What Style is your Favourite?

Reen.Blom · 07-10-2007, 08:17 PM

I know my list of options is controversial and just reflects MY opinion(I tried to discuss it in another thread with almost no response).
What style you like best/do ? (YOU CAN CHOOSE MULTIPLE ANSWERS!).
So drop in and tell us what you like about that particular style.
Also would ask someone to please please post here links to your favourite performances on youTube in your fav styles!

(I have rather slow internet so it is difficult for me sometimes to be loading for an hour a clip on youTube just to figure out later that it does not really represent the style it claims to be, or searching for names of famous dancers and after long wait to find out that a clip is shot from afar and you cant really see the moves well.... Hope you understand....)

Egyptian
Lebanese
Turkish
ME folkloric styles
American Cabaret
American Tribal
Tribal Fusion (to middle eastern music)
Tribal Fusion (to other types of music)
Male dancing
Greek Tsifteteli

Quote:

Originally Posted by chryssanthi sahar

Well there is some confusion about Tsifteteli/Chifteteli, because at one hand there is this 8/4 Arabian rhythm which is called Chifteteli or Taksim. At the other hand, there is the Greek belly dance called Tsifteteli.It is not as complex and artistic like the other styles, since it is more a social/folklore than a stage dance, but it is a style on it's own. If you want to see how traditional Greek Tsifteteli (well, in a form adapted for the stage) looks and sounds like have a look at my Tsifteteli video:

If you want to know more about it you can read my article about Tsifteteli:
What is Tsifteteli?
as well as the thread about Tsifteteli in the music forum: http://forum.orientaldancer.net/musi...hifteteli.html

PS Thank you Chryssanthi for providing all that information and video!

SmilingMarie · 07-10-2007, 08:44 PM

Excellent poll! I am looking forward to seeing the results! My feeling is that this forum has more Americans than any other nationality combined and my guess is that American Cabaret and Tribal will finish in the lead - but feel free to correct me and prove me wrong! (I mean no offence or disrespect towards any of the above styles, I guess we just all have our favs, don't we?)

Reen.Blom · 07-10-2007, 09:02 PM

One of my choices was AmCab - at the moment I am learning from DVDs though I dunno if my teacher back home does what youcall AmCab...
(I really like it though...)

But I have been thinking about it for quite a while... What would you call a style which say performed by European(or other) dancers(not necessarily Americans), who look up to the source (Egyptian and other ME dancers) but mainly learn from their (non American and non-ME teachers), which is also charactarized by similar glittery costumes and the use of props etc as AmCab. Would it still be called AmCab if it has nothing to do with American teachers??? Or is it some kind of "international" style?

SmilingMarie · 07-10-2007, 09:26 PM

You're right- it is a puzzle! And maybe there is no straight answer

I have learnt mainly from European dancers (but also 2 Egyptians: Raqia Hassan and Liza Laziza) but would describe my style as Egyptian - this mainly becasue of my feeling/attitude, my expression and my arms - this might sound weird but I think that these are crucial points. Try looking at the arms of Egyptians and (ballet-inspired) Europeans/Americans. Egyptian audiences are very much into the facial expressions of the dancer - the dancer has to express emotions also in her face. I find that this is often lacking in the more European (and American??) styles... But I also find this and ongoing discussion between me and my bellydance collegues! Personally, I don't like dance which is too rigid, structured or choreographed - that doesn't mean that you can't have a choreo - but it should seem natural, I think. I also think this represents the cultural heritage of the dance.
Any other takers on this topic??

slinks · 07-10-2007, 09:29 PM

:-) Am Cab gets my vote .. I just love the freedom of it and the use of a veil

Sara · 07-10-2007, 09:35 PM

Turkish and Egyptian. I like them sooo much if they were a pillow I'd hug em.

I'm not too clued up on Lebanese to be honest, but I'd like to know more abut that...

SmilingMarie · 07-10-2007, 09:35 PM

Good to see another dancer on the line here! But tell me: what is NOT free about Egyptian or any of the other styles? (I realize that folklore has some rules) and you can use a veil in Egyptian style btw

(I don't really want to get on an Egyptian high horse here - but I am the only one who has voted for it so far!!) - granted, I know just around nothing about AmCab or even Tribal (only what I've seen on dvds etc) - so please, enlighten me!

And Sara: put it in the poll!!

Reen.Blom · 07-10-2007, 09:58 PM

Hey Marie Maybe you could post a link to a youTube vid which you think reflects Egyptian well? I am still trying to figure out the difference between AmCab and Egyptian?

Oba Bear · 07-10-2007, 10:26 PM

Both types of Tribal Fusion for me. Earthy, serpentine movements just make me wanna dance too.

Maria_Aya · 07-10-2007, 11:21 PM

Egyptian

And for me its the style with the most freeness from all, its just difficult to explain with my poor english

Maria Aya

View Poll Results: What is your favourite Style
Egyptian	86	64.18%
Lebanese	27	20.15%
Turkish	25	18.66%
ME folkloric styles (?)	20	14.93%
American Cabaret	31	23.13%
American Tribal	15	11.19%
Tribal Fusion (to middle eastern music ? A- la Rachel Brice?)	24	17.91%
Tribal Fusion (to other types of music e.g Ariellah, Sera etc?)	16	11.94%
Male dancing (does that go into Folkloric?)	7	5.22%
Other???	12	8.96%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 134. You may not vote on this poll

07-10-2007, 09:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	One of my choices was AmCab - at the moment I am learning from DVDs though I dunno if my teacher back home does what youcall AmCab... (I really like it though...) But I have been thinking about it for quite a while... What would you call a style which say performed by European(or other) dancers(not necessarily Americans), who look up to the source (Egyptian and other ME dancers) but mainly learn from their (non American and non-ME teachers), which is also charactarized by similar glittery costumes and the use of props etc as AmCab. Would it still be called AmCab if it has nothing to do with American teachers??? Or is it some kind of "international" style? Last edited by Reen.Blom; 07-10-2007 at 09:05 PM.

07-10-2007, 09:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sara V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wales/Yorkshire Posts: 1,160	Turkish and Egyptian. I like them sooo much if they were a pillow I'd hug em. I'm not too clued up on Lebanese to be honest, but I'd like to know more abut that... __________________ With a little bit of this and a little bit of that, now shake your bum.... :P

07-10-2007, 08:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
SmilingMarie Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark and England Posts: 25	Excellent poll! I am looking forward to seeing the results! My feeling is that this forum has more Americans than any other nationality combined and my guess is that American Cabaret and Tribal will finish in the lead - but feel free to correct me and prove me wrong! (I mean no offence or disrespect towards any of the above styles, I guess we just all have our favs, don't we?)

07-10-2007, 09:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
SmilingMarie Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark and England Posts: 25	You're right- it is a puzzle! And maybe there is no straight answer I have learnt mainly from European dancers (but also 2 Egyptians: Raqia Hassan and Liza Laziza) but would describe my style as Egyptian - this mainly becasue of my feeling/attitude, my expression and my arms - this might sound weird but I think that these are crucial points. Try looking at the arms of Egyptians and (ballet-inspired) Europeans/Americans. Egyptian audiences are very much into the facial expressions of the dancer - the dancer has to express emotions also in her face. I find that this is often lacking in the more European (and American??) styles... But I also find this and ongoing discussion between me and my bellydance collegues! Personally, I don't like dance which is too rigid, structured or choreographed - that doesn't mean that you can't have a choreo - but it should seem natural, I think. I also think this represents the cultural heritage of the dance. Any other takers on this topic??

07-10-2007, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
slinks V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia, Sunny Queensland Posts: 1,195	:-) Am Cab gets my vote .. I just love the freedom of it and the use of a veil

07-10-2007, 09:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
SmilingMarie Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denmark and England Posts: 25	Good to see another dancer on the line here! But tell me: what is NOT free about Egyptian or any of the other styles? (I realize that folklore has some rules) and you can use a veil in Egyptian style btw (I don't really want to get on an Egyptian high horse here - but I am the only one who has voted for it so far!!) - granted, I know just around nothing about AmCab or even Tribal (only what I've seen on dvds etc) - so please, enlighten me! And Sara: put it in the poll!!

07-10-2007, 09:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	Hey Marie Maybe you could post a link to a youTube vid which you think reflects Egyptian well? I am still trying to figure out the difference between AmCab and Egyptian?

07-10-2007, 10:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
Oba Bear Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 44	Both types of Tribal Fusion for me. Earthy, serpentine movements just make me wanna dance too.

07-10-2007, 11:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Maria_Aya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,252	Egyptian And for me its the style with the most freeness from all, its just difficult to explain with my poor english Maria Aya