Quote:
Originally Posted by Wulpsie
Good morning
I need some help please..... What is a Milaya lef. We have Hadia coming out to SA in Jan for workshops and teachers course. Her one workshop is entitled Milaya lef and was told for advanced students only as it is very tricky.Nobody can tell me what it is? I have searched the net but cannot get a description. Appreciate any help I can get  |
Dear Wulpsie,
In the late 70s and early 80s, Amira Al- Khatan used to do the first Meliya I saw except for Fifi Abdou. I would not agree with Hadia that is is "very tricky" unless she means that getting the right flirtatious attitude is what is tricky. I have done the dance with a gentleman named Ra'ed Azar being the "straight man" if you will. We used to perform it to a song that said basically
"Lesh albu ma yuashkul umra ashe esht il darwish". Perhaps Gypsy could write that out properly and give us the exact meaning, which is currently escaping me. but its something like, "I am not interested in him because he is poor like a dervish". We did it skit style and had the announcer explain what was going on for those who did not speak Arabic. Ra'ed's character would explain to the audience that I ought to give him a chance because he is handsome, his heart is pure and yadda, yadda, yadda. My character would reply that she was not in love because he is too poor. Then, the miracle would happen and in the song, it is suddenly ALL ABOUT ME!!!!!! Ra'ed would tell the audience how beautiful I am and I would act out the idea that..."Oh, maybe there IS something to this guy after all", and it would all turn out wonderful. The Arabs in the audience just loved it and they would come up after the show and tell Ra'ed how smart he was to change tactics, and me how he worked so hard to to win me over, etc. It was pretty fun. I would start out fully robed in meliya and by the end of the song, I would be using it lie a shawl and a hip frame. there was some very basic beledi dance, but a lot or just plain actiing involved.
Regards,
A'isha