Aisha Azar

Dear Gang,
After many years of sporadic study,inheriting a costume, and a lot of other stuff, I have decided to teach Tunisian dance, both modern and traditional styles. One of the things that has stopped me all these years, even though I have been able to dance the dance for ages, was that I felt that I lacked background knowledge on the dance form. After searching the net and other sources for some time now, I am beginning to feel like I am not the only one.
I have info on costuming, music, dance movement, but there seems to be very little out there about the origins of the dance, specific locations for styles, specifics on musical choices for said styles, and other such info about the dance, Does anyone know of a good, accessible source or sources for this kind of info? I have studied the dance style now with three people, including Aisha Ali, and while they give little snippets of info, but nothing like what I have been able to gather for other dances styles. I usually like to start any class with information so that students have a good cultural background against which to begin their studies in the dance. Right now I feel unprepared to give them the best information about the dance itself, though other types of historical info abound.
Also, does anyone know of an American source for fibulae and the ankle bracelets with the bead inside?
Regards,
A'isha

PS: OH, and the most info I have found is on Habiba's site, where she tells about the origins of the pot dance and the scarf dance. Can anyone lead me to sources that substantiate that info?

Aziyade

I know Habiba has been to Tunisia several times and studied Tunisian dance with the National Ballet there (or did, before it fell apart). But I also got the impression her focus was more on learning Andalucian dance from them (apparently they fled to Tunisia, and developed a large community there.)

I've heard Hadia say the same things about the pot dance, but she may have just been repeating what Habiba had written.

Have you emailed Habiba? She's really good about responding to questions about her research. Her source was probably Habib, the then director (I think) of the ballet. I don't know how verifiable the info is. You might be able to research it through researching Tunisian pottery ???? I remember an article in Aramco World about Tunisian pottery. Would have been after 2001, cause that's when I started getting it. Sorry to be so non-specific on the date !!

Aisha Azar

Dear Aziyade,
Thanks, I will send her an email. I just find it so strange that there is just not much out there about Tunisian. I took my first lessons in the dance form about 30 years ago and it is just as difficult to dig up info now as it was then!!!
Regards,
A'isha

Nicki

Dear A ísha,
After several trips to Tunisia for the last 30 years and several lessons with local dancers,I`ve also danced with them at parties, I still haven´t heard anyone even talking about history, different styles etc. They dance with pots, handkerchiefs and stuff, but they just seem to think of it as "this-is-the-way-we dance"....sort of.

Danceschools doesn´t seem to be as usual as in our countries, you learn from family and friends, unless you dance in national troups etc.
I will try to find out more when I return in July.
Perhaps you can search for any dancetroups who might get you in contact with people that can help?
I´ve tried to search about it too, but there does´nt seem to be much written about it, especially not by Tunisians....

I just love the dance, I have to practice by myself because there aren´t any teachers here in Sweden that teaches Tunisian, I´ve searched for that as well.... Well, at least I have the opportynity to go there every year to dance with friends!
I´m getting started to make my own Tunisian costume, but there are still a few things I have to figure out about it. Any ideas??
Good luck with your search! If I find anything useful, I´ll let you know!

Wish I could attend your classes, but you are a bit to far away.....

karena

I did a British Library search and the only thing that came up was this:

Author(s): Somer, E.; Saadon, M.
Article Title: Stambali: Dissociative Possession and Trance in a Tunisian Healing Dance

Journal Title: TRANSCULTURAL PSYCHIATRY
ISSN: 1363-4615
Year: 2000
Volume/Issue: VOL 37; PART 4
Page(s): 580-600
Publication frequency: Quarterly: 4 issues per year

Where published: Canada
Language: English
Dewey Class: 616.89
LC Class: RC489.T7
BLDSC shelfmark: 9020.580620

Here's the abstract:

Stambali: Dissociative Possession and Trance in a Tunisian Healing Dance
Eli Somer

University of Haifa and Israel Institute for Treatment and Study on Stress

Meir Saadon

Israel Institute for Treatment and Study on Stress

This study investigated Stambali, a Tunisian trance-dance practiced in Israel as a healing and a demon exorcism ritual by Jewish-Tunisian immigrants. The authors observed the ritual and conducted semi-structured ethnographic interviews with key informants. Content analysis revealed that Stambali is practiced for prophylactic reasons (e.g. repelling the ‘evil eye’), for the promotion of personal well-being, and as a form of crisis intervention. Crisis was often construed by our informants as the punitive action of demons, and the ritual aimed at appeasing them. Communication with the possessing demons was facilitated through a kinetic trance induction, produced by an ascending tempo of rhythmic music and a corresponding increased speed of the participant’s movements of head and extremities. The experience was characterized by the emergence of dissociated eroticism and aggression, and terminated in a convulsive loss of consciousness. Stambali is discussed in terms of externalization and disowning of intrapsychic conflicts by oppressed women with few options for protest.

Key Words: dance • demon possession • dissociative trance • Israel • Stambali • Tunisia

If the full article could be any use, let me know.

__________________
"Nothing is black and white, it's all shades of grey" Me

Aisha Azar

Dear Nicki,
How wonderful to dance with the people. I think this is the very best way to learn any dance if possible! You end up learning all kinds of things that do not usually get passed along under other circumstances.

Dear Karena,
Thankyou for the citation info on Stambali.I did Google that article some days ago when I was trying to put a comprehensive notes pkg together for my students. It discussed a lot of aspects about cultural psychiatry among African peoples, even as far away as the Kung, and discussed who had done research in that area, how the Jewish culture got involved in North Africa, what is indigenous to the region, their methodology, etc. It was a good article in a respected journal. Unfortunately it is just not very related to what I am trying to do.



It finally also occured to me that I have literally hundreds of old copies of magazines around here, including Viltis, Jareeda, Habibi and Arabesque and Aramco and some old National Geographics, some magazines all in Arabic that if I find a photo, I might be able to get a translation, that I can look through for information.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to reply.
Regards,
A'isha

sedoniaraqs

A'isha, have you seen or worked with Amel Tafsout? I took a workshop from her a few months ago and she taught Tunesian and Algerian dance. She also taught a zar workshop that I did not attend, but I was told it was a very intense experience.

Amel Tafsout

Aisha Azar

Dear Sedonia,
I completely forgot about her!! I have heard very good things about her and hope to study with her some day. I just went to her site and she has some great info on there about Ouled Nail, and other things. Thanks for this link.
Hugs to you,
A'isha

janaki

Hi Aisha,

I have studied Tunisians dances with Hadia. As sedonia said it, Amel is good source for research and study. I have Hadia's Tunisian dance DVD where Amel plays drums to different rhythms and explains about the differences between different tunisian dances. I am planning study again this summer if Leila Haddad visists HK. I heard she is also teaches/dances tunisian.I am also interested to study these dances. Good thread, hopefully I can learn something from it too.

Hugs
Janaki

Aisha Azar

Dear Gang,
Thanks for all of your good advice. I feel that I at least have a chance of making some headway with a syllabus and info on Tunisian dance for my class.
Regards,
A'isha