MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Al Jeel (ahl JEEL) this refers to a style of music popular in Egypt today.
Assuit (uh SOOT) Assuit refers to textile art from Egypt in which tiny bits of metal are attached into mesh fabric to create a design.
Awwady (uh WAHD dee) this refers to the free-form improvised instrumental solo that has no underlying rhythm, in Arabic music.
Bedleh (BED luh) an Arabic word meaning"suit". Bedleh refers to the cabaret-style beaded bra/belt/skirt/body stocking costume that a belly dancer wears for a performance.
Beledi (BELL uh dee) an Arabic word meaning "my country", "my village" or "my home town"
Canes The cane dance is a women's dance. It originated by watching the men dance. The men would use sticks to fight in wars. They would do victory dances with the men. Women would copy the men when the men went off to war and use canes!
Candleabra or "Shamadan"(Sha ma Dan)- This is a prop used at a wedding (Zeffa) by dancers. The Candelabra is balanced on the head. A wedding party can last 3 days and go from home to home. The dancer leads the party and lights the way. Here is a photo of Shifah (of Western Massachusetts). She is balancing a Shamadan. Photo printed with permission. Photo credit to Sarah A. Kucab.
Choli (CHOH lee) top, bare-midriff, fitted blouse worn under saris by women in India.
Danse Du Ventre In French means dance of the stomach.
Debke (deb kee) a folk dance native to Lebanon.
Def. (Pronounced "def".) A Def is a Middle Eastern frame drum which looks like a large tambourine.
Dumbek. (Doom- beck") A dumbek is an Arabic drum. May also be spelled Darbuka, Dumbec, Doumbec, Doumbek, or Darbuka. Very traditionally, doumbeks were made of ceramic, with the head made of either goatskin or fish skin. It si hour glassed shaped. But today in modern times, many dumbeks have synthetic heads, and the drum body may be made of metal.
Ghawazee (guh Wah zee) this term refers to the tribe of gypsies that settled in Egypt.
Guedra (GEE druh) a Guedra is an ancient blessing ritual practiced by one of the Tuageg Berber tribes.
Habibi (hah BEE bee) an Arabic word meaning "my darling" or "beloved" Habibi appears in many Arabic song titles and lyrics
Hafla (Haf lah) a hafla is basically a party. A private hafla thrown by a belly dancer usually involves Middle Eastern music. A hafla nowadays in the US is a full belly dance festival, with vendors sell items and a stage show is the norm.
Jawaahir (Ja-WA-heer) means jewels in Arabic
Karsilama. (kar si luh mah) The "i" in the "si" syllable is pronounced like the "i" in "it") Karsilama is a Turkish musical rhythm, in 9/8.
Khaleegi (Kuh lee jee) It is done in places by the women who wear black dresses that cover everything except the hands and eyes. They put big colorful dresses on to cover the black dresses that they must wear in the culture they live in, but the women still like to look pretty and colorful. These women would only dance in front of other family members and never in public. Khaleegi refers to the style of music and dance from the Persian Gulf/Arabian peninsula area. Here in the United States it is called the "Saudi" rhythm. Khaleegi in Arabic means "gulf".
Maqam (mah kahm) Arabic meaning "place". This is the foundation of Middle Eastern music.
Mawwal (Mah wall) in Arabic music, this refers to free, non-rhythmic singing.
Mizmar (mizz mar) musical instrument that produces a loud, blaring sound.
Rakkas an Arabic word meaning "the male dancer"
Rakkasah. an Arabic word meaning, "the female dancer". Reckognize this word? It is also the name of an annual belly dance festival that is held in Richmond, California.
Raks. ("rocks".)(Arabic) Means dance. The word is derived from the Assyrian word Rakadu "to celebrate."
Raks Bat'n In Arabic means "dance of the stomach." It is a phase for non-performance style of dance involving isolated body movements. It is used to refer to a "get up and dance" type of spirit similar to rock dancing at a party in the West.
Raks Sharki (rocks Shark-EE) Arabic meaning "dance of the East". Refers to cabaret-style belly dance.
Sagat (suh GOT) (Arabic) meaning finger cymbals
Saz (sahz) a gourd-shaped Turkish stringed instrument.
Shaabi (SHAH bee) refers to a type of modern-day Egyptian music; this music is from the back streets of Cairo.
Sufi. This refers to a sect within Islam. Sufi is focused on philosophy and mysticism. The most popular Sufi form of expression that most have heard of is the "whirling dervish". This whirling is a form of meditation and movement.. It is focused on mysticism and philosophy.
Shebecka (shuhh BECK kuh) An Egyptian term for body stocking. A Shebecka is worn with a bedleh.
Takht (tahkt) In Arabic, literally means platform. It is the name for a small Egyptian traditional music ensemble
Taqsim (tock SEEM) (Arabic) meaning "division". Refers to the section of music where a specific instrument is playing a solo.
Veil - used in middle eastern dance. The veil is very popular in middle eastern dance.
Zagat (shu got) just another spelling for the Arabic name for finger cymbals. Zaheea is shown here playing finger cymbals. Photo printed with permission.
Zaghareet (Zah Guh reet) Use in the Middle East is to honor someone. Mothers welcomed fathers using this. They would stand outside the homes and do this as the father would come from work. We do this in other parts of the world and in the Middle East like a "bravo" or applause. This is a way to honor a dancer. A Zaghareet is a high-pitched ululation done with the tongue. It is a sound of celebration! A Zaguareet is a favorite tool for bellydancers to express approval for whatever the bellydancer is doing at the time!
Zeffa (ZEFF huh) Zeffa refers to an Arabic wedding procession
Zills Zills is a Turkish term, it means finger cymbals. Zills or small cymbals are the musical instrument used by the dancer. They are small cymbals. Zill Demo of different rhythms are Beledi and Chiftitelli.
Middle Eastern Dance Movements
Hair- may be covered for folkloric dances, uncovered for classical dances. Dancers in the Arabian Gulf region may toss their hair in time to the music.
Upper Torso-A dancer can express a particular rhythm by lifting and dropping her sternum or rib cage, or she may use the rib cage to fluidly undulate the spine.
Arms- They create a frame that draws the eye to the isolated movements of the hips. They also move in sinuous, snake-like fashion, or in graceful curves around the body.
Feet- The point of Middle Eastern dance is not to move the body through space in patterns, but rather to embody the music. A solo dancer generally covers less space, although folkloric and group dancers may move about the room with quick and delicate steps,.
Hands- Dancers may also play the underlying rhythm of the music on her sagat (finger cymbals). Delicate hand movements ornament the dance.
Belly-The belly generally moves in a rippling, fluttering, or undulating motion. The belly may move slowly or quickly depending on the tempo of the music.
Torso- Middle Eastern dance focuses the viewers gaze on the torso Ύ the region of the body from the shoulders to the hips Ύ because this is where the rhythms are most frequently displayed. Remember that the point is not to expose the body but to illustrate the musical rhythms and express the joy of movement.
Hips- There is a vital relationship between the hips and the drums, because the hips usually move in time to the main drumbeat.
Costume- Extremely colorful fabrics and shiny beads draw the eye to where the rhythm is being expressed, especially the hips! Veils can add a flowing or floating quality to the dancers movements.
Legs- It is traditionally considered inappropriate to display the legs. They are usually covered with swaths of fabric, although the lines of the torso are visible,.
Facial- Expressions are a vital component of the dance. Arabic poetry often comments on how the eyes express emotions.