Egyptian bellydancing

I really enjoyed this performance because of the way the ensemble and dancer create this art together.  It almost seems that one could not exist without the other.  The intricate rhythmic patterns coupled with the dance make this fun to watch and listen.    

Tribute to Naima Akef by Serena Ramzy with Hossam Ramzy and his Egyptian ensemble.

A Tribute to Naima Akef, one of the greatest Belly Dancers of all times.  She was alive from 1929-1966, and was a famous Egyptian belly dancer.  She starred in many films during the Egyptian cinema's golden age.

The performance of the belly dance by Serena Ramzy is indeed a tribute, and performed with true authenticity.  The origin of the belly dance is known to be Egypt.  This dance highlights complicated movements of the torso. Through the ages it has evolved into many forms depending upon the area, both in costume style and dance style.  The movements are not labeled the same in all the regions it is performed, but they can be categorized as such:

• Percussive movements
• movements that accent the beat, most commonly in the hips
• Fluid movements
• movements that smooth and flowing, requires strong abdominal muscles
• Shimmies, shivers, and vibrations
• gyrating movements, that are usually layer with other movements
• other
• turns and spins, arms for framing, level changes, and traveling steps

The instrumentation is also authentic to the origin of Egypt.   The band leader is Hossam Ramzy, husband of Serena, and player of the Egyptian tabla. The ensemble also includes other Egyptian percussive instruments, along with violin, flute, and accordion.  The tune is organized around a melody that everyone plays together.  Rhythm in Arabic music is organized into cycles of beats and pauses. In Egyptian music they are called durub.  Two sounds are produced vocally to represent the sound of the drum and the rhythmic modes.  "Dumm is the deepest or lowest sound the instrument can produce.  Takk is high pitched, sound produced when striking where the head meets the rim of the drum" (Wade, 2013 p. 87).



Tabla: Click this link to read about the tabla