Good examples of different styles

[athansor]

Hi everyone
I'm putting together a plan for a summer class/workshop, and I'd like to finish up with a discussion (w/videos) of different styles. This would include watching videos of at least one dancer that really does a good job of representing a certain style. I'd also like to make up a handout with youtube links for the attendees to look at after the workshop. I have some ideas, but I'd like to see what others would come up with.

So, I'd sure like some help! For each style, could you give me an idea of who you would recommend (someone available on DVD or video) and maybe a youtube link as well? I have a pretty extensive DVD collection so hopefully I'll be able to find a lot of these dancers. If you would, please list one or more dancers on DVD and one or more on youtube for any or all of these styles.

After a while, I'll post my final list for the class and the youtube handouts.
Here are the styles that I think I'll focus on (feel free to suggest more styles as well!):

Classical Egyptian

Modern Orientale

Egyptian Beledi/Folkloric

Turkish

American Cabaret

ATS

Tribal Fusion

Spanish/Andalusian influenced (can't think of a name for this)

Thanks everyone!

 

[Farasha Hanem]

Hmmmm...There are forum members here that can help you find better video sources other than YouTube. Not that YouTube doesn't include many wonderful performances, but you would have to wade and sift through a lot of performances that aren't such a good representation of the different styles of bellydance, or of bellydance, period. Would anyone like to field this one, please?

 

[athansor]

I'm actually looking for mostly stuff thats available on DVD and video, the youtube stuff is just for a handout after the fact. I have a pretty good DVD collection so I'm hoping that I can find most dancers people suggest in my collection.

 

[athansor]

Here's a few I've thought of so far...

Classical Egyptian
Suheir Zaki
Lucy?

Modern Orientale

Egyptian Beledi/Folkloric
Hadia in a performance on one of her instructional DVD's

Turkish
Artemis

American Cabaret
Delilah?

ATS
Ultra Gypsy from an Awards of BD video

Tribal Fusion
Rachael Brice

Spanish/Andalusian influenced (can't think of a name for this)
Amaya - Gypsy Fire

Feel free to critique my list as well as adding other suggestions! Thanks!

 

[eden eyes]

I suggest Tanyeli for the Turkish category. I think she represents it very well!! I don't know if she has a dvd or not, but she is on youtube.

 

[athansor]

I suggest Tanyeli for the Turkish category. I think she represents it very well!! I don't know if she has a dvd or not, but she is on youtube.

Wow, thanks, I really enjoyed her youtube videos! I'll put them on my list. Do you think Mezdeke is a good example of a Turkish style as well?

I could use some more ideas for the American Cabaret style also...well, any suggestions for any style would of course be welcome!

 

[maria_harlequin]

ATS
Ultra Gypsy from an Awards of BD video

I would not suggest Ultra Gypsy for a good example of ATS. I would choose FatChance Belly Dance because Carolena Nericcio was the creator of ATS. All other "forms" of "ATS" and other formats (Gypsy Caravan, Black Sheep) are derivatives from the original dance form that she created.

 

[athansor]

That's a good idea...I think I have a FCBD instructional DVD with a performance at the beginning. I'll use that one for the ATS.

 

[maria_harlequin]

That's a good idea...I think I have a FCBD instructional DVD with a performance at the beginning. I'll use that one for the ATS.

That's a good idea but the DVD is quite outdated though and Carolena has made a lot changes to her dance since it came out.

 

[Ranya]

I like your examples athansor, but I have a question: what do you consider "modern orientale" ??? because I couldn`t think of an example for this one, nothing comes to my mind...what would this style exactly be? something BDSS-like (not really AmCab but not Egyptian either) or ... ?????

 

[nightdancer]

I'd have to say Ranya Renee's Modern Oriental.


YouTube - Bellydance Egyptian Style: Modern Oriental, by Ranya Renée :: WorldDanceNewYork.com

She is a member here, if you have any questions.

 

[Ranya]

So what where would one make the clear difference betweenb Modern Oriental and Raks Sharki for example (many dancer dance what Ranya does in this video and call it Raks Sharki)?

Just asking for my own interest, without any criticism or agenda.

 

[RanyaRenee]

Hey there Ranya!

Nice to meet another Ranya. If you are still in Egypt (i think i saw that somewhere?) when I go again in a few months, let's meet up!

There is no difference between raqs sharqi and modern oriental. We just had to have an English language title for the dvd for marketing reasons. Also the distinction between "modern" oriental and "classical" oriental is somewhat arbitrary, but I explain my reasons for delineating it that way in each program (the Classical dvd is still under construction)... I see Oriental dance as really a continuum of styles over the last century, with various foreign influences in line, posture, styling, and presentation aesthetic. I would say that the influence of Mahmoud Reda in part marks the transition from classical to modern, but it's not such a clear distinction. And that classical has some ballet influence but not those sophisticated floor patterns that Reda introduced (think black and white "Golden Age"). It's equally easy for me to say that they are all Oriental, that it's all part of that genre and no real need to separate it out (except for the need to limit the focus for an individual dvd, or to just note distinctions in individual dancers' and choreographers' interpretations over the years).
Musically there are real differences in mood and instrumentation over the years--that is a big distinction between earlier music recorded with an orchestra together in the same room, versus the music recorded with click tracks and edited together--never has the same feeling, but definitely says "modern", if nothing else.

ranya

 

[Ranya]

Hey Ranya, thank you so much for the wonderful and informative post. There definitely is a CONSTANT evolution in dance (at least here in Egypt, can't talk about other countries sorry)... And even now with new dancers here in Egypt I see that the dance is also changing, it is less and less like what we saw in Ranya's video - I talked about it with Liza Laziza about a week ago, and although I am not a big fan of hers she was right that today the "face" is getting more important and the dancers usually do endless shimmies...ENDLESS shimmies...everyone in the room got bored after the first song, it got so predictable. THere was no trace of grace or of MOVEMENT as is.


And what a shame, I am leaving Egypt in 3 DAAAYYYS!!! However I will stay in Europe only for one month before returning (I still have some dance jobs booked)
However I guess sometimes after the beginning of Ramadan I will go back to France, since during this holy month, there are no oriental dancing jobs and very few folklore dance opportunities and I have to be back in Paris by mid-september (university duties calling).
If you're coming in August however LET ME KNOW, we sure can meet up, I would be delighted!

PS: sorry it got a bit offtopic at the end! :S

 

[raks amira]

Alexandra king is a good example of Trukish style, and American Cabaret. I have most of her DVDs on Regional/tribal 6/8 from Armenia,Morocco and Iran is a good one.

If you had Susanna Del Vecchio's DVDs she has been another one of my favorites.

Amira Alabina

 

[athansor]

Thanks for all the input so far...putting this together for the end of my workshop has inspired me to do some updating on my DVD collection! I've made some changes to my list, and have just gotten copies of Rayna Renee's two DVD's, the Beledi and Modern Oriental, and Amaya's American Bellydance Legends. All wonderful DVD's, and it's really great to have Rayna Renee on this thread. As I continue adding and modifying my list, I'll update it here. In the meantime, thanks for all the suggestions so far, and keep them coming!