Quote:
Originally Posted by Sa'ada
Is there a difference in the meaning of the terms Shaabi and Baladi/Beledi? what's the distinction? or are they synonymous?
Thanks!
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Dear Sa'ada, It depends on who you talk to, I think. I have heard Shaabi, Beledi and Saidi all used to mean the same thing, but usually it is more like this.
Shaabi means "people", but it sort of means more like something that comes from the general population, and in these days it means more like younger people. It can also have a political or social meaning beyond that. If we think "Raqs Shaabi", it basically means what we in the states would think of as club or street dancing, done by the average person. Lately you can see versions of it on what would pass for Arabian MTV as well.
Beledi means "from the country". It is kind of an adjective, just like shaabi, in that it is descriptively used. Beledi denotes that something is either from the actual country, as in out in the stix, or it can just mean the whole country. In dance, it denotes a style of dance that takes its roots from the countryside, but in reality is actually more uptown than that usually. Many styes of "beledi" were developed for the stage and do not much resemble what you find in the country, being much more sophistocated. If you are still living in the Seattle area, you might be interested to know that I may be sponsoring a guy from Alexandria, Egypt to teach Shaabi in the near future.
Regards,
A'isha