Caroline_afifi
New member
Following a train of thought on the shaabi thread, do you recognise any styles that you did not connect with or just dont suit you?
If so why?
If so why?
what styles dont suit you?
- Thread starter Caroline_afifi
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lizaj
New member
Following a train of thought on the shaabi thread, do you recognise any styles that you did not connect with or just dont suit you?
If so why?
I have to consider not just "personality" but my age and body shape.
Although with effort I can be reasonably elegant(I did say reasonably
) but it's would be ridiculous of me to do coy. Anything sensual and flirty has to be done with a certain "tongue in cheek" but I do believe that maturity does not preclude sensuality. However I often prefer to play safe and go for what is more "been there, done that, got the T shirt", world weary you might say:lol:I would therefre like to hone "shaabi skills".
I like comedy and think I can cope with its' demands but I am very respectful of what is required to do it well.
I like tribal (ATS) and folklore as I am fond of earthy, womanly dancing- to watch as well as do.
I don't think I was ever "Barbi-ish" so I leave that for the world's glamorous princess types and I'll go for a Mae West version!
I don't do cold- well let me know if I'm wrong but I do love to do "attitude" in tribal troupe situation. I don't want to seduce , I'd rather scare!:lol:
Marya
Member
Following a train of thought on the shaabi thread, do you recognise any styles that you did not connect with or just dont suit you?
If so why?
I have studied/performed a number of styles and have more to go, I suspect that the reason I prefer some styles over others is due to my personality and the personality of others who might be the teacher or a famous performer of a certain style. I really, really like learning dances that are rooted in real life of real people. I resisted learning raks sharki for that reason, but as I learned more about the roots of raks sharki I accepted it as an authentic style that I now love. I love Beledi, and the fakeloric styles too, I just want to know where a dance comes from and where it fits in the cultural context.
I dabbled in tribal, but if any style was a bad match for me that one is, I like FCBD original style but all the off shoots of tribal are not interesting to me at all.
MaryA
For me, it was tribal-fusion that I didn't click with. I tried to learn it, going to workshops, videos - I wanted to try all the styles before I picked one. In particular, it did not feel right on my body and I also struggled a lot with learning it. And didn't particularly like the music either. So in the end, I decided that I should narrow my focus onto something else - I tried it, didn't like it for me, and that's enough. I enjoy watching good tribal fusion when other people do it though, just the way someone who plays rock music might also listen to classical or pop.
Between the "cabaret" styles as some people call them, it took me a bit longer to hone down what style fit me - and at that point, it really came down to the music. I knew if I wanted to dance to a certain style of music, I had to learn to do it correctly, to understand it and do it justice. That is what guided me in my current direction.
Between the "cabaret" styles as some people call them, it took me a bit longer to hone down what style fit me - and at that point, it really came down to the music. I knew if I wanted to dance to a certain style of music, I had to learn to do it correctly, to understand it and do it justice. That is what guided me in my current direction.
jenc
New member
I've never been able to do coy (even my husband has always said stop trying to look coy it doesn't suit you when I'm trying to get round him!!!)
I think though that even at 60 you can do a certain sort of cheeky, the kind of nah nah look what I cabn do.
I don't like fast footwork - hate laerning that type of choreo. I'm much more hips centred. I like sensual - that's much more me!
I think though that even at 60 you can do a certain sort of cheeky, the kind of nah nah look what I cabn do.
I don't like fast footwork - hate laerning that type of choreo. I'm much more hips centred. I like sensual - that's much more me!
wildflowr
New member
I like that: "fakeloric" LOL
I haven't heard that before but I know if there is a "style" that I would identify most with it would be that.
The cabaret costuming felt cheesy to me (a little too Las Vegas), I was more drawn to music and costuming that felt earthy and tribal (referring to "indiginous" in tone more than ATS) but alas- only to discover that what looked most *authentic* really wasn't! I wanted to know what was distinctly *real* and wouldn't wear naval-bearing things cuz that wasn't *real*... but when it boils down to my personality, I began to realize that what I like the most IS the contrived Mata Hari-esque dripping with antique-looking jewelry... the sort of Nouveau, Mucha-looking invention of what Westerners in the 1800s expected of the Middle East. I am hesitant to say tribal fusion because some tribal fusion is just downright scary. If you could put it on a sepia postcard believeably; that is the look to which I am referring.
*sigh* So what if it is invention? When you consider it Innovation perhaps you pay it more respect because it IS something now. It has developed its own language and tradition, be it not an authenitically ancient one; everything has to start somewhere.
I haven't heard that before but I know if there is a "style" that I would identify most with it would be that.
The cabaret costuming felt cheesy to me (a little too Las Vegas), I was more drawn to music and costuming that felt earthy and tribal (referring to "indiginous" in tone more than ATS) but alas- only to discover that what looked most *authentic* really wasn't! I wanted to know what was distinctly *real* and wouldn't wear naval-bearing things cuz that wasn't *real*... but when it boils down to my personality, I began to realize that what I like the most IS the contrived Mata Hari-esque dripping with antique-looking jewelry... the sort of Nouveau, Mucha-looking invention of what Westerners in the 1800s expected of the Middle East. I am hesitant to say tribal fusion because some tribal fusion is just downright scary. If you could put it on a sepia postcard believeably; that is the look to which I am referring.
*sigh* So what if it is invention? When you consider it Innovation perhaps you pay it more respect because it IS something now. It has developed its own language and tradition, be it not an authenitically ancient one; everything has to start somewhere.
Aniseteph
New member
Ooh yes, I like that look too, very flattering skirt line, and all those draped strings of pearls...
Dance-style wise I'm sure I've got a tribal-fusion high priestess worship-demanding goddess in my soul somewhere, but I'm learning Egyptian style so it doesn't quite fit.
I'm a bit past girly-cute, and not keen on too much saiidi hopping about because I'm really not built for it. I'd love to be good at baladi - I don't think it suits me that well right now because I need a lot more practise to have it look how I want it to look!
As I only do Egyptian style I can only answer within that. I found it very hard to do classical oriental style. I have worked at it a lot but I know I still do my oriental style with baladi overtones. And I do have ballet trainiing in the dim and distant past but I can never completely be elegant. Quirkiness always seems to creep in somewhere..
I love shaabi/baladi/folkloric all the earthy stuff. I have this theory that most Egyptian style dancers either veer toward the classical or the baladi. I think its a personality thing.
I love shaabi/baladi/folkloric all the earthy stuff. I have this theory that most Egyptian style dancers either veer toward the classical or the baladi. I think its a personality thing.
nigma
New member
perhaps this sums me up too, I can't connect to the floaty classical thing and veils don't suit me either. Nor do I think I have the look or carriage to carry off Tribal styles.
Jane
New member
Following a train of thought on the shaabi thread, do you recognise any styles that you did not connect with or just dont suit you?
If so why?
ATS and off shoots. Honestly I tried. I looked like an AmCab girl in Tribal drag, which is exactly what I was at the time. I'm more of a soloist at heart: I like to be moved by the music in the moment and have individual expression. Dancing simplified and synchronized movements with a group felt like I was back in the Marine Corps doing drill. Been there done that.
There is only so much room in my brain. If it's not authentic I'm not going to bother using up my valuable storage space.
alosha
New member
cabaret doesn't suit me at all. I tried it for several months, but always felt like i was faking. When i took my first ATS class, I felt like I'd come home. It was the most amazing and scary feeling.
But I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything veil, so trying to work it in makes me tribal fusion?
and like so many others have said, I do love watching others do the dances i cannot.
But I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything veil, so trying to work it in makes me tribal fusion?
and like so many others have said, I do love watching others do the dances i cannot.
alosha
New member
Jane
New member
Go for it- I stole it from someone else! :lol:
Mosaic
Super Moderator
I don't like fast footwork, I end up with 1/2 dozen left feet
I love the folkloric stuff some Egyptian style, slower stuff, I do enjoy veil work.
If I was 30 years younger I would give Tribal fusion a try, I love the look of it, the more sensual type, not the hard gothic/metal stuff.
I wouldn't mind trying ATS/Gypsy caravan style Tribal, but have never found classes nearby. But wouldn't give up my Egyptian style & folkloric for anything.
~Mosaic
I love the folkloric stuff some Egyptian style, slower stuff, I do enjoy veil work.
If I was 30 years younger I would give Tribal fusion a try, I love the look of it, the more sensual type, not the hard gothic/metal stuff.
I wouldn't mind trying ATS/Gypsy caravan style Tribal, but have never found classes nearby. But wouldn't give up my Egyptian style & folkloric for anything.
~Mosaic
jenc
New member
Of course for most dancers in the UK at least the style that you do is more easily defined by what it is not. I take egyptian classes, the music may not be (Kiss, Kiss) egyptian, we learn veil dances, we do freezes not shimmies and do snake arms etc, In any case, how egyptian can you be doing group choreos.
I aspire to being more egyptian in my personal styling than I am now and would love to do baladi, but realisitically, I know I will never achieve true egyptian style.
But I can say I don't dance tribal of any form, or Turkish, Lebanese etc.
I aspire to being more egyptian in my personal styling than I am now and would love to do baladi, but realisitically, I know I will never achieve true egyptian style.
But I can say I don't dance tribal of any form, or Turkish, Lebanese etc.
SmilingMarie
New member
right behind you, candi *waves hello*
oh, but I do also like my veils... I like the wow-factor of double and triple but am bored after 2mins of it so only use it for entrance...
I try my best at classical at times and enjoy it but always feel most at home in more beledi-inspired get-ups and music. Oh, and I am very inspired by the Modern Cairo style these days... *wondering if that would be classed as beledi too*:think:
Following a train of thought on the shaabi thread, do you recognise any styles that you did not connect with or just dont suit you?
If so why?
I just don't connect with tribal.
i find it way too 'out there' for me, I was never attracted to it or learning it at all.
jenc
New member
I don't like tribal fusion. I tried to find an ATS troupe after my first year because I was attracted by the idea of learning more about transitions and getting over my pathological fear of choreos by practising dancing without one.
I never found a troupe and that may be for the best as I've always been too bolshie to find co-operation easy.
AND I was thrown out of ballet class aged 6 becaus I wouldn't do drills!!