Comments on: So You Think YOU Can Dance, Saudi Style

By: K

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:58:41 +0000

Thanks to Medina for those great videos!
Have you ever found any clips of al-Majrur
from Taif? If so, can you post a link to them?
Alf shukr ya akhi (aw ukhti).

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:34:41 +0000

This post was published by Computer Shopper too!

http://computershopper.com/news/article.php?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoCz72MLi4IZqJHCz2t6MiGFLg4O

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:20:06 +0000

@Firdaus – ahhh, that sounds cute about your Dad trying to do the dance!

By: Firdaus Hashim

Firdaus Hashim — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:52:38 +0000

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.

By: Chiara

Chiara — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:12:09 +0000

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

By: Medina

Medina — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:54:04 +0000

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.

By: Chiara

Chiara — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:28:59 +0000

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

Tribal Rhythm dance studio (Lubbock Texas)
Raks al Nasha’ar Women’s Folkloric Dance (done strictly by and for women)

From Kingston Ontario–The Kingston Egyptian Dance Ensemble
Khaliji dance

Rhamza Alli-coreografia
Brazilian Arabian Dances Company
Show Ísis 2005 Khaliji– Buzuntum

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 ).

By: Medina

Medina — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:21:36 +0000

Dear Bedu,
my pleasure, your comment is so nice.

By: Medina

Medina — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:20:18 +0000

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

By: Chiara

Chiara — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:16:25 +0000

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.