What if I tell you that the term ‘Belly dance” does not exist in any African language or in Arabic? So what is belly dance then? And how did it come to become the most popular sex worker artform today? Join me as I revisit the dances of Egypt!

Belly Dance or danse du ventre as it was previously coined in French, was used to forcibly categorize dances across Northern Africa under one umbrella. While Raqs Baladi is a more appropriate terminology to reference ‘dances of the country’ and Raqs Sharqi to reference Oriental Dance today, this session will delve into dance forms that existed prior to and during colonization: Hagala, Alexandrian, Melaya Leff, Henna, Semsemiya, Bambotiya, Dahia, Mashreqiya, Debka, Fallahi, Ghawazee, Gypsy, Baladi, Jawary, Awalem, Oriental, Saidi, Tahtieb game, Bedouin, Kaffafa, Zagala, Burmia Baharia, 14 different types of Nubian dances, Whiplash & Hosit. The presentation will not be centering Western interpretations of Belly dance. We will also be touching on Bambotiya, Melaya Leff, Hagala and Alexandrian, and circumstances under which they were choreographed.

Let’s go back in time, to revisit the costuming, music and props. Let’s adorn the scarves, try the 3/4 shimmy, and explore the dance forms displaced by modern interpretations of belly dance.

Tickets

Eventbrite Tickets (Worldwide)
Forbidden Tickets (US & Canada)