The Greatest Contradiction: Beledi is X, but still Y

[PracticalDancer]

Inspired by this thread and many others . . .

I am not sure if this belongs here or in games; moderator, please feel free to move this thread appropriately.

But, as a student who has struggled with this (and who has watched others struggle), I thought it might be fun and informative to tee up a conversation about the amazing contradictions within this form of dance.

So . . .

Beledi is relaxed, but still controlled.

 

[Mosaic]

Beledi is cheeky but classy

~Mosaic

 

[PracticalDancer]

Yay! :dance: Thank you for playing along, Mosaic! Others???

 

[Nath]

Beledi is home spun but polished.

 

[Kharis]

Baladi moves to the beat of the heart.

 

[lizaj]

Beledi sounds like it should be simple but it's complex!

 

[Oona]

Beledi is relaxed but contained

 

[Shanazel]

Beledi is modest but still a gentle tease.

 

[adiemus]

Beledi is easy enough that everyone can do it and have fun, but difficult enough that only the very best dancers can perform it well.

 

[Marya]

Beledi sounds like it should be simple but it's complex!

exactly what I was going to say!

 

[Jane]

Baladi is proud but humble.

 

[Caroline_afifi]

Baladi can be both introvert and extrovert...

I was stuggling to think of something... finally :lol:

 

[Kharis]

Beledi is easy enough that everyone can do it and have fun, but difficult enough that only the very best dancers can perform it well.

I think this sums it up. Baladi is elusive but accessible at the same time.

 

[gisela]

Baladi is old but still IN!
(Man, I lost the word I was going to write so have to go with the less refined "IN" :lol

 

[walladah]

Baladi...

is fire but still full of water and sea waves...

 

[Aniseteph]

Baladi is soft yet strong.

(anyone thinking of Andrex puppies right now STOP IT I'm trying to be serious here :naghty

Actually some times it is very very long as well... oh bother... sorry...

 

[Nath]

(anyone thinking of Andrex puppies right now STOP IT I'm trying to be serious here :naghty

Actually some times it is very very long as well... oh bother... sorry...

 

[LunaXJJ]

Anyone have a link to a good video of Beladi dance? I'm not too familiar with the styles, so I'm a bit lost.

 

[PracticalDancer]

Anyone have a link to a good video of Beladi dance? I'm not too familiar with the styles, so I'm a bit lost.

Hello, dear, and welcome. (offers a warm southern pat on the hand) Let me take you down a road called Beledi. We will start with our own Maria Aya in the kitchen:
YouTube - Authentic Kitchen Baladi - Maria Aya - Greece

Then, we will walk over to the thread that started this one: YouTube - Bellydancer Ranya Renee of NYC: Raks Beledi "Tahtil Shibbak

There are so many others if you do a search on "beledi" -- good ones and ones that could have broken the camera. But, these two should give you a start. Please come back with questions!

Regards,

Anala

 

[Sofia]

This brings a book to my mind: Baladi women of Cairo "playing with an Egg an a Stone" by Evelyn A. Early.