There are many different belly dance style & names for the dance, including ... raqs sharqi, Oriental dance, Arabic dance, tribal fusion, American Tribal Style (ATS), modern Cairo style, Egyptian cabaret, Baladi, Turkish belly dance, Lebanese belly dance, Saiidi, Khaleegy, Ghawazee, Nubian, Folkloric, traditional Egyptian dance, classical Egyptian dance, Sha'abi, debke, fellahin, Bumbotaya, Hagalla, Pharonic ...

 

 

 

 

 

Baladi

 

In the words of Nabila Sabha, Queen of Baladi (extract from the April 2011 Nafoura magazine interview):

"Baladi is the soul of Egypt, the crown of oriental dance. It is full of improvisation. Baladi is such rich, sensitive, sexy music. I can't sit still if I hear a good Baladi tune! Only in Egypt is there this combination of movement, music and feeling."

 

London's  Guy Schalom (whose band, the Baladi Blues Ensemble, has produced two albums of music for dancers, 'Baladi Blues' in 2007 & 'Baladi Blues 2: Tribute to the Masters' in 2011) writes in the April edition of Mosaic magazine:

"Baladi is Egyptian dance music at its most dynamic. Soulful accordion, saxophone & trumpet solos energised by powerful Egyptian percussion give Baladi its distinctive sound. The music reflects the fast-paced, urban lifestyles of Cairo & Alexandria yet has its roots in the countryside. At first however, Baladi can sound complex and mysterious ..."

Baladi is urbanised folk music of Egypt, a hybrid genre which adapts Western musical instruments to Egyptian folk melodies & rhythms. Well known Baladi songs include 'Nawal', 'Amint Billah', 'Salamenta Mu Hassan' & 'Shik Shak Shok' by accordionist Hassan Abdel Seoud (all available to buy on download or CD).

When dancing to Baladi music, movements are often contained & danced with a strong emotional feminine quality. Naima Akif, Suheir Zaki & Fifi Abdou are three of the main exponents of this dance style. 

For more information, read the articles in the January & April 2011 editions of Mosiac, the magazine of MADN (the Mosaic Arabic Dance Network) by Guy Schalom & Johara Salma.