Debke and you.

[parasitegirl]

When I started bellydance, I never thought more folkloric styles would appeal to me. I viewed "folk dance" as kitchy stage performances, something trapped in amber and filtered through a nostalgia sieve, without understanding the real, communal, social roles they can play "in the field." I didn't get how the social/historical role, or the dances themselves, could inform what I was doing and make me a better dancer. Like many begining belly dancers, I saw the less-sexy costumes and combined them with static or kitchy presentations of other folk dances I'd seen in my youth and dismissed them.

And yet, two of the teachers (Karim Nagi and Ahmet Luleci) who've given me the greatest appreciation and understanding of the music I listen to and dance to have done so with a teaching approach that includes debke (social folk lines dances)...and I don't think that's a fluke.

I had an hour and a half private zill lesson with Karim today. I have a lot to think on and work on from that, and from the Sunday workshops, and it is not yet over. Tomorrow is our last workshop.

Suffice to say there will be a long write-up, here and in my fancy decorative BD notebook.

Comments

[adaveen.livejournal.com]

I came to belly dance through the folkloric side, taking beladi lessons from a family friend when I was 11 or 12 or so, and it remains my favorite form of the dance. I love an earthy, strutty beladi or a cheeky saidi. I love the costumes, I think they have tons of style. It's interesting that we sort of have opposite perspectives heading in the same direction; I've always thought the whole 'cabaret' thing was sort of kitchsy and Las Vegas. But since I started learning again and have been studying under an Egyptian style teacher, I've really learned to recognize and respect the kind of control and grace and subtlety required for Raks Sharqi.

[bluemoonsaga.livejournal.com]

i always liked folk. i kinda assumed i would end up running a folk troupe. that would be great for the venues i do. trying to get decent instruction in it though has been inhibiting. that & nobody wants to do it.

[kimuchi.livejournal.com]

I liked folkloric, too. It was kind of what I was hoping for out of tribal. Unfortunately the dude I was taking lessons from moved away and I'm far too lazy to seek out an alternative.