Posted by tiko on August 21, 2002 at 02:06:04:
In Reply to: zills/Cabaret belly dance posted by Layla Katrina on May 26, 2002 at 13:23:09:
: Dear Hossam,
: Thank you for your clear answer on when it may be appropriate to play the zills in Egyptian music. Did the zills originate in Egypt?
: I am still at a loss as to how to call the dance; what do you in Egypt call a solo dancer such as Lucy, Dina, Samia, Tahia, or Sohair Zaki, who performs with a full orchestra in a high class place and does a full show consisting of a beaded 2 piece costume or dress, a folkloric costume, a shamadan, a cane, several costume chages, including many different dances - etc. Is that not cabaret style dance? Which includes Baladi? As opposed dancers who perform in a folk show in a troupe doing authentic folk dances, or even a Ghawahzee dance on the street, which I guess isn't being done anymore. In the USA I have learned that a cabaret style dancer is one who performs in an upscale 2 piece costume in a restaurant or club to fully orhcestrated music, nowadays usually Egyptian, often by Hossam Ramzy. I fall into the trap of calling it Egyptian Cabaret to distinguish it from other styles of belly dance such as what we call American Tribal, or a dance to Turkish music or Greek music, which, if done by a soloist in a 2 piece beaded costume, I would call Turkish Cabaret or Greek Cabaret. Then there is the old style from the USA in the 60's or 70's when the dancers show consited of a combination of Egyptian, Turkish, Armenian and Greek songs and rhythms and included zills, veil, floor work, and karsilima. Here we called that Cabaret style belly dance. Then there are dancers who peform specific authentic folk dances which could be Egyptian, Lebanese, Tunisian, or whatever. That I would generally call "Ethnic" unlesss I knew exactly what it was, such as a Tunisian basket dance or a Lebanese line dance. Please forgive my apparent obsession with this subject, but I guess old habits die hard. Maybe others also like to hear more from you on this. Thanks again and best wishes, Layla Katrina