Bellydancing and irish stepdance:)

Khaira · 01-05-2008, 10:10 PM

A great idea and a lovely short result.

First I thought she will transform into an irish dancer at some point, then the male dancer emerged. Then I though she was repeating the same rhythms he started in scilence but the timing didn't match. And finally my expectations came true, both of them a little fun over the other and came to a happy end.

It's really entertaining, have a look:

YouTube - avigail klein belly&irish dance

Aisha Azar · 01-05-2008, 10:36 PM

Dear Khaira,
...... I guess I have to say that I don't get it. I felt that what happened on the stage did not do justice to any part of either Middle Eastern or Irish dance or music... It was all just a sort of mish-mosh to me with nothing standing out as really good....Maybe I am just having a BOB attack.
Regards,
A'isha

Brea · 01-05-2008, 10:55 PM

YouTube - belly dance from Celtic fire show

SO bizarre.

I agree with you A'isha. I do combine my two loves (Scotland and bellydance) frequently, but never like this. I think it detracts and confuses two things that are already so sadly misunderstood. That said, based on the misunderstandings/romanticization so many people have about both, there's nothing more popular than a 'Celtic' bellydance. This just brings up so many arguments in my mind, the first of which is: Picts aren't Celts. Two different things. I'll stop now before I go on a long historical and cultural rant about Scotland.

Sara · 01-05-2008, 11:19 PM

Heyas,

Well mebbers I can shed some light. Based on my love of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, the Celtic shows created by Mike Flatley tend to represent the movement and lives of the Irish people. In Riverdance he had a flamenco dancer to represent the sun and fire and passion or something. And in the Cletic tiger or whatever it is now, there is a lot of influence from other cultures.

I must agree though, this to me was a bit

I don't get it either. I once saw this veil dance to irish music and dint know what to think. I dunt think this show is by Mike Flatley either, lol. Hmmm...

Aisha Azar · 01-06-2008, 12:34 AM

Dear Sara,
Riverdance had some meaning in that it was rather the story of the Irish people and other influences in their lives. This was also explained in the program, etc. There was continuity and intelligence behind what Flatly and the others created and things were out together with purpose, not just because, as the opening clip here seemed to be. Fusion should be done with special care in order to show its continuance of the things that came before, or to create something entirely new. Neither of these things was accomplished and all elements of the fusion were somehow diminished.
Regards,
A'isha

Shanazel · 01-06-2008, 09:53 PM

Call off the BOBS- I think these folks were just having fun. Somewhere there is a dance duet with a flamenco dancer and a belly dancer that was a beautiful fusion. I think these folks were attempting to do something similar, but in a humorous manner and without quite as much success.

Oh, and the fights you will hear re: Riverdance has perverted the old Irish step dance v. Riverdance is brilliantly innovative...

karena · 01-06-2008, 10:06 PM

I quite enjoyed it. And they kept the two styles distinct so I don't see the problem. I liked the flamenco one from another thread too. I like the idea of using one dance to provide the rhythm of the other, and seeing the similarities/differences between the moves in the different styles. Thanks Khaira

Suheir · 01-06-2008, 10:43 PM

That just looked like a bit of silliness to me. Now, was that an Arabic frame-drum or an Irish bodhrán...

Shanazel · 01-06-2008, 10:56 PM

bodhran.

Zara-dancer · 01-06-2008, 11:51 PM

Speaking as a professional Irish dancer & former member of the original Riverdane troupe, (and now I'm a bellydance teacher & performer) I thought that this was pretty poor... Though I have no problem with the dancers, I have to say that this piece didn't do justice to either dance form...some serious bandwagon jumping going on here! I mean, the two (IMHO

) most beautiful dance forms on earth and this is the best people can come up with??

Zero points for innovation & interpretation...

Forgive me if I sound harsh, but I'm like an overprotective Irish mammy when it comes to my dancing

01-05-2008, 10:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Khaira Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 112	Bellydancing and irish stepdance:) A great idea and a lovely short result. First I thought she will transform into an irish dancer at some point, then the male dancer emerged. Then I though she was repeating the same rhythms he started in scilence but the timing didn't match. And finally my expectations came true, both of them a little fun over the other and came to a happy end. It's really entertaining, have a look: YouTube - avigail klein belly&irish dance __________________ (www.mustika.eu)

01-05-2008, 10:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,502	Irish, etc. Dear Khaira, ...... I guess I have to say that I don't get it. I felt that what happened on the stage did not do justice to any part of either Middle Eastern or Irish dance or music... It was all just a sort of mish-mosh to me with nothing standing out as really good....Maybe I am just having a BOB attack. Regards, A'isha

01-05-2008, 10:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	YouTube - belly dance from Celtic fire show SO bizarre. I agree with you A'isha. I do combine my two loves (Scotland and bellydance) frequently, but never like this. I think it detracts and confuses two things that are already so sadly misunderstood. That said, based on the misunderstandings/romanticization so many people have about both, there's nothing more popular than a 'Celtic' bellydance. This just brings up so many arguments in my mind, the first of which is: Picts aren't Celts. Two different things. I'll stop now before I go on a long historical and cultural rant about Scotland. __________________ www.breamorgiane.com Last edited by Brea; 01-05-2008 at 10:58 PM.

01-05-2008, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sara V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wales/Yorkshire Posts: 1,160	Heyas, Well mebbers I can shed some light. Based on my love of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, the Celtic shows created by Mike Flatley tend to represent the movement and lives of the Irish people. In Riverdance he had a flamenco dancer to represent the sun and fire and passion or something. And in the Cletic tiger or whatever it is now, there is a lot of influence from other cultures. I must agree though, this to me was a bit I don't get it either. I once saw this veil dance to irish music and dint know what to think. I dunt think this show is by Mike Flatley either, lol. Hmmm... __________________ With a little bit of this and a little bit of that, now shake your bum.... :P

01-06-2008, 12:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,502	Dance Dear Sara, Riverdance had some meaning in that it was rather the story of the Irish people and other influences in their lives. This was also explained in the program, etc. There was continuity and intelligence behind what Flatly and the others created and things were out together with purpose, not just because, as the opening clip here seemed to be. Fusion should be done with special care in order to show its continuance of the things that came before, or to create something entirely new. Neither of these things was accomplished and all elements of the fusion were somehow diminished. Regards, A'isha

01-06-2008, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,664	Call off the BOBS- I think these folks were just having fun. Somewhere there is a dance duet with a flamenco dancer and a belly dancer that was a beautiful fusion. I think these folks were attempting to do something similar, but in a humorous manner and without quite as much success. Oh, and the fights you will hear re: Riverdance has perverted the old Irish step dance v. Riverdance is brilliantly innovative...

01-06-2008, 10:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
karena Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The North, UK Posts: 820	I quite enjoyed it. And they kept the two styles distinct so I don't see the problem. I liked the flamenco one from another thread too. I like the idea of using one dance to provide the rhythm of the other, and seeing the similarities/differences between the moves in the different styles. Thanks Khaira __________________ "Nothing is black and white, it's all shades of grey" Me

01-06-2008, 10:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Suheir V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe - London Posts: 1,227	That just looked like a bit of silliness to me. Now, was that an Arabic frame-drum or an Irish bodhrán...

01-06-2008, 10:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,664	bodhran.

01-06-2008, 11:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Zara-dancer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 3	Speaking as a professional Irish dancer & former member of the original Riverdane troupe, (and now I'm a bellydance teacher & performer) I thought that this was pretty poor... Though I have no problem with the dancers, I have to say that this piece didn't do justice to either dance form...some serious bandwagon jumping going on here! I mean, the two (IMHO ) most beautiful dance forms on earth and this is the best people can come up with?? Zero points for innovation & interpretation... Forgive me if I sound harsh, but I'm like an overprotective Irish mammy when it comes to my dancing