Belly Goes Modern 12 November 2011

Belly Dance Divas proudly presents Belly Goes Modern where this year we are putting a slight twist on the original belly dancing scene by dancing to modern, upbeat, funky songs.

We are going to wow and dazzle our audience with various acts ranging from Fire to balancing to Isis Wings, Veils and so much more.

So please join us for an evening of fun, dancing and socializing at the Highway Gardnes Community Centre.

Bookings are essential....

Call Amanda on 073 283 2038 or email us on bellydance@magicmail.co.za to avoid dissapointment.

Spread the word to your friends, family and colleagues, we would love to have you there...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 11 June 2011

On the 11th June 2011, IDS Dance Studio held a charity show entitled Girls just Wanna Have fun.
It was interesting seeing all the different schools come together to dance in aid of this event.

The different styles, the props, the creative thought processes that went into all of the choreographies was truly inspiration and interesting to watch.

It makes you think of your own dancing and where you can improve...
Also nice to see people you have heard about in the industry and see them dance is a nice experience if I can put it that way.

I got to do my 3 tier fire POI solo that night and I must admit whoever took photos that night really did justice to my dance. I know I will figure out the right setting soon on my Camera that can catch such wonderful fire trails as caught in the picture below.

I love fire especially the pictures you get from your efforts with them.

My lovely girls doing their thing in our Isis Wings and Shimmy choreographies

A definite must for those who are interested in seeing whats going on out there. Join us again next year.

Interesting Belly Dance Website

I must say that it is amazing what you can find on the internet and how some websites not only give you a bit of information but all information you require on a specific subject and more.

One such site I found interesting was Atlanta Belly Dance, especially their costuming article and how detailed it is.

Click here to view website article.

You will find everything you need to know from Turkish Costumes to Egyptian Costuming styles to Saidi Dresses, Thobes, Tribal and more all on one page.

The knowledge some people possess astound me and makes you want to strive to know as much as they do.

So if you have ever been unsure of what certain belly dance costumes are called or what they look like, now you will know... :-)

Belly Dancing and Belly Burlesque

I came across an article today on Belly Dance and Burlesque and how it should not be seen as an artform to be combined with Belly Dancing.

Burlesque is a raunchy tease dance and many in South Africa have tried to start incorporating it into Belly Dancing (a beautiful feminine artform that IS NOT sleasy in anyway).

Have a read for yourself and form your own opinions, but in my opinion I agree with the author 100%...

Belly Dance and Burlesque

Lets keep Belly Dancing what it is and keep it completely seperate from Burlesque...

Hagallah

What is Hagallah

The Hagallah is a dance of celebration, usually performed by the Beduin in Western Egypt. Hagallah is also known in areas of neighbouring Libya and is related to kaf (clapping) dances in other regions of the Middle East.  

The word "hagallah" is believed to derive from an Arabic word hag'l, meaning to skip or jump.  Hagallah is performed at weddings (leading the zeffa or wedding procession), for honoured visitors and at engagement celebrations.

 'Hagallah' refers to the dancer, the music and dance itself.  It is often performed during the date harvest, which also happens to be the wedding season.

The men of the community clap to show unity and the central figure in the dance is female.

The dresses are a glitzy stage version of a classic female Beledi dress, and the head scarf is called a mandil, the traditional pom-pom headscarf worn in Egypt to attract attention to the face.

The Hagallah is about women representing power and showing their beauty as individuals. It is a custom that is playful and not about husband hunting -- that is a far more complex subject.

Music
Hagallah music has three parts: 1) the Shettaywa or main theme, which is sung by the whole group 2) the Ghennaywa which is sung by a soloist or poet and is responded to by the group 3) the Magruda which is sung by the soloist and the group together.   The dance is performed during the Shettaywa section.

In the Dahiya or samir version of eastern Arabs, the three sections of the music are called samir, daheeya and reeda/beda.

"Dahiya" is the piece of music most identified with the Reda Troupe's Hagallah performances.