Damariz

good thing I saw this topic! I was just about to purchase a few videos from her website but this misinformation made me inspect her website more closely.

Off topic question:
I saw one of her videos on youtube where she is doing a ghawazee dance with skirt work. Is there a group of ghawazee that use skirts?

YouTube - Amara Al Amir Ghawazee & Egyptian Tet

click on thee title as embedding has been disabled.

Jane

The video footage of the Mazin (sp?) family that I've seen has skirt work, but it's not like the video you posted. They don't pick up the skirt, which is short and full, but swish it using hip movements.

If anyone has seen Ghawazee dancers doing something else with their skirts, I'd be very interested.

teela

I am glad this thread started. Since I've joined this forum, i have learned so much. Before, i would have thought Karsilama was a step and if i had not been reading this and other threads, i would have bought the DVD just to learn more not realizing that some of the things might have been wrong. We have the idea that teachers are right because well they are the teachers. I would like to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge so we become more knowledgable.

Jane

I've learned a lot from this forum too! I love that I can double check things I have read, or been told, with other dancers. There are many misconceptions about this dance and so much to learn. We're all in this together!

gypsy ahmet

Dear Dancers,
Thank you very much for sharing your prespectives . I would like to share my 30 years of Dance experience and 20 years of my research on Roman Dance with you.
First we must come to understand that:
1- KARSILAMA is not a Roman Dance.
2- No Oriental Dancer in Turkey, will ever do KARSILAMA dance as part of their dance routine.
The reason of similarity between Karsilama and the Roman dance is the fact that they both share 9/8 rythm. All music that has 9/8 rythm is not a Roman music.
Karsilama Dance has rules and regulations, without these rules there wont be a Karsilama Dance!
These Rules are:
1- Measures must be within 9
2- Handkerchief must be used.
3- Most important part of the dance is that it must be danced with at least two or more people. It is never done as a Solo Dance.

Roman Dance is an indivudual dance and is a dance of improvisation. Roman Dancer dances according to what one feels with in the music that is being played.
In order to dance Romany dance one must do a research on Roman Dance. Their life style and mentallity must be taken to consideration.
The reason for all this confusement is the result of some dancers taking few Roman Classes then teaching others there amature way interpreting, Roman Dance. This as a result harms The Turkish Roman Dance.
If you want to really learn Roman Dance then research on your teachers as well, swirling the skirts does not make a Roman Dancer!
Of course you can dance to 9/8 but do not say, “ I am dancing to Karsilama or Roman.”

The difference between Karsilama and Roman dance is;
1- Karsilama has 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3 as a measuring rythm (Never can be danced as a Solo)
2- In Roman, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-3 as a measuring rythm more simplified 1-2-3-4-5
One step, two step, three step, Four; (Skip) Jump, Five step.

Best regards,
Ahmet Ogren

Marya

Ahmet,

What a wonderful, concise, clear explanation. Welcome to the forum.

Marya

Yasmine Bint Al Nubia

Artemis Mourat aslo makes this very clear. I had a workshop and Master class with her last year, and she descibed the level of fantasy involved in westen interpretation. She plainly states that skirt work is an element a dancer can use but it is fantasy. She aslo decribed and showed us dance steps to the basic karsilama and Romani 9. Tanks for the further education
Yasmine

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Jane

Thank you Ahmet Ogren- welcome to the forum!

Maria_Aya

Since I've had a workshop with Ahmet at Istanboul, just have to say that he is AMAZING teacher and person !!!
Whenever you have the chance GO FOR IT!!

Welcome Ahmet !!!!
See you in Salonika in one month!!!
many many kisses

Maria Aya

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Maria_Aya

Hi all
Just managed to upload some videos from the show we had on May dedicated to old greek songs from Smyrna (Izmir) and Kostantinoupoli (Istanbul).
Some of the songs exist in greek and turkish language also, and was wondering how much similar is the greek and turkish way of dancing them.
We were lucky to have with us Labrini Tasoula who teach this style for 20 years and she worked on the traditional group choreos.
In the between from the advanced class of my school we danced solo's more free style and fussed with oriental to light up the atmosfaire
Before each part I wrote what is the specific dance style

Hope you like them:

YouTube - Oriental Expression - Greek Chifteteli Show

YouTube - Oriental Expression, Chifteteli Show 2

here Roza and Labrini dancing traditional style of greek tsifteteli

YouTube - Oriental Expression, Tsifteteli Roza & Labrini

And Eva dance a fusion dance on a greek turkish song

YouTube - Greek Chifteteli Show, Oriental Expression, Eve

Maria Aya

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