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Old 05-28-2008, 07:02 AM   #19 (permalink)
Mara2
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, WA
Posts: 36
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Just my .02+, I completely agree with A'isha and others about the differences. Classical and modern *normally* use most of the same movements, just executed differently. The arm movements are pretty much gone these days though. If you look at some of the old clips on youtube of Nagwa, etal, you see them using the old arm movements (bits of them, as I was taught never to do the entire movement at once either), and the shoulders are always raised. You still see this (raised shoulders) in modern Egyptian dance too, but the rest of the movements aren't really there much.

Also, all the movements were usually done much larger and smoother, where as now they are tighter and faster. Then there are the costumes which have changed quite drastically. I was taught to wear harem pants with an over skirt, or two skirts (which I still prefer). Your belly was covered with your costume and/or beads too. Much less skin showing. That kind of costume isn't very good for today's Egyptian dancing though, because you can't see the tiny movement very well.

And yes, there have always been flutters and undulations. I spent hours on my back on my teacher's living room floor with a baseball bat, rolling the d*mned thing down my stomach. lol There was also lots of floorwork that you don't see nowadays either.

The music too has changed. As mentioned, it was not as percussive as it is today. It's almost like two completely different dances in many ways.
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