and surprisingly difficult) dance a little less daunting and intimidating? If you answered "yes" to these questions, I have good news for you! Here's my gift to get you started on your belly dance journey with your best hip forward! Or if you already take belly dance classes (especially one of my classes), these videos are a great tool for practice between classes. Try out these 6 essential hip movements below:
Bonus VideoOnce you're comfortable with the 6 essential hip movements above, challenge yourself with our bonus Hip Combos video below! Need Real-Time Feedback & Support? Some people do very well with pre-recorded videos... but if you want live feedback & support, our online classes provide that. Check out our schedule below to see what we're offering right now!
Learn About This Crucial Type of Belly Dance Music Megeance (alternatively spelled mejance, majency, mejanse, meganse, mejanci, meyancé, madjensie) is a style of music that is used for a belly dancer's entrance. This raqs sharqi (belly dance) opening number typically begins with a fast rhythm that allows for the dancer to cover space as she "greets" her audience and captures their attention, then changes in rhythm and melody so that the dancer can take her* audience on a sort of journey through a variety of Middle Eastern dance styles. This is where the dancer can showcase her range. The megeance will often include sections of Middle Eastern music such as baladi, saidi, khaleegy, and others. Sometimes, the megeance will even include taqasim or a mini darbuka solo within itself. In a sense, the megeance can be a considered a mini belly dance set, because its varied sections are composed of the same elements that are typically included in a full belly dance show: a fast and powerful entrance, folkloric and/or miscellaneous Middle Eastern dances, a possible taqsim and/or drum solo, and an exit that "book ends" the same themes of the entrance. In the megeance those elements are compressed into a "mini-show," which can be performed on its own (for example in a belly dance event, competition or hafla), or in the beginning of a full belly dance set (as in a restaurant show, wedding or party). Watch Shahrzad Dance to Her Megeance In Egypt, where famous dancers often put together their own orchestra of musicians, a dancer's megeance is typically composed specifically for her. This is the case for the megeance above, Bahlem Bi Shahrzad, which was created by and composed for Shahrzad herself!
Here in the west, where belly dancers don't generally have access to a live orchestra of their own, it is more common for belly dancers to use music that was composed to be a "general" megeance, or use megeance songs that were composed for another famous dancer. Whether dancing to a live orchestra or recorded music, at a belly dance hafla or a wedding, every well-rounded belly dance student and professional belly dancer should understand the dynamics and purpose of the megeance, and do her best to do it justice! *In this post, I used the pronoun "she" to refer to belly dancers. However, it is important to note that this art form is inclusive of men as well as agender, bi-gender, gender-fluid and otherwise gender non-conforming folks. I choose feminine pronouns when writing about belly dance for simplicity, but I welcome you to pick your own preferred pronoun when you read through this and my other posts. Was this post helpful? Would you like to learn more about belly dance? Hit "like" below, share, and leave a comment with your feedback! You can also visit our blog map to find more posts like this, or subscribe to our newsletter, YouTube channel, or Facebook page to be the first to find out about our next post. Happy learning, and happy dancing! Background & Breakdown of One of the Most Famous Belly Dance Songs of All Time Even if you haven't been belly dancing very long, you might have already come across Leylet Hob before. And if you've been doing this for a while, you've definitely danced to it countless times by now! But how much do you really know about this timeless classic and belly dance favorite? If your answer is "actually, not much" you've got to keep reading this post because it's packed with information about this absolutely must-know composition. About Leylet Hob Leylet Hob (ليلة حب, alternatively spelled Laylet Hob, Laylet Hobb, Lailet Hob, Laylet Houb, Lelat Hob, or Leilet Hob) is a classic Arabic song that was composed in the 1960's by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, written in 1973 by Ahmed Shafiq Kamel and subsequently sung by Om Kalthoum. Its title means "Night of Love." The original song, like many of the Arabic orchestral classics, was an entire concert on its own, at over 50 minutes in length. Today there are countless modern renditions of it by Arab and non-Arab musicians alike, usually around 5 to 15 minutes long, with or without vocals. Singer, Lyricist & Composer Om Kalthoum (1904? - 1975) was a legendary Egyptian singer who was--and is to this date--renowned across the Arab world. Her face, name and voice are recognized and loved throughout the region, where she is likely the most famous singer of all time. Such a revered figured she was, her funeral was one of the largest gatherings in the world, attended by around 4 million people. Many of the most famous Arabic songs (and most popular belly dance songs) were originally sung by her. Mohammed Abdel Wahab (1902? - 1991) was one of the most prominent composers and singers in Egyptian history. He was responsible for composing many of the classic masterpieces that us belly dancers perform to on a regular basis. He introduced Western instruments such as the guitar, bass, accordion, organ and synthesizer to some of his compositions, innovating upon existing traditions and influencing all Arabic music thereafter. Ahmed Shafiq Kamel was an Egyptian poet who became known as the "Poet of the Two Pyramids" for unifying the two great talents--Om Kalthoum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab-- in his work on Leylet Hob, which became the first of many collaborations between the two. The Full Rendition You can listen to the full, 59-minute rendition of Leylet Hob sung by Om Kalthoum here: Can you spot the guitar, accordion, and synthesizer in this composition? The Lyrics Leylet Hob is a song of love and longing. You can hear in Om Kalthoum's voice the longing that is felt for an absent lover. It speaks of yearning for that lover's return, where the singer imagines their night together while describing their love in the deep, poetic terms the Arabic language is so well-suited to relate. You can read a full, line-by-line translation of Laylet Hob by clicking here. Interpretation One of the most famous interpretations of Leylet Hob is this one by Soheir Zaki, one of the most famous belly dancers of the 1960's-80's: Soheir Zaki is a classic, timeless dancer. You can read more about her in our Timeline of Egypt's Biggest Stars post.
Musical Breakdown Laylet Hob is played in the Maqam Nahawand, a type of melody that is perfectly suited to evoke the feelings of love and passionate yearning that this song speaks about. Some of the rhythms encountered are malfuf, maqsum, baladi (masmoudi saghir), masmoudi kebir, and 6/8. Let's break down* each rhythm by section, using the shorter 8-minute version of Leylet Hob in the Soheir Zaki video above as our reference: Baladi/masmoudi saghir (0:11-1:09, 1:27-1:52, 6:37-6:57, 7:19-7:40) 4/4 Rhythm |DD| T|D |T | Malfuf (1:10-1:20, 6:57-7:19, 7:40-8:34) 2/4 Rhythm |D T| T | 6/8 (1:53-2:24) 6/8 Rhythm |D | | |T | | | Maqsum (2:25-4:01) 4/4 Rhythm |DT| T|D |T | Masmoudi (4:02-4:15, 5:51-6:01?) 8/4 Rhythm |D|D| | |D| | | | Maqsum (4:15-5:51) 4/4 Rhythm |DT| T|D |T | Taqsim (6:01-6:37) Guitar solo - no rhythm Is Leylet Hob one of your favorite classics and go-to songs, like it is mine? If so, I hope this post has been helpful to you. I encourage you to listen to the hour-long version for study and for enjoyment, and that you hear as many versions of this beautiful composition as you can get your hands on. What's your favorite version of this song? Which dancer have you seen do the best interpretation of it? Let me know in the comments below... And if you've found this post informative, don't forget to spread the knowledge by sharing it with your belly dance students, teachers, and peers. Happy learning, and happy dancing! Sources: Leylet Hob Leylet Hob/Mohammed Abdel Wahab Om Kalthoum Om Kalthoum's Funeral Mohammed Abdel Wahab Ahmed Shafiq Kamel Leylet Hob Translation Maqam Nahawand Leylet Hob Rhythms Rhythms Rhythms App *Note regarding the rhythm breakdown: I am not musically trained, so I am breaking down this song by rhythm to the best of my knowledge and untrained ability. If you are a musician and have any corrections to make to this breakdown or anything to add, please contact me via email. While belly dance in its most basic forms may have existed for centuries, or possibly millennia, it was only over the last 100 years or so that it really began to take the shape we have come to recognize and refer to as "raqs sharqi"--or belly dance--today, thanks in large part to these incredible women who made history as belly dance stars in Egypt. In this timeline of famous Egyptian belly dancers, you will learn a little bit about each woman and their influence on the dance as well as see them in action, thereby getting a glimpse into how this dance has changed and evolved over the years. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! Badia Masabni (1892 - 1974) - The Godmother of Belly Dance Badia Masabni was a Syrian/Lebanese actress and dancer who moved to Egypt and opened the first music hall in Cairo in the 1920's which featured singing, dancing, and other entertainment acts. She is credited with adapting belly dance from its social and folkloric roots into a dance that is done on the stage to entertain a large audience. The usage of ballet-inspired arms and lines, greater use of space and traveling steps, and the incorporation of the veil as a prop can all be traced back to this woman, who is understandably referred to as "The Godmother of Belly Dance." She is also credited with being a mentor to two major belly dance figures, Samia Gamal and Tahiya Carioca. Tahiya Carioca (1915 - 1999) - The Marilyn Monroe of the Arab World Eventually dubbed the "Marilyn Monroe of the Arab World," Tahiya Carioca began her belly dance career at Badia Masabni's Casino Opera where she rose to become one of its biggest stars. She was given the surname "Carioca" due to her fascination with Brazilian rhythms and dance, which she incorporated into her performances. She began appearing in films in 1935, going on to become an important part of Egyptian movie history. The height of her fame occurred during the "Golden Age" of Egyptian cinema in the 1940's and 50's, and she continued to dance until 1963. Samia Gamal (1924 - 1994) - The National Dancer of Egypt Another Badia Masabni protegé and Golden Age star, Samia Gamal would eventually be proclaimed by Egypt's King Farouk as the "The National Dancer of Egypt." Samia was not only one of the most famous belly dancers of her time, but was also a very successful actress, having appeared in over 50 movies throughout her career. She also performed in international films and clubs, helping bring worldwide attention and recognition to this dance. As a dancer, she was known for her beautiful arm movements and enchanting smile. Naima Akef (1929 - 1966) - Bellydancing Acrobat Naima Akef began her performing career as a child at her family's circus, where she performed as an acrobat. After the circus disbanded, she eventually found work as a singer and belly dancer in Cairo's famous nightclubs, and in the 1940's she began singing, dancing and acting in movies as well. She was lost to cancer at the young age of 37, but not before having become a Golden Age star in her own right, forever making her mark in this dance form with her fast and energetic spins, dramatic arm and leg movements, and impressive displays of acrobatics. Nagwa Fouad (1936 - present) - Queen of Raqs Sharqi
By the 1970's, Nagwa had become one of the most important belly dancers in Egypt, but her reputation reached far beyond Egypt as she performed all over the globe throughout her career. Every famous personality who came to visit Egypt would come to see Nagwa perform, including former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and President Jimmy Carter. By the time she retired, Nagwa Fouad had had a very impressive and versatile 45-year career in dance and film, having appeared as a dancer in over two hundred and fifty films and acted in more than one hundred! Soheir Zaki (1944 - present) - The Om Kalthoum of Dance
Fifi Abdo (1953 - present) - Queen of Baladi As a child, Fifi Abdo would watch the films of the likes of Tahiya Carioca, Naima Akef, etc, and copy their moves. She started performing belly dance at age 13 and thanks to her hard work, talent, and toughness, she rose to become a top belly dancer and actress in Egypt in the 1980's and 90's, and today she is one of the wealthiest women in the country! In her films, she usually portrays empowered female archetypes, and her work is often provocative and controversial for its boldness. While Fifi is an amazing all-around belly dancer, she is best known for being the embodiment of baladi: the simple, earthy, grounded, country style of dance from which raqs sharqi originated. Mona Said (1954 - present) - The Bronze of The Nile Mona Said began her belly dance career at age 13 after being encouraged to become a dancer by a nightclub owner and a big-name singer who had spotted her dancing at a disco. She left Egypt in 1970 to perform in Lebanon for a few years, fleeing her father who was disapproving of her career choice. In Lebanon she found fame before returning to Cairo in 1975. She then went on to perform between Cairo and London for the next 5 years, and became one of the top belly dancers in Egypt through the 80's and 90's. Mona was nicknamed "The Princess of Raqs Sharqi" by Tahiya Carioca herself, and "The Bronze of the Nile" by Egypt's media. Mona is best known for her feeling and emotion when dancing. She does not believe in counting music, but instead in focusing on the feeling and allowing it to take over in the moment. She is a perfect example of the "less is more" philosophy applied in belly dance, milking every beat and every note in the music, giving it no more and no less than what is called for, building up energy only when the music builds, all while expressing a variety of different emotions and personalities. Dina (1965 - present) - The Last Egyptian Dancer Dina began her dancing career in the 1970's training with Mahmoud Reda, co-founder of Reda Troupe, a group of Egyptian folkloric dancers that toured nationally and internationally. She began her solo career in the 80's, quickly rising to the top of the belly dance scene in Cairo and remaining there up to this date, in a difficult and evolving social and political landscape. Times have changed in Egypt, and the pendulum has been swinging further and further towards religious conservatism over the past few decades. In a 2008 article, Newsweek called Dina "The Last Egyptian Dancer," in reference to the growing conservatism in the country which is causing fewer and fewer native-born women to become professional dancers. This, coupled with Dina's provocative costumes and movements, have made her into a very controversial figure in her country and abroad. But whether you love her or hate her, her influence in modern Egyptian style is undeniable. Dina herself is the clear dividing line between the vintage and classic styles that came before her and the modern styles that exist today. Her Reda-influenced steps marked the beginnings of new trends in belly dance which favor more complex footwork and weight shifts. Her exaggerated and dramatic facial expressions and gestures, sharper hip and pelvic accents and slower and more provocative hip circles have been copied all over Egypt and the world. Her daring bras showcasing ample cleavage became the new normal in belly dance costume design (the "Dina bra"), and her occasional choice of a mini-skirt over traditional full-length skirts created new trends that are still being followed and developed upon all over the world today. Newsweek may have dubbed Dina "The Last Egyptian Dancer," but she is far from it. We are certainly no longer in the heyday of belly dance in Egypt, but many new dancers have popped up since Dina, and they continue to set their own trends today. They won't be covered in this blog post, but may be covered in future posts so please stay tuned! I encourage you to keep reading and watching belly dance videos to find out more about this dance, its influential figures, its history around the world, and the myriad of different styles that fall under the belly dance umbrella! Sources:
Badia Masabni Wikiwand - Badia Masabni Bellydance Superstars of the Past - Badia Masabni Gilded Serpent - Badia Masabny Star Maker of Cairo Tahiya Carioca Wikiwand - Taheyya Kariokka Belly Dance Museum - Taheya Carioca New York Times - Tahia Carioca, 79, Dies; A Renowned Belly Dancer Samia Gamal Wikiwand - Samia Gamal Belly Dance Museum - Samia Gamal Google Doodle just honored this iconic Egyptian dancer Naima Akef Wikipedia - Naima Akef Serpentine - Naima Akef Nagwa Fouad An Uncommon Woman - Nagwa Fouad, Queen of Oriental Dance Soheir Zaki Serpentine - Sohair Zuki Belly Dance Museum - Soheir Zaki Fifi Abdo Wikipedia - Fifi Abdou Serpentine - Fifi Abdo Mona Said Mona el Said Mona El Said Gilded Serpent - Mona el Said in Dallas, Part 1 Mona El Said: Moving in Mysterious Ways Dina Wikipedia - Dina Talaat DINA at the MENA! Newsweek - Saudis and the Last Egyptian Belly Dancer |
AuthorYamê is a Brazilian-American View Posts By CategoryIf you'd like to read more articles by Yamê or SharqiDance's guest authors, please view our blog map here.
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