Baladi

Baladi (Arabic بلدي, DMG Baladi ), also beledi or Balady; is a folk, improvised, Egyptian dance style, which is performed by women solo.

Origin and Distribution

Baladi means " the land of " or " from the countryside coming ", adjective of Balad, " the country", but can also be the meaning of " my country" (formed from Balad and the personal suffix i for " my " ) have and refers in this case to the dance.

The Baladi is originally from the rural areas of Egypt. Due to the rural exodus of the population of the dance was brought to the big cities, so to speak, and further developed there. For example, the Baladi is now mainly a folk -sounding dance that expresses the longing of the former rural population according to their old home and contains many elements of oriental folklore. The musical forms of the Baladi are from the folk music and were in the urban environment of the northern Egyptian cities, particularly developed in Cairo. One can interpret this development as a cultural expression of the rural exodus in Egypt.

After a kind Taqsim a dialogue between melody and rhythm and tempo further increases in rhythm to follow. The expression of a broad spectrum of feeling and complex rhythmic structures, Baladi has made a sophisticated musical and dance art form. The new city dwellers who formerly lived on the land, brought their traditions in the city, adapted their culture and themselves to new influences to. Thus, a new music and a new dance expression originated. A key feature - the jazz, soul and blues comparable - is the central element of improvisation (Arabic Taqsim ). For the dance pieces of the Baladi are especially simple, straight without much orchestration and subtleties that uses rhythms. The traditional accompanying orchestra mainly played instruments are the violin sting Rubaba, the oboe mizmar, a flute and a barrel drum.

Instrumentalists ( Alātīya ) and dancer improvise within a framework that became more complex over time. The integration of new instruments in this music, such as accordion and saxophone, opened further, previously unknown and new ways of expression. The music of the Baladi often adheres to a kind of sadness and melancholy, a mourning for the lost old home, but often hidden criticism of the existing system and the current living conditions, which makes the Baladi for "Blues of Egypt ."

For the Baladi the dancer uses a Galabija, many bangles, big earrings (all in gold), mandatory is a scarf or hair band and a cloth for the hip.

Oriental dance with a Shamadan

The oriental dance with elements of Raks Sharqi and / or Baladi with the Shamdan ( chandelier ) on the head of the dancer is also called Chandelier Dance ( Schamadan ).

The Schamadantänzern must be distinguished whether it is a " Raqs El Shamadan " (ie a dance of Egyptian tradition following) is or around the western variant of the candlestick dance that is more attributable to the oriental dance show.

The Raqs el Shamadan is attributable to the Baladi and is an Egyptian folk dance. Originally he belonged in the wedding procession at Baladi weddings and later became part of the panel at dance performances to the wedding party. Equivalents to the Egyptian lights dance traditions that are attributable to the one hand, symbolic background of spiritual enlightenment and on the other hand, the real Wegerhellung, are also found in Turkey. For both types of dance Baladi music is preferably used.

For the dance a universal dress is worn, but you can see at the present time also a pantsuit. This has probably more practical or moral reasons, because in modern chandeliers dance a bottom part is installed. This shows the dancer balance and shimmy movements lying on the floor or sitting. Furthermore, the cymbals is a traditional feature of a candlestick dance, whether it is a traditional or modern chandelier dance.

In the " traditional" Baladi with the bottom part, the dancer balances the candlestick on the head while she sits on the floor or sets, and there acrobatic exercises shows how splits or shimmies in the splits. This Spagatbewegungen are in traditional dance unusual candlesticks as they apply in Egypt as " indecent".

Iskanderani

The Iskanderani or Iskanderiatanz is, after Verhülltuch the Alexandrinerinnen, Melaya Laff, also called Alexandriatanz or. He is from Alexandria / Egypt and was developed by the urbanized rural population, similar to the Baladi.

Instrumental pieces, particularly Baladimusik, like with vocals ( male and female ) in which it is all about love, romance or longing for the beloved, be used to Iskandranitanz. The Iskanderanitanz is recognized as the most emancipated the " Baladiähnlichen " refers to dances because the woman plays a leading, dominant and self-confident role here - if the dance is shown with a male partner.

The Iskanderanitänzerin wearing a dress with eye-catching ruffles and frills. These dresses were originally long, according to modern fashion trends, the skirt lengths were cut. Important is a scarf with pompons or flower that is bound piled high, as a reminder of its rural roots. Furthermore, it is possible to wear a face veil with or without nose bridge. Compulsory are also slippers with a heel. The Verhülltuch of women north of Egypt, the Melaya, a large black Shawl, belongs to the everyday wear and is also used in dance. Jewelry see Baladi.