Arabic words and dance terms.
Al Jeel - Popular, modern Egyptian music that is fast and dance able for the young people, this music style emerged in the mid 1980's.
aiwa - yes
'ain - eye
American Tribal - This dance style is developed in America, It mixes up movements from the gypsies, bedoiun, north African and middle eastern dance styles.
Armenian Dance - There are traditiona steps, but most often Armenians will all be doing different steps to the same music. Dances are often in circles or lines. Some steps simllar to Raqs Sharki are used, such as a gentle shoulder shimmy and hip sways, but it is very different. Armenian dance can be beautiful,proud, lyrical and full of feeling. A common theme is to have to say goodbye to a loved one, which can be seen as a person, or as alluding to the forced movement and genocide of the Armenian people. The dance is highly energetic, with leaps and stamps. Steps include the grapevine, placing the heel on the ground with many symbolic gestures. The women's classical involve alot of intricate hand movements and is similar to persian dance. The men's dance is more athleticand can include spinning on the knees, huge leaps and shouts.
Aswan - upper south Egypt, where the ture descendents of the ancient pharonics.
*Awalim - meaning educated or learned female professional entertainers ( I personally like this name and meaning - i think i might use this for a name for one of my groups of dancers .
bandari - Is similar to khaleegi but more feiry. The women wear masks which create tunnel vision and can cause trance like state in a dancer.
bedleh - "suit" is used to dscribe a costume consisting of a bra, belt and skirt
Beledi/baladi/balady - literally means native of my country, of my hometown, my community. Urbanized Folk.
bint - girl; daughter
bint il-beled - "daughter of the country" stereotyped as street wise but modest, honourable, chaste
fellaha - "farm girl"
habibi (M) , habiba (F) - My dear, my beloved, sweetheart - masculine gender you hear in songs even though it is usually addressed to a woman.
hafla - party
khaleegi - is a form of dance from th4 Gulf. A long "thobe" is worn which the dancer holds up in front. The hair tossing is the main feature as the head swings from side to side.
la - NO
qamar - moon
maghrib - west. Used to describe Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco.
maghreb - sometimes used to describe Morocco.
masmoudi - A rhythm in 8/4 time; dum dum tek tek dum (hold hold hold)
masmoudi sagir - A rhythm (mis) known in the West as beledi; dum dum (hold and) dum (hold) tek (hold)
milaya-laff/milaya lef - Large black woollen wrap (over 3m long) worn by bint il beled in Alexandria often with bura'. Could be pulled tight to display figure.Stage version -synthetic with sequins, a malaya - not a veil -that is wrapping and unwrapping.
Moroccan Dance - folky, with steps representing activities such as sowing seeds, flattening soil etc. Many of the steps from Raqs sharki are now danced by moroccans. The Schikhatt - was originally danced at pre-wedding parties and now a liesure activity for Moroccan women. The Guedra is a trance ritual dance performed by a woman on her knees. She uses intricate hand movements to give blessings. She starts on her feet, drops to her knees when the rythm changes and the dance goes on for hours.
Na'am - Yes (formal)
nar - fire
Qaina - the majority of professional musicians, singers and dancers in the Middle East come from the lower classes and slaves and called Qaina which originates from the legend that one of the biblical Cain's daughter invented music and dance - Qaina are often referred to as "singing girls" references from : www.gildedserpent.com /articles20/jalilahharemslaves.htm
Rai - means "opinion"
raqs - dance or dancing (incorrectly - raks)
raqs assaya - cane dance
raqs beledi - FOLK DANCE and strictly speaking includes raqS sharqi.
raqs sharqi - Solo torso intensive dance as performed n Egypt and the Levant also known as oriental dance or bellydance. The name was adopted in the 20's by Badia Masabny to seperate the dance performed n her nightclub from the dance enjoyed by the ordinary people. That is to make it acceptable to the upper classes. Translates as "the dance of the east"
sagat- arabic for zills
Shabbi - this is a modern style danced to Egyptian music like Hakim and is similar to Algerian Rai. It is music for young people and often political.
Sha'abiyya - the folk style is the oldest, danced in the fellahin (farming communities) often as a celebration during weddings.
Sa'iidi - upper Egypt
shukran - thank-you
tahtib - a long staff. Used in upper Egypt by men in martial style dance.
taqsim - the instrumental presentation of a maqam. These are improvised by the musician according to strict rules of Arabic music theory. They are often used by dancers to present intense, slow, controlled section.
yalla - come on! - Let's go!
Zaar - sacred dance. pre-Islamic trance ritual done to exocise negative energy, demons and djinns. This dance goes on for hours.
zeffa - Egyptian wedding parade., where the bride and groom enter the hall where the wedding party is taking place in a big procession known as the zaffa. While the guest are already in the hall waiting -The zeffa drum beat "dum taka tak tak" begins. All guests rise and stand for the bride and groom to walk down the aisle. The drummers, singers and dancers lead the procession. Sometimes close family members carry very long lit candles behind the dancers, then the bride and groom come in arm in arm. They come in very slowly, a few steps at a time - while the procession is leading into the room, the guests do alot of zaghareets and sometomes throw rice. This procession moves very slowly through the and the attendees follow behind the bride and groom. The parents, close family members and people whom are sitting with the bride and groom follow first then the rest of the attendees. The dancer leads the bride and groom to their seats. They last anywhere from 15 min. to 1.5 hours.
zills - Finger cymbals in Turkish
zils - It is normal for the turkish term to be used (Turkish and Persian term for music, dance for french)
References:
Various internet sites
Arabic English translation dictionaries
Please use the links below for addtional education on arabic terms and words.
www.spiritdancer.co
www.shira.net
reccomended reading with the bible and bellydance:
Exodus 15:19; 2 Sam 6:14-22;
|
