In the United States there is a popular show on TV called “So You Think You Can Dance.” Contestants who believe they have a natural dancing talent will audition. If they are selected, then they will compete against a group of other dancers demonstrating their ability to dance from hip hop to classical dance routines. Each week a dancer will be eliminated. And at the end of show, one dancer will remain with a US$250,000 cash prize plus a featured role as a dancer.
Perhaps some of these gents from Saudi Arabia should audition:
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Perhaps it’s just me but I find it pretty cute and endearing to watch them dancing and having fun.
Sometimes I feel that in some ways some Saudi men don’t stand a chance. They get lumped into one basket with everyone else.
Anyway that was an aside. Thanks for posting. It was fun to watch
I think it’s cute too!
I still think those nineteenth century nightgowns are not the most exciting outfits though…
The first set of dancers gets my vote.
That move that they do with kicking out their leg is a very traditional bellydancing move. It’ll sure get your heart pounding after a few rounds.
I agree with Sabiwabi that the first video is my favorite…even though I was subsequently told by a Saudi family member that they were in fact performing a “ladies dance.” (never forget the segregation….)
All in all each one of them in all videos are very talented and expert at dancing with their long thobes on.
In Saudi, I would think dancing would be one of the healthiest things you could do. Music and exercise and you can do it inside.
I heard a quote somewhere that said, “If you never want to see the face of hell, every evening dance barefoot with your dish towel in the kitchen”. Excuse me, I’m off to make a date with some kitchen linens. . .
@Annie – good points! (smile)
I’ve seen all 3 before, and like them all as much or more now. In particular, the last one seems a fitting tribute to Michael Jackson, since his passing. All show talent and imagination, and I’m a longstanding fan of the thobe.
Dance is one of the most acceptable forms of exercise, especially for women (segregated as need be), in traditional cultures where women especially are proscribed from other forms.
And now like Annie, I have some kitchen linens that need a little twirl.
Ok, I have a collection of saudi dances by regions,
I will start from the North of saudi, Northern region, the famous two kinds of dances are
1- Dabka, which is famouse to in Jordan and Palestine.
here it is, a saudi young guybs dance dabka in a wedding party. The famouse tribes that live there and well know for these dances, are Tribes of Anyzah, and Roelay and bani Sakher and Sharar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFXgX28iiL0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv5dPQxOCAk&feature=related
It
2- Daha dance, which is also famouse in wedding parties in Arar, Jouf,
you will be surprised that is snowing there in winter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puYIresPvJI&feature=related
Daha at the presence of kind abdullah to the northern region
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ7F6ndEKQc&feature=related
Dances that are famouse in western region, Hijaz, Hijaz region, Al Madinah, Makkah, Jeddah, Yanbu, Taif, the famouse dances are:
1- Khubaiti dance and it is famouse in Medinah and in the coast along the red sea. the tribe that is famouse of this dance is, Al Harbi tribe which live in these areas from south of Qaseem and along the coast of the red sea in Hijaz.. so Kubaiti is known by Khubaiti Harb,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlorBdW3_hc
2- Zaid dance, and it is famouse in Al Harbi tribe areas along the coast, and well known in the time of war in the past actually it is war dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW0cq3OhjqI
3- Bedwani, and it is famouse in the same area..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLv72UF7fes
4- Yunbawi, and it is famouse in Yanbu, and this area is somehow multicutlral but it is dominated by Al jouani tribe and Al Harbi tribe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRnx8xz-sc
5- Mezmar, and it is famouse also in the area coast in Jeddah, Rabiq, I am sure the people who watch football matches of Al itihad football team will be familiar with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt6pHBePndI&feature=related
In the sothern region, where many tribes are there like, Qhtan, Zharan, Ghamdi, Ahmari, Asmari, Omari, there are some dances:
1- khtwah dance, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbV88NopDnA&feature=related.
2- The following dance is famouse in shari tribe and Omari tribe but I do not know it is name really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QtITq0S4o&feature=related
3- Qaltah, it is famouse there and played by most tribes: usually the dance by big knife called Khanjar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyNT6aWtOwY
middle region, and Riyadh<
I am not familiar with it but the most dances there as follows,
1- samri, and it is famouse as I think in al dowasr tribe,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m66qlf5Ajk4&feature=related.
2- Ardah Njdeah, it is the official dance of saudi arabia when they dance usually in international festivals. I am sure you have seen king abdullah dance lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coUTadY9-Q0&feature=fvw
Eastern region, well I really have no idea what they are dancing lol, it is very far from where I live. but I think it is the same dances like Samri.
At the end, I will show you how saudis integrated into american dance styles but still holding their original dances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_ap8WJdGQU.
I hope you will be pleased by these dances.
salam
@Medina – thank you very much! These are all so enjoyable! One of them even reminded me of a traditional dance that my Serbian Grandfather would perform on special occasions!
I like the first one… that’s some fancy foot work
) I love how no matter which Arab country your from, the Dabke has some sort of different move… I wonder what age they start leaning because I am in my teens, and I still can’t get it right!
Btw, is the last video real? I feel like the music is dubbed or something, but if it’s not, that gave me a real good laugh,
@Jameela – it is my understanding that the last video is real in that the dancing is real but I believe the music was dubbed in. I like it though and think even if not the original music, it worked!
Medina–thanks for the overview of Saudi dance by region, tribe and characteristic. It is very enlightening, and entertaining. Traditional dance internationally is one of my interests. If you have any video links of women dancing I would be interested, as genuine ones, rather than youtube fakeries are harder to find. These are good reminders of normal life in Saudi as opposed to newsworthy shocking stories (to all sensibilities Saudi and Western).
Jameela–if you click on the last of Medina’s linked videos you will discover the same “Smooth Criminal Saudi Style” video with traditional music.
Dear Chiara,
Thanks for your nice comment. Chaira, do you think that women who used to cover their bodies under abaya will post videos dancing in public LOL. maybe there are some videos of saudi women dancing but I am sure such viedos were taken for personal use and it was misused and published online against their will for blackmail or offensive purposes. so I am really sorry, I can not post any dancing video for saudi ladies in public and do not feel embarrased because of your request plz..
salam
Dear Bedu,
my pleasure, your comment is so nice.
Medina–Thank you for your gracious reply. I did realize the inherent contradiction in my request, but thought there might be professional dance groups, or an anthropologist’s findings with faces blurred. I was advised by someone else to search under Khaleeji rather that Saudi (Saudi women dance–elicits a number of inappropriate clips, with extraordinarily vulgar and racist comments). The advice was excellent, and inspired by your comment I did a little search myself. Here is some of what I found:
From Toronto–Arabesque Dance Co. (I know one of the founder’s, very authentic musically)
Leilat-Hob
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7irxod_wmY&feature=related
Tribal Rhythm dance studio (Lubbock Texas)
Raks al Nasha’ar Women’s Folkloric Dance (done strictly by and for women)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z34d2K6RzMw
From Kingston Ontario–The Kingston Egyptian Dance Ensemble
Khaliji dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41UOuUD1kNk&feature=related
Rhamza Alli-coreografia
Brazilian Arabian Dances Company
Show Ísis 2005 Khaliji– Buzuntum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kekVFx6lQQ8&feature=related
I left out the better known belly dancing, and the very authentic appearing dances that were a little too graphic in their “booty shaking”, some done by women for Arab women’s gatherings, and some done by women for Arab men’s gatherings.
Perhaps some of the Saudi women here could comment on the authenticity (or you yourself, if you can remember your preschool days when you might have been at a women’s gathering LOL
).
Dear Chiara,
Thanks for your nice reply. well, I think the first one is pure egyptian dance, but the others are called khaleji, but most of saudis are not khaleji especially saudis who live in Hijzas, North and sothern regions. in Hijaz for example, women dances are different to some extent, it is a mix of khaleji and egyptian dance. and I do not know about others because I have never seen them dancing lol.
salam.
Medina–thanks for your explanations. I hope watching wasn’t too onerous a task. LOL
Arabesque Dance Co. in Toronto is founded in part by an Egyptian so that would explain the dance preferences in part.
Perhaps some more Saudi men or women will offer their comments. I was excited to find what seemed more authentic, and as I stated the “booty shaking” ones looked like videos from local parties, but were a little too graphic, especially the women only ones.
It reminded me of why when we were watching a professional dance group in Morocco, my husband told me not to imitate them! LOL
Including Smooth Criminal into a traditional dance was totally random but the movements really went well.
I enjoyed the debka since they do involve fast movements as well. My dad told me that he did the debka with few of his friends in Jeddah and complained that the movement was so fast that he was literally looking like a chicken running away from the butcher and that his colleague was laughing his heart out.
I wish I have the evidence but I can imagine my dad trying to be in sync with the rest, only to be laughed at by his colleague.
@Firdaus – ahhh, that sounds cute about your Dad trying to do the dance!
This post was published by Computer Shopper too!
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