This is folkloric bellydance, known as felahin from a specific area of Egypt!
This blog needs more folkloric performances.
Nejla Ates on the cover of “People Today,” 1953. That skirt makes the swoons.
Mardi Love is such an archetype of femininity, & Dinah DiNova does amazing work capturing her beauty, depth, & strength.
I didn’t recognize her for a second there.
Rachel Brice’s Datura at Tribal Fest 13 - Full Set (by Rachel Brice)
From Portland Oregon: Datura Belly Dance
Choreographed and Directed by Rachel Brice
Pieces:
0:26: Opening: Fallaha Chocolata by the Al Ahram Orchestra
3:16 Trio: Glide by Felix Thorn
6:42 Solo: Mecanic Puppet by Aurure
9:15 Finale: Kadıoğlu Zeybeği by Okay Temiz
Performers:
ASHLEY LOPEZ
BRITTANY WELCH
COLETTE TODOROV
DANIELLE ELIZABETH
JANELLE JACKSON
MARGARET GUSTAFSON
MAKEDA PERRYMAN
MAURIE TRAVERS
MORGAN FAY
RACHEL BRICE
TABRA BAY
Datura Excerpt - Glide Trio at Tribal Fest 13 (by Rachel Brice)
This is not belly dance.
Everything said in the post about Dusty Paik’s group performance, also applies to Zoe Jakes’ new Balinese inspired performance. It’s just so wrong, in my opinion. From what I’ve learned, Balinese dances are religious in nature and dancers are trained since childhood. Zoe Jakes using those same movements completely strips them of the meaning and context. To me, her performance was nothing but a shallow copy.-Corinne, I Love Belly Dance Mod
I am finding it really hard to identify the emotion I’m feeling right now, but thank you for sharing this with me.
I’ve actually studied Balinese dance from a Balinese teacher for three years at my university, been in Balinese music ensembles, taken graduate-level classes on the music and dance of Indonesia … and I’m really at a loss for words.
Balinese classical dance is religious in nature, and often are scenes from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Starting in the 70’s and 80’s there was a resurgence of composers and a new music style, but even these dances have religious undertones and often represent welcoming deities onto Earth or are from Hindu epics. Some examples are Tari Manuk Rawa, and Tari Sekar Jagat. An example of an older style dance would be Teruna Jaya. All the dances tell some sort of story, and gestures, eye movements all have symbolic meaning (much like Indian classical dance).
I love Zoe Jakes and have been to Beats Antique concerts and really enjoy their music. This, however, just feels like a cheap copy. Not to mention it’s not even a good imitation.
