Costume for Hagallah?Help!

Maya Raschad · 10-04-2006, 07:22 AM

Our Troupe learned a great Hagallah from Denise Enan at Oasis Dance Camp. As you may have seen, we make most of our costumes(see 'new troupe costumes' thread)but I am really stuck on this one!
We don't want ; (a) the lovely cabaret style dress, all sheer and sparkles,usually
sold as 'Hagallah Dress'

(b) the one on Denise's site, not attractive.

The problem is ,we probably won't do this routine very often, so I don't want to make or buy 10 costumes that really won't be much good for any other routine! The Reda Troupe has a video with one ,but the dance is just one girl, and many men, village style, not the version we learned from Denise.

I could use help with ideas, anybody got some,please?

Aziyade · 10-04-2006, 03:13 PM

Morocco and Habiba of Philly seem to disagree a tad bit on what is actually "authentic" hagallah dance, but they both agree it's nothing like what Reda stuck on stage.

When Habiba describes Hagallah costuming, it's the lone woman wearing a long head scarf/veil on her head and a big tent around her body (basically an oversized gallibiya) and what looks like huge pillows sticking out from under the gallibiya. NOT attractive, as far as the stage in concerned.

Morocco and Habiba both agreed that the actual dance is done by one woman, in the men's camp and surrounded by clapping and singing men. (Bedouin practiced STRICT sex-separation, before their goverment-sponsored forced settlement, so you wouldn't see men and women dancing together in groups.)

This is a quote from Morocco, when asked about stage-worthy authentic costuming. Perhaps it might help:

"The postcard I have of a woman doing Hagallah in Matruh shows her in a simple long dress with long sleeves, with a wide, muffler-like heavy fabric wrapped around her hips: no fringe, bow, etc. In Libya, there'd be a peplum skirt, with a buffer under the top part of the peplum, so that it would move more visibly or a scarf around the hips. Not the modern net see-through confections with 2 rows of ruffles & a band of long beaded fringe. But, hey: theater is theater & you have to be seen to be appreciated, right?"

How about making a simple beledi gown, in a solid color, that you could use for other things -- maybe with detachable sleeves? And then make the muffler out of a contrasting fabric, and make it detachable from the actual dress. That way you can still use the dress for other things, or under another sparkly overdress.

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia · 10-04-2006, 05:13 PM

Hi Maya Raschad, I learned the Haggallah from Denise Enan at Oasis Dance Camp too! The music she chose and her version of the dance was fun and energetic. Like your troupe we don't perform it often, although I didn't like our choice of costuming,Aziyade's idea is a good one.
Yasmine

Sara Abou Farhat · 10-04-2006, 07:19 PM

Hi Maya,
I have some Hagalla costumes from a stage performance.
Have a peek at the website:
www.ThePerformanceCompany.de
under Orient on Stage,Hagalla

Its not that good a photo but the costumes are yellow and white with multi coloured trimming. (Mahmoud Reda style)

If you are interested, I have quite a few still in our requisite cellar ready to send off.
Send me a mail or private message if you like.

Happy dancing,
Sara Abou Farhat

Maya Raschad · 10-05-2006, 05:38 AM

Thank you,some good suggestions!
I like your idea, Aziyade,seems like one way to go,and practical.
I found this one on the Russian site, a bit like Reda's, but I like the look!

If it is TOO 'unauthentic' then maybe not, but the short dresses seem to come up often, a bit like your troupe ones, Sara Abou Farhat , which I also like .

What do you think?

10-04-2006, 07:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Maya Raschad Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver Island-Canada Posts: 46	Costume for Hagallah?Help! Our Troupe learned a great Hagallah from Denise Enan at Oasis Dance Camp. As you may have seen, we make most of our costumes(see 'new troupe costumes' thread)but I am really stuck on this one! We don't want ; (a) the lovely cabaret style dress, all sheer and sparkles,usually sold as 'Hagallah Dress' (b) the one on Denise's site, not attractive. The problem is ,we probably won't do this routine very often, so I don't want to make or buy 10 costumes that really won't be much good for any other routine! The Reda Troupe has a video with one ,but the dance is just one girl, and many men, village style, not the version we learned from Denise. I could use help with ideas, anybody got some,please?

10-04-2006, 07:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sara Abou Farhat Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Huerth (near Cologne) Germany Posts: 70	Hagallah Hi Maya, I have some Hagalla costumes from a stage performance. Have a peek at the website: www.ThePerformanceCompany.de under Orient on Stage,Hagalla Its not that good a photo but the costumes are yellow and white with multi coloured trimming. (Mahmoud Reda style) If you are interested, I have quite a few still in our requisite cellar ready to send off. Send me a mail or private message if you like. Happy dancing, Sara Abou Farhat

10-05-2006, 05:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Maya Raschad Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver Island-Canada Posts: 46	Costume for Hagallah?Help! Thank you,some good suggestions! I like your idea, Aziyade,seems like one way to go,and practical. I found this one on the Russian site, a bit like Reda's, but I like the look! If it is TOO 'unauthentic' then maybe not, but the short dresses seem to come up often, a bit like your troupe ones, Sara Abou Farhat , which I also like . What do you think?

10-04-2006, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aziyade V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornfields of Evansville Indiana. Posts: 1,050	Morocco and Habiba of Philly seem to disagree a tad bit on what is actually "authentic" hagallah dance, but they both agree it's nothing like what Reda stuck on stage. When Habiba describes Hagallah costuming, it's the lone woman wearing a long head scarf/veil on her head and a big tent around her body (basically an oversized gallibiya) and what looks like huge pillows sticking out from under the gallibiya. NOT attractive, as far as the stage in concerned. Morocco and Habiba both agreed that the actual dance is done by one woman, in the men's camp and surrounded by clapping and singing men. (Bedouin practiced STRICT sex-separation, before their goverment-sponsored forced settlement, so you wouldn't see men and women dancing together in groups.) This is a quote from Morocco, when asked about stage-worthy authentic costuming. Perhaps it might help: "The postcard I have of a woman doing Hagallah in Matruh shows her in a simple long dress with long sleeves, with a wide, muffler-like heavy fabric wrapped around her hips: no fringe, bow, etc. In Libya, there'd be a peplum skirt, with a buffer under the top part of the peplum, so that it would move more visibly or a scarf around the hips. Not the modern net see-through confections with 2 rows of ruffles & a band of long beaded fringe. But, hey: theater is theater & you have to be seen to be appreciated, right?" How about making a simple beledi gown, in a solid color, that you could use for other things -- maybe with detachable sleeves? And then make the muffler out of a contrasting fabric, and make it detachable from the actual dress. That way you can still use the dress for other things, or under another sparkly overdress.

10-04-2006, 05:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Yasmine Bint Al Nubia V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 1,132	Hi Maya Raschad, I learned the Haggallah from Denise Enan at Oasis Dance Camp too! The music she chose and her version of the dance was fun and energetic. Like your troupe we don't perform it often, although I didn't like our choice of costuming,Aziyade's idea is a good one. Yasmine