Lydia dubai

Hi there...in the gulf( what means kaleegh) the hair is a must....you see the hair is presenting the waves of the sea....the local population in the gulf was before the oil times depending on trade,and pearldiving...so they are very attached and close ,,friends ,,with the sea and the waves...perhaps a wig is a good idea,but hair is a must for the khaleegy dancing for lady,s...have a nice day Lydia

Aisha Azar

Dear Maram,
This is what I know about it from different sources.
One of the most famous of the Khaliji singers and dancers was a lady named Etab. She was black and she had short, thick hair that did not move so much, but she still did fabulous head movements. She at one time had a television show based on the dance and music of the Gulf, but sort of taking place in Space......(???). She died not too long ago and that is a real loss as far as I am concerned!
I have a friend from Kuwait who told me that the women in his family grow their hair long in a contest to see who has the best "Khaliji hair".
I have video clips from over there where the women have hair almost shoulder length and my friend Leila from Saudi Arabia has the same. But, their hair is very thick and glossy and pretty and it swings wonderfully. Leila has occasionally been persuaded to teach a style of Saudi dance with me, and I feel very privileged since Saudis never do that kind of thing. Leila says that even in the Gulf and Saudi, not all women are capable of doing the head movements and the dance is not just about that. I think you can still do the dance with short hair since swinging the hair is only one element of the dance. I think we just do not see too many Arab women with really short hair!!
Lydia mentions a connection with the sea and this is something that I have heard consistently also. I have two articles on my website about Samri/ Khaliji. They are both based on information told to me by various friends from the Gulf and Saudi Arabia. They are in the library and my website address is Raqs Azar. They are "Are we confused yet?" and "Observations on Samri".
Regards,
A'isha

Tikvah

thanks for the YouTube video!

Marya

I am in the same boat, I have short hair and am going to be performing khaliji next month.

Aisha, if the dancer has short hair does she just leave out the head movements? Or do them anyway?

I was thinking about tying a long scarf to my head to add movement, does that sound doable or totally awful?

Marya

Aisha Azar

Dear Marya,
Well, Leila does it with hair about your length and in a video that a Saudi friend sent, me some of the girls have hair as short as your's. Their hair is thicker, though. A wig might be the answer. It really is not all about the movement of the hair. As Leila says, there are women who don't do the head movements. i think we in the West like that best because it is so showy. I would probably not do the headscarf thing, but this is not from any knowledge that it is incorrect, more from the general look.
Regards,
A'isha

Marya

Well, Aisha, I recently cut my hair really short, that is why I was thinking of using a scarf. I have thought of a wig, but won't have time to get one before this performance in July.

My question is if you have really short hair should you forgo the head movements?

Marya

Aisha Azar

Dear Marya,
Etab still did them with very short hair. I think it is a personal choice more than anything else.
Regards,
A'isha

Marya

Thanks Aisha!

Aisha Azar

Dear Marya,
You are welcome. Next time you come to town, remind me to show you the vids from Ehab.
Regards,
A'isha

Makeda Maysa

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The Niraja Dance Company www.thendc.net