The Inner Dance of Raqs Sharqi – A Fresh Look at Baladi
This year many of the courses and workshops in Gloucestershire UK, Germany and Italy will focus on having a fresh and in depth look at Baladi.
We need poise, ease and clarity of technique in order to facilitate the full emotional spectrum which characterises Baladi, that dance which flourished in the small, crowded, smokey cafes of the Egyptian conurbations during the first half of the twentieth century.
We will explore this beautiful dance from an ‘Inner’ perspective. The movements of Raqs Sharqi, to have that quality of ease, need to come from our inner physical core, our inner middle upper spine, and not merely from arms, hips and shoulders. More importantly, I call it ‘Inner’ because instead of overemphasising technique (which leaves the audience distanced and vaguely unsatisfied) we dance the wholeness of who we are. We offer our authentic sensuality, in the real meaning of the word. This means to be present in the feeling of the movements and not just to do them.
If we as dancers do the movements we show our expertise. If however, in a very simple way, we stay with the physical feeling of those movements, we access a well of empty, peaceful, happiness. This is the source of creativity, and combined with our love of its music, it is this creativity that improvisational Baladi asks of us. It is a surprise, an adventure, – suitable for all dancers whatever their experience!
