janaki

Hi all,

I am interseted to find out about the dance movements that are specific to egyptian, turkish and lebanese style raqs sharqi. Folklore dances are not included. For me egyptian style is very centred and movements are smaller and controlled. Turkish is kinda opposite to egyptian style..bigger and bouncier movements. Lebanese style for is in between egyptian and turkish. Movements are more floaty and more use of arms. I am more into egytian style and I know more about this style than other two.My question is are there any difference in execution of movements from technical point of view not the flavour/style they are executed. Are there any movements that only specific to lebanese or egyptian or turkish style. I have my own theories based on the research and studies I have done. I would like to know your thoughts on this.

Hugs
Janaki

Aisha Azar

Dear Janaki,
In observing the three styles over the years, I have noted that they all three seem to use the same 10 fundamental movements, but how they utilize them is very different. (If I was there I could so very easily demonstrate for you, but alas, I am not.) I believe this difference comes from a couple of things; cultural influences with the separate regions, and strong differences in the music, though any more there seems to be a lot of Egyptian music used in Turkey. The Turks and Lebanese have more flourishes to their hand and arm movements than do Egyptians, but they still all use the same basic techniques, based in circles and undulations. Egyptians and Turks layer movement more, Lebanese less, partly because a lot of their bigger technique does not work as well with complex layering. Turks work higher up on their toes, and the Lebanese, when wearing high heels do the same, but not so much when they are not. Turks tend to take bigger strides, but not necessarily make always bigger movements than Egyptians.
I hope this was helpful,
Regards,
A'isha

Mosaic

Great post, this is something I have been wondering about.

Thanks A'isha for clarification, Janaki I look forward to your theories.

I make notes about such things so I broaden my knowledge and deepen my understanding.
~Mosaic

Brea

This is very interesting for me, as my style is closer to Lebanese (so I am told) and therefore not a great deal of layering is included.

How is Lebanese dance regarding shimmies? Frequent? Small? Large?

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Aisha Azar

Dear Brea,
Big and blurbly. I am going to ask Mark Balahadia to get in on this. He is a great Lebanese dancer and can probably add considerably to this area of the discussion.
Regards,
A'isha

Mark_Balahadia

Dear Janaki and Brea and everyone else,

I would like to point out a misconception about Lebanese Oriental Dance. It is NOT "in between" Egyptian and Turkish styles as most dancers would say because it IS closer to the Egyptian style. Turkish Oriental dancers seem to interpret music completely differently while Egyptian and Lebanese Oriental dancers tend to be closer in music interpretation.

At one point in time (probably around the "Golden Age") Egyptian and Lebanese styles were closer then they are now. However they have split and now are more distinct. Given this fact the two styles still influence each other. "Egyptian" moves have been adopted into Lebanese style and vice versa.

As far as shimmies go, because Lebanese dancers usually wear heels, the shimmies are generated differently then for Egyptian dancers. However, if you were to take her heels out, then they would probably shimmy more like an Egyptian dancer.

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Brea

Hi Mark,

Since I have a slight difficulty in knowing where to place myself in the spectrum, I am curious about Lebanese dance because it's the only one that I can see approximating my movements.

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Mark_Balahadia

Dear Brea,

I remember you saying something about your teacher being Jordanian. Well you are probably more Lebanese style since most Jordanians and Syrians have more Lebanese influences in their dancing.

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badde 3eish!!! www.markbalahadia.com

janaki

Thanks Mark! That is a valuable input. When I said that Lebanese style is inbetween egyptian and turkish, I meant about the movements. I my observation lebanese dancer have some moves very similiar to egyptian style and some move are executed big like turkish.

Now my question to is, how is lebanese dance interprets music comapred to turkish style? Are there any specific moves that are done only in Lebanese style dancing??

Tks soooooo much in advance Mark.

Maria_Aya

Times like this I soooooooo miss Suha....

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