adiemus

I'm not quite sure what the difference is, and wondered if the guru's on here could answer? I'm sure it's not just the costuming and music!!

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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

jenc

What's the difference between Fred Astaire and modern ballroom dancers on Strictly Come Dancing?

Changes in time and culture have replaced the elegance in West and East

Caroline_afifi

I agree with Jenc.
The dance evolved and even more outside inflences have crept in.

There are new moves being created by dancers all the time.
Modern is also very 'shaabi' in style, there is much more of a response to the lyrical content these days. I have never seen Samia or Tahia et al mouthing the words and facial expressing the music that was usually left up to the singer.
Classical then was less bold and had a sort of quiet reserve even when the music was fast. The expression of femininity has also changed so the movements are interpreted and expressed differently.

Watch Randa and Dina then watch Tahia and Samia, it will all become very clear...

adiemus

good idea, thanks!
Any others care to add their piece?

__________________
He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

sedoniaraqs

These two terms don't have a set meaning. Sometimes they are used interchangeably to refer to Egyptian raqs sharqi as it has developed since Samia Gamal et al. This is how Shareen el Safy uses the term "modern Egyptian".

Sometimes it is used to differentiate the Golden era dancers through, say, Fifi from the more modern, Raqia-influenced dancers like Dina, Randa, etc.

Kashmir

For me "classical" is orientale - it is performed to fully orchestrated pieces with strong Western influences - such as arabesques and lots of use of floor patterns - and an upright posture and good isolation. There's lots of layering to match the complexity of the music. Costumes include full skirts to capture the sweep of the movement. Think Samia Gamal.

"Modern" is post-Raqia. The movements are smaller with more use of contractions and ab work - and the "straight-legged" shimmy (which isn't). Think Dina.

Just to confuse you more, the piece Tawila & Safiyya did at the show was not "Modern Egyptian" dance- but rather, a piece choreographed to modern Egyptian music.

adiemus

hah! now I did wonder about that Kashmir!!
I thought ab work was more popular amongst American dancers - I can't say I've seen belly rolls and flutters nearly as often amongst Egyptian dancers - but I am only viewing via YouTube...

__________________
He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

Ranya

Well I guess it is not the same ab-work, but there definitely is a lot of muscle contraction in present-day egyptian.

Outi

In Egyptian style the ab work is not only sharp contractions (that's the modern style) but it's included in most of all soft movements too (ala Fifi). That's the part of the feeling, the basics. That kind of layering are mostly missing in Western styles. Some dancers pick it up and do nice combinations, but it's not taught so often or broken down.

Western and I would say more like Am. Cab. ab work is different style.

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Aisha Azar

Dear Adiemus,
Why are you sure it is not the music and costuming?

Dear Outi,
I am sorry I missed you in Cairo!! I see sharp contractions in the earlier dancers also, (Naima Akef comes to mind immediately), and they have always been used, but like costuming fashions, some movement go in and out of style and are seen more predominantly at some times. Also, the dancers used to costume differently than they do currently, and that made a big difference in how observers perceived the movements, I think. And, certain dancers make more use of sharp contraction than others. Fifi uses more smooth movement, Randa uses more contractions. I saw Liza Laziza when I was in Cairo and she uses very few sharp movements. of course, she is Persian, it think, but dances a pretty, soft Egyptian style.

Regards to you both,
A'isha