Arabian Night Hafla - Performance Highlights
Instead of going through every performance in the program, I thought I'd just touch on some of the many highlights (as seen through my eyes of course). Apologies for the bad photos -- mine is just a normal casio digicam and there is no Photoshop on the computer.
I'll also need to check with a MED guru on the proper names and descriptions of the dances (hint hint, 3a gurl).
My Favourite: Tanura Dance
What a magical, mystical, mesmerising dance. Raed whirled round and round in circles, using the layers of "skirts" to great effect. Colours pulsed, the music hypnotised with sounds of a haunting flute and sonorous drums ... and at one point, he folded one skirt layer into the shape of a swaddled baby.
While still whirling, he evoked the warmth and tenderness babies draw out of people; that's when the goosebumps hit. Even thinking about it now gets me misty-eyed! I bought a Raed VCD last night and will be watching endlessly, I expect!
Most interesting entrance: Rani emerging from the basket at the start of her Saiidi number
Two men in white robes sauntered on stage, set down their load and then .... out emerged a vision in crimson. Rani danced without a cane for a while before picking it up. I also took a pic with her, of all places, in the bathroom (the poor thing was accosted everywhere by many wanting her take a pic with her).
Best use of hair: Rania's Khaliji dance
According to ketisharif.com, this is a "dance from the Arabian Gulf performed in an ultra long gold-embroidered kaftan which is held in the hands whilst dancing. Includes refined, rhythmic footwork, hand gestures and hair flicking moves."
Rania was resplendant in her richly sequinned costume and used her hair to great effect. At one point, she covered part of her face with her thick hair, throwing the focus on her eyes. I'd love to learn this dance! It's so rhythmic and ... free.
Most impressive floorwork & use of props: Rania's Turkish-style dance
I just have one word for this performance - WOW. Rania combined grace with athleticism in this high-energy number. Her bends drew gasps from the audience as did her mastery of dancing with a sword. She danced with the sword on her hip and then with it on her head.
Hottest Abs: Abdoul
He also gets my vote as most joyful dancer.
2 comments:
Harrows. A brief respite from the madness of moving house. Erm...dont have any of my reference books with me but anything with 'skirts' whirling around is somewhat related to a whirling dervish dance, either a modern interpretation with or without religious origins, or a true-to-life religious dance. Judging from the pics, looks more like the former. The history behind dervish dancing is very, very interesting and I just skimmed the surface. The khaliji dance, at least what is now considered a khaliji dance, has religious roots dealing with spirit protection and/or 'exorcism', as can be seen from the flicking hands and flying hair. Can be considered a trance dance of sorts. It is somewhat related to the guedra or zaar rituals. With the influx of Islam, most of the traditional religious dances (then) were 'converted' to entertainment. As for Rani coming out from a basket, that is for entertainment lah, something like pressie for the sultan that kind of thing. The original stick dance is considered a male dance,having warlike origins. It was incorporated into raqs sharqi, along with sword and other props to give raqs sharqi a much wider performance range and also entertainment appeal.
Cool! I knew you would be able to shed more light, 3a gurl!!
Yeah, I figured the coming out of the basket thing was more entertainment than having any other significance. It was the first time I had actually seen something like that and was thus fascinated :-)
I hadn't realised that the Khaliji probably had religious roots. Interesting. I would so love to learn it properly.
Good luck with the rest of the move. See you back here real soon!!!
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