The Inner Dance of Raqs Sharqi – A fresh look at Baladi
January 9, 2015 by lizawedgwood | Edit
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 atBaladi.
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 ofoveremphasising 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!
*FITNESS *FEMININITY *EXHILARATION *POSTURE . . . AND MORE .
Classes on Wednesdays 1.45 – 3.15pm in DURSLEY at The Workshop, Courtyard Clinic, The Old Post Office, Parsonage Rd. GL11 4DR.
Cost £40 for four classes, or £12 per class
These are General Level Classes taught on the yogic principle of awareness of our inner harmony. In a relaxed, supportive and pleasurable atmosphere you will learn movements and then use them in improvisational work and in simple choreographies. You will learn about the history of the dance and its cultural context in present day Egypt, as well as about costume and music.
Photo by Mark Robinson 2005
In these workshops we will explore the two ends of the rich spectrum of Egyptian Dance.
SAIIDI, the dance of the people of Upper Egypt (around Luxor), that is where we will begin on Saturday. Darabuka, Rababa, Mizmar, instruments unchanged over time, will earth us, encourage us to feel the ground beneath our feet, the whole body responding to the energy of the driving, pulsating rhythms and haunting, evocative melodies. It links us to an ancient Egyptian tradition.
Sunday’s CLASSICAL ( SHARQI) workshop will take us to the other end of the spectrum – and even further as we learn the charismatic, refined expression of the COURTLY style of the Classical form. This was a style developed by Suraya Hilal in the 1980s and 90s and therefore could be considered ‘modern’. However, as there are practically no records of how women danced to the old classical music of the Arab world we have to assume that the movements that were used were those that best expressed the delicacy of the Kanoun (zither) and Riq (small frame drum). It is a beautifully refined and very feminine style in which the dancer can be exquisitely simple in her dance or intricately inventive according to her mood.
Earthy and exuberant Saiidi in Hamburg in 2012. Photo by Madou Reynaud
There are still places!! Cost 100 Euros for both days, or one day by arrangement with Linda Mameri
liza wedgwood dance 