What is Belly Dance?
Dance Styles
Belly dance as we
know it is the result
of centuries of evolution of different forms of dance from all over the
Middle East and North Africa. As different cultures have met and
interacted the various traditions and customs have also interacted
and
evolved to eventually produce what we now expect Belly Dance to be.
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Egyptian Cabaret.
A product of
the early Egyptian film industry, with subtle and precise
moves. Many Eastern Promise Choreographies are a fusion of this and
the later Bollywood Styles, with influences from many Middle Eastern
cultures. |
Ghawazee and Romany Dance.
Egyptian and Romany
dance derived from the Romany peoples of Europe and Egypt. Gypsy
belly dance combines both these forms of Dance. An extremely full
circle skirt is a trademark of these dances and would have formed a
part of the dance itself, allowing a woman to communicate and flirt
with the opposite sex in an overt way.
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American Tribal.
"American Tribal Style Belly Dance (ATS) is a modern style of dance created by
FatChanceBellyDance director, Carolena Nericcio." www.fcbd.com/about American tribal is a very precise form
of dance, the dancers move in unison as if one. The dance is
usually improvised in a follow the leader style. The dancers will watch
the leader for cues as to the next move. The cues are very subtle and
imperceptible to the audience. Eastern Promise dances a fusion of American tribal and traditional moves. |
Conclusion.
The above is a very
brief overview of some forms of Belly Dance, as performed by Eastern
Promise. More detailed information can be found at www.zehara.co.uk/bellydancestyles.htm (accessed 04/12/07) |
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Props.
Belly Dancers use a variety of props to enhance their dance. From Coin Belts to candelabras here are just a few. |
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| The hip Belt is the most widely used prop. Rumoured to originate from
the Romany woman who would sew there coins into their cloths for safe
keeping. |
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| Veils add a new dimension to the dance. Adding colour and movement, they can be very effective in the right hands. |
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| Zills in the hands of an expert can be hypnotic. |
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| Dancing with a sword is for the confident. It requires great skill, and poise. |
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