What's the Difference

Azeeza · 08-28-2007, 09:02 PM

What's the difference between a Saidi Dress and a Beledi Dress?

Plus, what exactly is a galabeya? My current teacher says it's a fitted ladies dress, but I was always under the assumption that it looked like a men's dress shirt with pockets on the sides and a lot of men wear these to work in Egypt, although some are dressy and some are not.

Thanks,

Azeeza

PS Folk Ware patterns has a galabeya shirt and it looks like the top half of the men's shirt that I just described above.

Gia al Qamar · 08-30-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azeeza

What's the difference between a Saidi Dress and a Beledi Dress?

Plus, what exactly is a galabeya? My current teacher says it's a fitted ladies dress, but I was always under the assumption that it looked like a men's dress shirt with pockets on the sides and a lot of men wear these to work in Egypt, although some are dressy and some are not.

Thanks,

Azeeza

PS Folk Ware patterns has a galabeya shirt and it looks like the top half of the men's shirt that I just described above.

Azeeza,
To my knowledge, a beledi dress is like a cocktail dress...very "cabaret" in fashion, very couture...like bedleh but as a dress. No belt or hipscarf.
The saidi dress traditionally for stage has been the tight fitted dress with bell sleeves meant for dancing assaya. But I have also seen the famous Fifi 'shirt dress' as a saidi as well. Worn with a belt or hipscarf.
These days, it seems that most any beledi dresses are fine for dancing cane...and saidi dresses are being used likewise...
Galabeya to me means a 'cover up'...like a cotton robe or oversized shirt as you described...
Would love to hear more educated views on this...
Gia

janaki · 08-30-2007, 03:48 PM

Great question and I am not very sure if there are too many differences between them. Galabeya is a cover up or a tunic. Both men and women wear them in many parts of egypt. I think baladi dress is similar to galabeya with sleeves and is worn with a hip wrap. I thought dancers wore baladi dresses to dance saidi with a head scarf. Stage versions of these costumes are more decorated I guess!!!! also would like to hear from the experts.

Azeeza · 08-30-2007, 05:08 PM

Thank you both so much for your knowledge.

I was confused by references made by my various teachers. I wanted to know exactly what we need for a costume when someone says "galabeya" or "saidi dress" or "beledi dress".

What exactly are we talking about?

Azeeza

Aisha Azar · 08-30-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azeeza

What's the difference between a Saidi Dress and a Beledi Dress?

Plus, what exactly is a galabeya? My current teacher says it's a fitted ladies dress, but I was always under the assumption that it looked like a men's dress shirt with pockets on the sides and a lot of men wear these to work in Egypt, although some are dressy and some are not.

Thanks,

Azeeza

PS Folk Ware patterns has a galabeya shirt and it looks like the top half of the men's shirt that I just described above.

Dear Azeeza,
It is important to remember that what we call Saidi or Beledi dresses are not what they are called in their native environment. A typical Saidi dress is what is worn by the Saidi people in their every day lives. In other words, their clothes. However, we can move that to the stage, fancy it up and put them in anything that sort of resembles what they wear, including Gelebiyeh.
I have seen Beledi dance performed in everything from a mens' thobe, like Fifi Sometimes wear, to pants and cute top, to full assuit regalia.
Gelebiyeh is sort if a ubiquitous name for the big, flowing long dresses that the Arabs wear, known as thobe, dishdasha, gelebiyeh, schurush, and probably names I am not thinking of right now. Usually they have gussets under the arms and some other embellishments that change from country to country.
For example, with gelebiyeh worn by Saidi men, we often see long, full sleeves and perhaps no button. You almost never see a placket over the buttons if they are there. They are pretty full. Move the same garment to Saudi Arabia and it is less full in both the sleeve and the body of the garment, and usually has buttons down the front and often they are covered with a placket. The garment is now called thobe.
Gelebiyeh and thobe basically just mean big long shirt type of garment, worn by both men and women in differing designs.
Regards,
A'isha

Azeeza · 08-31-2007, 03:19 PM

I think I'm getting the picture, but if you could direct me towards some visuals that would really help.

It's a little confusing when my teacher says, "Let's all wear galabeyas". And when I ask what a galabeya is, exactly, the answer I get is '"It's a dress". "Well, what kind of dress?" "You know, a dress, a long dress." Etc, etc, etc. Nothing concrete.

I guess some of us are going to wear something that resembles an evening gown and some of us are going to be wear a super long men's dress shirts. To me, those are not remotely the same.

Sigh...

Azeeza

Aniseteph · 08-31-2007, 06:52 PM

They aren't very the same are they? - could be a very bizarre troupe look

Baladi dress seems to mean different things to different people, from the cabaret style alternative to bedlah, in clingy lycra with beading/cut-outs/fringe etc etc, all the way to looser fitting more folky feel ones that might be described as saidi dresses. It depends on the fit, the fabric, the decoration and the accessories. Over here saidi dresses often seem to mean those crocheted long ones with paillettes all over (worn over something else of course

).

Shira has lots of pictures and links
Ask The Costume Goddess: Baladi Dress With Veil
Ask The Costume Goddess: A Baladi Dress

If my teacher said galebeya I'd think of those very plain cotton tunic shaped garments. Then I'd probably run a mile because even with a hipscarf I'm going to look like a dancing pillowcase in one of those...

Azeeza · 09-03-2007, 07:51 PM

That's the same idea I had regarding baladi dress verses galabeya, but where does saidi fit in?

I'll look at the costume goddesses book and see if she has a description of a saidi dress.

Thanks so much Aniseteph!

Since my dance mates and I are performing soon, we all need similar looking costumes.

One of my classmates mentioned Dahlal had dresses that fit what we were looking for, so I went to the website and typed in "saidi dress" and "beledi dress".

Both style of dress looked pretty similar, in my opinion. I'm thinking they are the same style, but may be called either "beledi" or "saidi" depending upon the region in the Middle East.

Does that sound very possible?

Azeeza

PS Nothing came up for "galabeya" or "galebeya", but it could be the way I spelled it that didn't tag anything.

Ligeia · 10-18-2007, 10:07 PM

It seems to me that terms "balady dress" and "saidi dress" are used quite randomly... but here are some things that I have figured out...

I attended Balady workshop a couple of years ago, and the teacher, german dancer Djamila, said that you can use a plain galabeya for both beledi and saidi. You can see her in a plain white galabeya here Bellydance Photo Gallery Djamila & Friends
With galabeya, it is proper to wear (coin) scarf if you dance baladi, and coin belt if you dance saidi.

In modern dance dresses, you can found differences between balady and saidi costumes as well. To my understandin, balady dresses can be anything from loose-fitting dress to those evening gown-style costumes. Examples: http://www.helene-eriksen.de/AssuitkBackbend.jpg
Ask The Costume Goddess: A Baladi Dress

To saidi dresses, trumpet (or hanging)sleeves and crescent as a motif seem to be typical: http://www.faridadance.com/c3_amarmain_large.jpg
and/or neck opening cut very lof in U-shape: http://www.joharah.com/saididress2003.jpg

Hope this helps a little...

08-28-2007, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	What's the Difference What's the difference between a Saidi Dress and a Beledi Dress? Plus, what exactly is a galabeya? My current teacher says it's a fitted ladies dress, but I was always under the assumption that it looked like a men's dress shirt with pockets on the sides and a lot of men wear these to work in Egypt, although some are dressy and some are not. Thanks, Azeeza PS Folk Ware patterns has a galabeya shirt and it looks like the top half of the men's shirt that I just described above.

09-03-2007, 07:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	That's the same idea I had regarding baladi dress verses galabeya, but where does saidi fit in? I'll look at the costume goddesses book and see if she has a description of a saidi dress. Thanks so much Aniseteph! Since my dance mates and I are performing soon, we all need similar looking costumes. One of my classmates mentioned Dahlal had dresses that fit what we were looking for, so I went to the website and typed in "saidi dress" and "beledi dress". Both style of dress looked pretty similar, in my opinion. I'm thinking they are the same style, but may be called either "beledi" or "saidi" depending upon the region in the Middle East. Does that sound very possible? Azeeza PS Nothing came up for "galabeya" or "galebeya", but it could be the way I spelled it that didn't tag anything. Last edited by Shanazel; 09-05-2007 at 06:09 AM. Reason: subsequent posts

08-30-2007, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
janaki V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: hong kong Posts: 1,211	Great question and I am not very sure if there are too many differences between them. Galabeya is a cover up or a tunic. Both men and women wear them in many parts of egypt. I think baladi dress is similar to galabeya with sleeves and is worn with a hip wrap. I thought dancers wore baladi dresses to dance saidi with a head scarf. Stage versions of these costumes are more decorated I guess!!!! also would like to hear from the experts.

08-30-2007, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	Thank you both so much for your knowledge. I was confused by references made by my various teachers. I wanted to know exactly what we need for a costume when someone says "galabeya" or "saidi dress" or "beledi dress". What exactly are we talking about? Azeeza

08-31-2007, 03:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Azeeza Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 831	I think I'm getting the picture, but if you could direct me towards some visuals that would really help. It's a little confusing when my teacher says, "Let's all wear galabeyas". And when I ask what a galabeya is, exactly, the answer I get is '"It's a dress". "Well, what kind of dress?" "You know, a dress, a long dress." Etc, etc, etc. Nothing concrete. I guess some of us are going to wear something that resembles an evening gown and some of us are going to be wear a super long men's dress shirts. To me, those are not remotely the same. Sigh... Azeeza

08-31-2007, 06:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,703	They aren't very the same are they? - could be a very bizarre troupe look Baladi dress seems to mean different things to different people, from the cabaret style alternative to bedlah, in clingy lycra with beading/cut-outs/fringe etc etc, all the way to looser fitting more folky feel ones that might be described as saidi dresses. It depends on the fit, the fabric, the decoration and the accessories. Over here saidi dresses often seem to mean those crocheted long ones with paillettes all over (worn over something else of course ). Shira has lots of pictures and links Ask The Costume Goddess: Baladi Dress With Veil Ask The Costume Goddess: A Baladi Dress If my teacher said galebeya I'd think of those very plain cotton tunic shaped garments. Then I'd probably run a mile because even with a hipscarf I'm going to look like a dancing pillowcase in one of those...

10-18-2007, 10:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ligeia Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 29	It seems to me that terms "balady dress" and "saidi dress" are used quite randomly... but here are some things that I have figured out... I attended Balady workshop a couple of years ago, and the teacher, german dancer Djamila, said that you can use a plain galabeya for both beledi and saidi. You can see her in a plain white galabeya here Bellydance Photo Gallery Djamila & Friends With galabeya, it is proper to wear (coin) scarf if you dance baladi, and coin belt if you dance saidi. In modern dance dresses, you can found differences between balady and saidi costumes as well. To my understandin, balady dresses can be anything from loose-fitting dress to those evening gown-style costumes. Examples: http://www.helene-eriksen.de/AssuitkBackbend.jpg Ask The Costume Goddess: A Baladi Dress To saidi dresses, trumpet (or hanging)sleeves and crescent as a motif seem to be typical: http://www.faridadance.com/c3_amarmain_large.jpg and/or neck opening cut very lof in U-shape: http://www.joharah.com/saididress2003.jpg Hope this helps a little...