How Many Styles?

[goddessyasaman]

Hi Lady's I wanted to see how many of you here know more then one style of belly dance and other dance styles as well. How this brings more to your belly dance style. And if you only studied one would you every learn another or are you so stuck on this one style that you don't see any reason to learn another style?

I wanted to know because I would like to think I'm not alone in this but I have been wrong before:lol: anywho I will list the styles I studied and still do as well as learning now.And how long what my feeling on the style is and the like, you lady's don't have to go this deep but I love to write:lol:

First style age 12 ; Turkish/Cab
This style i fell in love with because I felt a connection with it for it's energy and I loved the costumes as well, The music had a great feel and sound to me.I studied this style for 4 1/2-5 years before I started the next one.

Second style age 16; Egyptian (Raqs Baladi)
I had heard that this style was the root of belly dance from different sources, I had studied Turkish belly dance history so I had already heard that, so I started studing this style, I liked some of the music but I was a Turkish dancer at heart, I did'nt much care for the costumes that I saw at the start, later on found ones I loved but I love middle eastern dance so my love for it was in that. I studied this style 1 1/2 before I adding another style to my studies.

Third style age 17; Arabic (Raqs Sharqi)
This style for me was another love, the costumes the movement and the music, as I studied this style along side the other two I could see the and feel the differents in them.This style I studied 2 years before I picked up my next style.

fourth style age 19; ATS
The costumes,the music,the group dances, I had to learn.Studied for 1 1/2then added my next style.

Fifth style age 21; Tribal fusion
I read up on this style heard all the talk about how it was not belly dance, but to me it was another expression of one of my greatest loves, so I started and I loved the way the moves came to life. Studied 2 years on and off and still learning.

sixth style age 23;Gothic style
held a key to my heart as I am goth and belly dancer as well as a writer, it held these things I know there are dancers out there that don't see it as belly dance in the least and thats fine but anywho I started studying it.
then...

seventh style age 26; Hip hop style/Liquid fusion
A awsome teacher Anasma who I want to have classes with(but only DVD for now),
this style helped me smooth out even more.

26-now
I am learning Bollywood dance now, I have studied Native american dance since I was 12, and all though this is not a dance I have studied a mix of different martial arts since I was 4.

I want to do a video series where I do a dance for each style all I have now are old videos where I'm not as good as I am now. I think I will soon, it sounds fun...ok sorry to run on k someone else take a turn:lol:

 

[gisela]

What do you mean by Arabic? Lebanese bd or Khaleegy or "pan arabic" or something completely different?

 

[Aniseteph]

I've been learning Egyptian style for about 6 years and still wouldn't say I know it. The more I do the less I feel I know, if that makes sense.

I've done the odd workshop in other styles but Egyptian is where I'm at.

Gisela beat me to it - what is Arabic style?

 

[goddessyasaman]

What do you mean by Arabic? Lebanese bd or Khaleegy or "pan arabic" or something completely different?

I call it that but I should have put Raqs Sharqi and I should put Raqs Baladi for where I put egyptian, I call one arabic and the other egyptian though they are close related, as the Raqs Baladi is the more traditional dance form of the 2, I forgot that I do that, sorry

 

[Kashmir]

I started "general western belly dance" from a teacher whose own style was heavily influenced by Egyptian and who had a non-ME folk dance background. So, fortunately for me, no woo-woo stuff (unlike many other teachers at the time). Fortunate because as I had a dance and technical background with woo-woo I don't think I would have stuck at it.

Over the years I have spent most of my time studying a number of Egyptian styles - "Modern" (think Dina), Golden Age (think Samia Gamal), Awalim (ie pre-Casino Opera), Beledi (Fifi and Souheir), Reda orientale (very nice and balletic) as well as a range of folkloric styles.

I feel I still I have still lots to learn just with Egyptian! But along the way I have picked up a little Lebanese and AmCab. Personally I don't like Turkish style so I'm not tempted. For me, the Tribal family is mostly outside the belly dance family. If I wanted to extend with a different dance style I'd probably go back to Jazz.

 

[Kashmir]

I call it that but I should have put Raqs Sharqi and I should put Raqs Baladi for where I put egyptian, I call one arabic and the other egyptian though they are close related, as the Raqs Baladi is the more traditional dance form of the 2, I forgot that I do that, sorry

Very, very few people do raqs beledi - it is a very grunty and down to earth style which pre-dates raqs sharqi which arose in the 1920s. Today's Modern Egyptian is definitely a development of raqs sharqi - not raqs beledi.

 

[goddessyasaman]

Very, very few people do raqs beledi - it is a very grunty and down to earth style which pre-dates raqs sharqi which arose in the 1920s. Today's Modern Egyptian is definitely a development of raqs sharqi - not raqs beledi.

Yeah, I don't go much into the modern egyptian, but then I don't just dance any of my styles as stand alone thats why I kind of want to do a video series, maybe I will one day

 

[Amulya]

I started out with what they called at that time classical Egyptian style, but it was not really. My first teacher used to go to workshops in Turkey so she would use influences from those workshops. The next teacher was more classical Egyptian in style. The third had a background in ballet and it was very ballet influenced. The forth was a Suraya Hilal certified teacher but definitely did not describe that style. She had her own style, I think I would call it fusion, although she also taught beledi.
I did of course workshops in different styles, but more for fun.
I took classes in Bharath Natyam in India, some ATS classes and Bollywood.
My own style I would call tribaret (tribal fusion + cabaret = Tribaret) and in my case leaning heavily on cabaret, but sometimes it might be more influenced by other styles.

One thing I am really disappointed in was the lack of information when I started out. My teachers did for example not know much about the history of belly dance and told us some stuff of how it was ancient blah blah blah. I am glad they did instruct in what is appropriate and what is not etc. But I would have liked much more info. Internet was rather new then and there was not that much info available then, plus the teacher did not have internet haha. I think students nowadays are so lucky!!!

 

[Meera]

I took classes in Bharath Natyam in India, some ATS classes and Bollywood.

How did you like bharatnatyam? I think its much much eaiser than Bellydance. I love Bellydance though, its giving me a real workout.

 

[goddessyasaman]

How did you like bharatnatyam? I think its much much eaiser than Bellydance. I love Bellydance though, its giving me a real workout.

I'm starting bhangra along side my Bollywood dance training, do you know about Bhangra? is it easy to pick up or?

 

[Meera]

I'm starting bhangra along side my Bollywood dance training, do you know about Bhangra? is it easy to pick up or?

Bhangra is sooo much fun! I was never trained formally, but I learned from My Punjabi freinds. also try to pick up Gidha. Bhangra (although girls do it now) used to be only for men But not hard at all. You will learn fast. Chekc oit Sarina Jain's videos she's really good. She teaches you real Bhangra instead of a mix of Bollywood-ish moves. Shes great.

YouTube - Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 1

 

[goddessyasaman]

Bhangra is sooo much fun! I was never trained formally, but I learned from My Punjabi freinds. also try to pick up Gidha. Bhangra (although girls do it now) used to be only for men But not hard at all. You will learn fast. Chekc oit Sarina Jain's videos she's really good. She teaches you real Bhangra instead of a mix of Bollywood-ish moves. Shes great.

YouTube - Sarina Jain's Masala Bhangra Workout Vol 1

Thanks Meera , I will also try Gidha, oh here is a video of two girls dancing Bhangra, I love them it looks so fun, I can't wait to learn

YouTube - bhangra

 

[Meera]

Shukriya Yasaman. Those girls are so cute, I love when they start mouthing the words they looking like they are having so much fun!

 

[goddessyasaman]

Shukriya Yasaman. Those girls are so cute, I love when they start mouthing the words they looking like they are having so much fun!

I think Thank you in hindi sounds better

 

[Amulya]

How did you like bharatnatyam? I think its much much eaiser than Bellydance. I love Bellydance though, its giving me a real workout.

To be honest: much harder due to leg position, I have hip problems.

 

[Starmouth]

I am still quite new to all this (only been dancing for just over a year, and always studied with the same teacher), so I am not entirely sure what style I dance. I would guess at Egyptian of some kind - very grounded, glittery costumes, very few props (just canes and veils) - possibly Egyptian cabaret? With a few other styles thrown in for good measure. Hints of Turkish style? Bit of AmCab, although I'm not sure we call it that over here in the UK.

 

[astro_girl]

One thing I am really disappointed in was the lack of information when I started out. My teachers did for example not know much about the history of belly dance and told us some stuff of how it was ancient blah blah blah. I am glad they did instruct in what is appropriate and what is not etc. But I would have liked much more info. Internet was rather new then and there was not that much info available then, plus the teacher did not have internet haha. I think students nowadays are so lucky!!!

Although I've been BDing for 5 years (on and off), I still can't really recognize the difference between the dances and name them, and know little about the history except for what I did look up. It took me all this time to realize that my teacher either really doesn't know herself, or does not like to talk about it. I'm starting another class w/a new teacher tomorrow, and will be sure to pepper her w/questions about history, resources for learning about this, etc.

In the meantime, I don't want to hijack either, but does anyone have a good resource(s) where I can go to read accurate, historically correct descriptions about many of the true BD styles?

 

[goddessyasaman]

Although I've been BDing for 5 years (on and off), I still can't really recognize the difference between the dances and name them, and know little about the history except for what I did look up. It took me all this time to realize that my teacher either really doesn't know herself, or does not like to talk about it. I'm starting another class w/a new teacher tomorrow, and will be sure to pepper her w/questions about history, resources for learning about this, etc.

In the meantime, I don't want to hijack either, but does anyone have a good resource(s) where I can go to read accurate, historically correct descriptions about many of the true BD styles?

Hey I have a few for ya

Raqs Baladi - Raqs Baladi Belly Dance

Raqs Sharqi - Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance

The Oriental dances | Arabic Belly Dance ??? ???? Raqs sharqi


here is a bit about turkish/cabaret style

Introduction to Turkish Oriental Bellydance

Turkish belly dance style and music and drum dvds.


here is a bit about American Cabaret style

Classic American Belly Dance - Cabaret and Nightclub Belly Dancing


here is a bit on ATS belly dance

American Tribal Style Belly Dance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


there ya go if ya want I can post about costumes as well

 

[njsummercamp]

I love to do bharatnatyam and salsa. Both are different forms of a dance but I love the different postures in both the dances.

 

[astro_girl]

THANK YOU so much! I have read a little bit about these, but this is definitely more comprehensive that I've seen. I would love to learn about the different costume styling if it doesn't take up too much space. I can distinguish some styles, but have trouble deciding if, say, a more Turkish style costume is completely inappropriate for more of an intermediate cabaret/Egyptian performance. Meaning...how much "crossover" is acceptable between some of the styles?

Hey I have a few for ya

Raqs Baladi - Raqs Baladi Belly Dance

Raqs Sharqi - Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance

The Oriental dances | Arabic Belly Dance ??? ???? Raqs sharqi


here is a bit about turkish/cabaret style

Introduction to Turkish Oriental Bellydance

Turkish belly dance style and music and drum dvds.


here is a bit about American Cabaret style

Classic American Belly Dance - Cabaret and Nightclub Belly Dancing


here is a bit on ATS belly dance

American Tribal Style Belly Dance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


there ya go if ya want I can post about costumes as well