Lydia dubai

Hi Khanjar ,next time when you visit the uae call me please i take you around...there are still many windtowers and pretty old places ,but you must know where to look ...have a nice day Lydia

khanjar

Oh, you are sweet, what a very nice and kind offer. Though it was a few years since I was last there, I found some derelict properties somewhere behind the rulers office in Bur Dubai. The walls of these properties were made up of coral and venturing through the door revealed the enclosed garden inside, that was as far as I would dare go. There is a place I photographed much, over in Deira, a wind tower which seemed attached to a resturaunt and craft shop, I understand might be in the hands of western people, but later found out it was an independent property, a farm of some such The first time I photographed this tower, there was a heard of stragly sheep in front of it.

Interestingly, the Dubai museum had a reconstruction of a wind tower, and standing underneath it, one can see how wonderous this design is, pure cool air better than AC. Interestingly, the wind towers were positioned above the main sleeping area. I can imagine sleeping to that air, not the rattle and clang of an AC as it tries to cool the air. In fact Dubai Museum is excellent, when I first went there, it was just a fort with collections of militaria and ethnic life, it has evolved and if anyone goes to Dubai, that museum is definetely worth a visit.

I travelled much in the Emirates, out to Hatta and Fujeira, in search of that elusive photo. The best I ever got that I still have now, is an ancient Mosque with a watch tower above, that was out Fujeira way.

One thing I have noticed about Dubai, is it is constantly changing, just as soon as I know where things are, I go away, come back and I am lost again, for it has changed again. Went away once and came back and the California beach hotel had gone and was replaced with an awesome wavelike hotel with the iconic Burg Al Arab off shore.

Then there are the desert excursions, I did one, then did my own and got stuck between two Dunes, never did manage to do the excursion which was a feast in the desert, with entertainment laid on in the form of belly dance. But I did manage to try the Camel milk, almost straight from the camel, which is not bad at all. Have you seen the desert belly dancer?

I like the UAE, and it's people.

__________________
I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

Knitting Jo

[quote=Aisha Azar;80192]Dear Khanjar,
Now,when I dance, it is way less about me and way more about the dance as a cultural offering. I want to share the wonderfulness of ethnic belly dance with both internal and external audiences, meaning other dancer, musicians and the general public. This dance is so fascinating, so complex, so amazing that I want to share it. I want others to get some of what I get out of it.

Now I understand why you're so fiery about keeping the dance pure!


This has been a very interesting thread. For me at least a lot of what I expect out of a performance is down to semantics. If I am watching a group doing "Bellydancing" I am willing to accept all manner of interpretation/costuming/music choices. The term Bellydance itself is a western name. It also means something concrete to the general populace when they hear it (strange music,sparkling costumes, lots of make up, maybe a hot girl).
If you are advertising a night of beledi and raqs Sharqi your neighbours will have no idea of what you are up to!
Similarly though, if a group is describing themselves as shaabi with a strong cultural background and the do khaleegi moves to moroccan music in ATS costumes I am not impressed.
As many have said before it is ignorance of ill-experienced teachers that threaten to water down the traditional dance. I do think we still have to make some allowance for people to give their own interpretations of the dance, that will keep it evolving.

Lydia dubai

Hi Khanjar,yes you are correct it is changing all the time...the chicago beach hotel i worked there for 9 years ! i perfored every thursday,and now off course in the burj al arab that took her place...but i am serieus if you come back just give me a call...i geuss we went off the subject ops i better go...have a nice day...

lizaj

Hint Hint I see an article in this.....

Aisha Azar

Dear Jo,

[quote]Weird interpretations out of context do not keep the true dance evolving; in fact it is a form of devolution. Ignorance of inexperienced teachers is what causes a lot of the bizarre stuff we are seeing in the name of belly dance. What keeps the dance evolving is the natural evolutions of the dance in the hands of the people who are natives to the countries of origin, living there, and changing the dance within the cultural environment from which the dance springs. The dance then has all of the necessary cultural inputs to keep it in touch with the basic elements that make the dance what it is. It is why experienced dancer easily recognize both Tahia Carioca and Randa as performing belly dance, when they are generations apart. That basic essence never dies in the right environment.

Regards,
A'isha

Shahravar

It is such a difficult thing. Dance has been diluted for centuries with travel and tourism ahh that spice trail do you think they just exchanged ideas?
But yes I feel it is important to preserve what we do have left of authentic cultural styles in dance.