Middle Eastern Dance Styles - Brief Overview

Note: Traditional vs. Cabaret It is important to remember that many folkloric styles have been adapted for the stage, which could mean anything from a more brightly-coloured costume to the inclusion of movements from a different discipline such as ballet.

Saidi / Saiidi This earthy and playful style is performed to a 4/4 rythm called the Saidi rhythm and is from Upper Egypt. The movements are bigger and more bouncy than when they are performed in the Oriental style. The stick or cane dance is part of the Saidi style, although it is not always used. Men perform a Saidi stick dance called Tahtib with a heavy staff. Women perform a more feminine imitation of this dance using a light cane which can be straight or have a crook at the end, playfully imitating the men's moves. Nada in traditional Saidi costume (photo used with permission) Mayada performing Assaya (photo courtesy www.mayada.ca) More resources: Article on folkloric styles by Jasmin Jahal Saidi rhythm (.mp3)

Baladi / Beledi Baladi is a word that means "country" or "of the country", and its earthy movements are the foundation of the oriental style. This is the social dance of people in Egypt. Professional performers were based on Mohammed Ali Street in Cairo during the 1970s and developed a specific style of performance, part of which was using the shamadan (candelabra), a brass head-dress with lit candles. Mayada performing Shamadan (photo courtesy www.mayada.ca) More resources: Article by Hossam Ramzy

Fellahin The word "Fellahi" means farmer. This dance uses the quick Fellahi rhythm and depicts the everyday work of farmers, such as gathering food in a basket and collecting water in jugs. More resources: Article on folkloric styles by Jasmin Jahal Fellahi rhythm (.mp3)

Milaya / Milaya il'laff / Alexandrian Milaya This is a flirtatious character dance from Alexandria. The dancer wears a dress with a ruffled neckline and hem. She is tightly wrapped in a dark shawl (the milaya il'laff, a popular fashion in the 1950s), which she lets "slip", dancing with it over her arms, then covering up again. Nada in Alexandrian dress (photo used with permission) Khalila performing Milaya. Photos by Robert Swier.

Ghawazee The Ghawazee were gypsies or wanderers whose dance is characterized by a side-to-side shimmy performed to a fast 4/4 beat. They most often performed at mawalid (saint's days celebrations, singular mulid) in Egypt and would migrate from one city's celebrations to another. They performed unveiled, in the streets and in front of coffeehouses. (Travellers' descritpions, 19th century). More resources: Article by Me'ira "A Trade Like Any Other" - Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt, Karin van Nieukerk

Hagallah (Bedouin) The hagallah is a dance of the Bedouin tribe in the Western and Eastern deserts of Egypt. The ruffles on the stage costume for this dance represent the heavy belt the Bedouin women wear to carry the tools and implements they need in daily life. The character represented in this dance is a strong and self-assured woman, with big hip movements and a very uplifted posture. The dancer performs solo. Nada with Bedouin head-dress (photos used with permission) More resources: Article on Hagallah by Aziza of Australia

Khaleegy / Khaligi This dance comes from the Persian Gulf region and is characterized by light steps and hair tossing. Khaleegy is the Arabic term for the Gulf. The costume is a loose ornate robe called the thobe al nassar. Teressa performing Khaleegy (photo by Ingrid Varga) More resources: http://www.zilltech.com/FAQStylesKaleegy.html#Khaleegy

Pharonic Dance This is a modern style of dance characterized by angular arm positions with the palm held perpendicular to the arm. The costuming is inspired by Egyptian tomb paintings, but traditional Egyptian music is not necessarily used and style of movement is a modern innovation. Nada in Pharaonic pose (photo used with permission) More resources: Article by Shira: What is Pharonic Dance?

Under Construction: Persian

Chiftitelli (Greece)

Turkish Bellydance

Lebanese Bellydance