Thursday, April 12, 2007

Modern Reda Choreography - Halima and Zayane



Halima and Zayane perform a modern Reda choreography. These girls live 160 Km apart and learned the choreogaphy in isolation! Wow!

Halima and Zayane

Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmi - More from Mid Year Holiday



Mahmoud Reda & Farida Fahmy with Magda



More rare footage! Great drum solo by Mahmoud Reda.
Film: Mid Year Holiday

Rare Footage - Mahmoud Reda & Raqia Hassan and Unknown Dancer



Raqia Hassan as Jacqueline. Does anyone know the dancer with the Melaya?

Folklore show with Farida Fahmi & Hamoud Reda

Learn more about costuming for Middle Eastern Dance

Two fantastic resources for Middle Eastern Dance Costuming:

Dawn Divine Brown

Dina Lydia

Highly recommended!

Arabic Violin Player Sami Abu Shumays

It is really important for Middle Eastern Dancers to understand the music that they dance to.

Arabic Violin Player Sami Abu Shumays runs two stunning podcasts which talk about the intricacies of Middle Eastern music:

Personal Performances

Maqam Lessons

You can also visit:
Sami Abu Shumays' website

Fantastic resources!

Jasmine - Dance Orientale



Jasmin Dance Orientale

Yasmin of DC - Christmas Baladi

Yasmin of DC performs a stunning baladi number. Not to be missed! To view go to Youtube:

Christmas Baladi
Serpentine Communications

Dancers Without Borders

Take the Danseurs Sans Frontières / Dancers Without Borders Challenge.
For one week...

1. Each and every time you think about buying something... ask yourself if it is a need (food, water, shelter, medicine or safety) or a want. Be honest. Café lattes are not necessary. Costumes are not necessary. A new CD? A hipscarf? Fabulous pair of new jeans? Eating out? A haircut? Earings? A book?

Search yourself and ask, do I need this, or would the money be better spent on someone whose life hangs in the balance?

2. At the end of the week (or sooner...if you don't need that much time to think about it) donate the amount of money that you didn't need to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

MSF is a medical relief organization dedicated to bringing help to people in the worst circumstances in the world. MSF goes where other relief organizations will not. Where circumstances are the most dangerous, the most desperate and the most hopeless... you will find Médecins Sans Frontières. MSF is transparent and neutral without any political or religious affiliations, and does not accept donations from Pharmaceutical companies or companies that make Tobacco or Alcohol. Part of their job is to witness and report violations of human rights and dignity. MSF helps all persons who need them, regardless of their race, religion, politics or gender. MSF won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

To learn more and to donate - visit their website:
Australia: MSF Australia
International: MSF International

Middle Eastern Dance Podcasts

Great dance podcasts include:

Shimmycast Great interviews and reviews - excellent for people new to the dance.

Radio Bastet Plays old hard to get music. Even better she presents the album covers on her website. (Yes, Warda - this one is for you!)

More later!!!

These ladies Rak!

Finding Salihah

An interesting blog by a Muslim woman in the US who is also a tribal dancer.
Finding Salihah

I found her blog through the wonderful Quirky Nomads podcast:
Quirky Nomads

Enjoy!

Monday, April 09, 2007