Bellydancer in Egypt after the revolution

After the Egyptian Revolution the Salafist s( ultra-conservative islamists) are trying to introduce their views of Sharia Law, lately some news have arise in the media as below:

"Vigilante gangs of ultra-conservative Salafi men have been harassing shop owners and female customers in rural towns around Egypt for “indecent behavior,” according to reports in the Egyptian news media. But when they burst into a beauty salon in the Nile delta town of Benha this week and ordered the women inside to stop what they were doing or face physical punishment, the women struck back, whipping them with their own canes before kicking them out to the street in front of an astonished crowd of onlookers."

They will of course target everyone including bellydancers but Egyptians are not willing for a conservative state, they do love religion but they also want freedom and the Azhar ( the most religious University in Egypt) already issued a statement that this groups are not eligible to do so, So lets wait and see what the future brings.

Marinna from Egypt

From Cairo

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Should a belly dancer know the Arabic music Rhythms

Definitely the answer is yes.

Many dancers today only learn technique, more and more steps without caring with the true Egyptian nature and origin for this art. In Egypt its not all about technique, mostly its about feelings, to known how to interpret a music, a song its really important to them.

Imagine being on stage and suddenly a Saidi Rhythm enters and you continue like nothing happened, not changing the way you dance to approach a particular rhythm it’s a huge mistake and a complete lack of knowledge for Egyptian public, so for all dancers ---------- learn as much as you can about Arabic Rhythms.

Here you have some Arabic rythims:

- Masmudi Kebir ( you can find it in Egyptian Classic music)
- Masmudi Saghayir ( Known also as Baladi)
- Maksum ( can be found in several several pop music)
- Saidi ( Folklore and also in Shaabi music)
- Whada kebir ( improvising)
- Malfuf (( used in stage opening)
- Samahi ( Used in Oriental Classics)
- Zaar ( Performed by trance dances)


You can search online, listen music, learn some basic rhythms with a teacher in your area, but think about ( if you have the opportunity) to come to Egypt and see a life performance and perhaps learn with an Egyptian musician, your performance will change forever.

Arabic words related to Bellydance

Drums- Tabla

Famous- mash hour / mash houra ( M/F)

Guitar- gitar

Musician- azef / azefa/ azefin( M/F/P)

Orchestra- orkistra

Performance- ard

Song- ughniyya

Show- Hafla

Singer-mughanni/mughaneya

( M/F)

Stage- Khashabit il masraH

Artist- Fanan / fanana ( M/F)

Bellydancer – raassa

Oriental Dance Teacher - modaresset raas

Dance- raassa
Bellydance Costumes - badlet raas
Bellydance Scarf - mandeel be terter
Veil- esharb
Zills- sagat

Cane Dance - assaya