Maria_Aya

I think that we have a great term in Greece that have to be introduced to the world lol
Its called "kookoorookoo" lol
Now what is kookoorookoo (it sounds as it is writen) original is the voice of the rooster, but in slang greek means, "whatever" in a way.
So lets say, when arabs or dancers that know whats about, watch a dancer that lets say for example is wearing a glitteri bedlah, dancing to khaliji music with assaya, and doing pops and locks, then this is what we call "kookoorookoo dancer" the dancer that dont know anything, thinks that know's and she have also the attidute that "who cares"
Most of the arabs i know in Greece (mostly egyptians and syrians) when they see AmCab (well this would be rare and great) say, its lovely but we dont get it (something like Aisha said).
In the kookoorookoo cases they laught so much with the dancer, saying stupit things with others in same table, and call the dancer near (that dont know arabic) and they tease them with a smile and the dancer feels happy not knowing what is happening. Usually its me telling them, Haram aleyk !!! its pitty doing this lol now if the dancer is beautifull they say things like, aaaww it would be lovely if she could dance...
Anyway have a nice day
Maria Aya

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masrawy

Hey Maria, In Egypt we have a term for this kind of dance it is" Nabsh el Frakh" some time if the dancer is so bad then it is 3geen el falaha, but definitely both are in the "Bazrameet" Style of dance . Salm ya amar~Mahmoud

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"Be beautiful , the universe will turn beautiful in your eyes!"

Eve

on the limited occasions the topic has come up, tribal was not seen in a positive light.

Aisha Azar

Dear Aya,
One of the things that opened my eyes to the fact that American cabaret is its own dance and not belly dance is that I had the same kinds of experiences over and over again as I sat with my Arab friends and watched some of the most respected American dancers do their thing. I was a youngish dancer and knew there were differences, could see and feel them, but I did not truly understand how the Arab point of view was so different from the western one when it came to the dance. After I had been dancing for a few years, I realized that American cabaret and the authentic ethnic dance forms differ deeply and it begins at the core of the dance, from the feelings, essence and spirit, movement, the way to relate to the music and every other thing. And.... this was the reason why I felt that something was missing when I tried to be a good American cabaret dancer. I have made it my life's work to be a good Egyptian dancer and one of the things necessary in being good in any style is respecting and trying to see things from the point of view of the people who's dance you are performing. This does not mean we always have to agree with their viewpoints, but we DO have to acknowledge and understand them. We can not do the dances of a people who's feelings and thought we reject out of hand.
Regards,
A'isha

masrawy

well put A'isha you always show deep understanding to the culture and its people, I just hope that people don't think that belly dancing is engraved in stone. Quite the contrary it has been evolving in the Middle East for years. But if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck, dance like a duck .. It is a duck. Reinventing the wheel by taking out the music, the movement and mix up the custom from all over then you call that belly dancing it's a different matter to me. We called it samak laban al tamer hinde ( fish, milk and tamarind Hindi) they may tast good by them self but .. Shake it well and Good luck drink that.
Enough venting hey I managed not to get into the male belly dancing.
Regards, Mahmoud

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"Be beautiful , the universe will turn beautiful in your eyes!"

Aisha Azar

Dear Mahmoud,
This is the other thing that sometimes gets under my skin. Westerners sometimes like to say that the dance is NOT evolving in the Middle East, when it is so clear that it is. However, it is evolving in ways meaningful to the cultures that understand what the dance is and how to evolve it. In the process of this evolution, it does not ever lose its core spirit and essence, which is where the truth of any dance style lives. It is not just throwing in whatever someone wants and calling it belly dance because that is a convenient label.
I will give you reputation points for staying out of the male belly dance discussion! Believe me, you saved yourself a huge headache!!
Regards,
A'isha

Sita

What a great word. I have to say that one thing I love about this site is the opportunity to learn about such a broad spectrum of things like language and culture. I particularly like "kookoorookoo" as it reminds me of 'cookoo' (the bird) which seems so apt in this case - the misfit; laying eggs in another birds nest without any concern
Thank you
Sita

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~*Life is like a ghaziya, she dances just briefly for each.*~ - Egyptian proverb

masrawy

Hey Sita
just noticed your signature, I guess we use dancers in many ways. The one that comes to mind right now is


Basically it means all your efforts were in vain because you did not do it correct. Salam~Mahmoud

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"Be beautiful , the universe will turn beautiful in your eyes!"

Sita

Yes, I think you're right; prehaps because dance is such a universal expression of among other things life, vitality, creativity, freedom, intimacy, beauty etc. In responce to my signature I chose it because everytime I read it, it inspires me to think about dance (as a gift with the audience as reciever), life, motality, the universe and I love that a simple phrase can do that. It particulary reminds me of the Sufi tradition of Whirling Dervishes which has always intrigued/fascinated me. One of my favourite of Rumi's works (and I've only recently been introduced too) is the passage:

'You are not of this world, Dance when you are naked, Dance when you are broken open, Dance when you have torn the bandages off, Dance in the middle of the fighting, Dance in your blood, Dance when you are perfectly free.' - Jalaladdin Rumi

Have you ever seen the Egyptian film Dunia (Kiss me not on the Eyes)? it uses dance as a basis for exploring the female role in society, the power over their own bodies and thus expression and female circumsion. I found it very interesting and it has Mohamed Mounir in it!

Sita

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~*Life is like a ghaziya, she dances just briefly for each.*~ - Egyptian proverb

masrawy

Hey Sita,me too their is something about the whirling Dervishes that mimic the Earth turning around I find it interesting.
as for the Egyptian film Dunia unfortunately I haven't seen it. I only go back to Egypt a couple of months every year and usually I am busy and new films does not excite me. I'll try to locate this one next time .. oh female circumcision way overblown issue in the West. Salam~Mahmoud

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"Be beautiful , the universe will turn beautiful in your eyes!"