Didn't you realise Hakim was top of the late 18/early 19th century pops. tsch..tsch...?
The bit about the ladies learning "oriental dance" is in there but yes why did they choose Hakim? To be fair I suppose we haven't a clue what the music might have been like..Turkish wise but I am sure a bit of Handel might have fitted snaky moves.
My first teacher was hired to be one of those dancers in the TV version of a few years ago.