Arabic Dance and Music Terms

assuit assuite assyute asyut	see tulle bi telli
‘awâlim sing:‘alma (Egypt)	initially (pre-1850) meant learned women. Wrote poetry, composed & played music, improvised, sang. They also danced - for women only. Later meant only a dancer/singer such was found in Muhammad 'Ali Street before 1940. (see notes from "A Trade Like Any Other")
bedleh badla pl.badalat	Literally "suit" or "uniform" It is also used to describe the costume of bra, belt, and skirt. In Egypt it often has the belt sewn onto the skirt and must include a body stocking
beledi baladi balady	literally native, of "my country"; more in the sense of "my homeland" or "my community". It is an emotive term used to describe things of home or a put down by urban sophisticates. Cf "baluda" to be slow witted, "balada" stupidity. Also see article on Urban Beledi Also see masmoudi sagir
bint pl: bnât pl: banât (Egypt)	girl; daughter
bint il-beled (Egypt) bint il-balad	"daughter of the country" - stereotyped as street wise but modest, honourable, chaste Also see article on Urban Beledi
debke dubka	stamp the feet
fellahi fallahi	belonging to farmers. Within a belly dance context - the dance of Egyptian farmers of the delta.
khaliji khaleegi	of the Gulf. Used for women's social dance of the region which involves hair tossing and maniplulation of the thobe.
maghrib maghreb	West. Used to describe Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. Sometimes used to just describe Morocco. see map
mandil	head kerchief that was worn by bint il-beled in Alexandria or old Cairo often with bur'a and milâya-laff. Could be pulled tight to display figure. Stage version synthetic with sequins and can also be manipulated - but as a milâya - not a veil - that is wrapping and unwrapping. Also see article on Urban Beledi
maqam	the way tones are arranged in Arabic music. Similar to a western scale but using quartertones and having associated emotional quality. There are about 90 different modes. See the music page
masmoudi	A rhythm in 8/4 time: dum dum tek tek dum (hold hold hold)
masmoudi sagir	A rhythm (mis)known in the West as beledi: dum dum (hold and) dum (hold) tek (hold)
mi‘allima	title of address to a head woman (Nieuwkerk:1997) whose behaviour is often outside that of traditional women and used as a standard character in Urban Beledi (Lorius:1996)
milâya-laff milaya lef melaya luf	large black cotton wrap (over 3m long) that used to be worn by bint il-beled in Alexandria or old Cairo often with bur'a. Could be pulled tight to display figure. Stage version synthetic with sequins and can also be manipulated - but as a milâya - not a veil - that is wrapping and unwrapping. Also see articles on Milaya Lef and Urban Beledi
muwashshah	Strictly, post-classical Arabic poetry aranged in stanzas. Also used for "Andalusian" style belly dance.
raqiS raqiSa	(male) Dancer (female) Dancer
raqqaS raqqaSa	Professional (male) Dancer Professional (female) Dancer; dancing girl; danseuse; ballerina
raqS incorrectly: raks	Dance / dancing
raqs assaya raqS ‘aSâya	Cane dance (also see tahtib) pronounced ah-sigh-yah (‘aSâya - the 'S' is the dark sad rather than the English sin.)
raqS beledi	folk dance and strictly speaking includes raqs sharqi Also see beledi
raqS sharqi	Solo torso intensive (traditionally improvisational) dance as performed in Egypt and the Levant also known as oriental dance or belly dance. Literally dance of the east (oriental dance). According to Dr Mo Geddawi the name was adopted in the 1920s or 30s by Badeia Masabny to separate the dance performed in her nightclub from the dance enjoyed by the ordinary people. That is, to make it acceptable to the (Western identified) upper classes.
sagat Sagat Sajat	Finger cymbals in Arabic (also see zills)
Sa‘iidi Saiidi	relating to upper Egypt. From Sa‘iid "highlands" - nothing to do with Port Said! (or sa‘iid meaning "happy" - also see Happy Highlands - Derivation of Sa`iidi)
saif Sayf	Sword - NB "sword dancing" as known in the West is not traditionally performed in the Middle East
sha`bi	popular, national. Sha`bi music - popular music (not quite the same as "pop music" - enjoyed by all ages). Not always suitable for dancing to - can be sexual or political.
sham`adan	Candelabra. Raqs Sham`adan (Candelabra Dance) is dancing while balancing a candelabra on the head. Traditionally performed at weddings in Egypt.
tahtib	A long staff. Used in upper Egypt (as said) by men in a martial style dance. Women's version is raqs assaya
taqsim	the instrumental presentation of a maqam. These are improvised by the musician according to strict rules of Arabic musical theory. They are often used by dancers to present intense, slow, controlled section. Here how Touma (1999:99) describes it: "the taqsim is not purely improvisational. Underlying its freely unfolding rhythmic-temporal design is a compositional element in the form of its fixed tonal-spatial organization, its predetermined sequence of tone levels and phases. This interplay between composition and improvisation is the essential characteristics of a taqsim".
tulle bi telli	Cotton fabric with flattened metal (sometimes silver) wire folded into the weave to form patterns. The metallic dots make the fabric flow like heavy water. Sometimes called "assuite" after the city of Asyut in Egypt where it was once made.
zeffa zaffa	Egyptian wedding parade. Also used for the rhythm used for the wedding dance.
zills zils	Finger cymbals in Turkish. Called sagat in Arabic. However, it is normal for the Turkish term to be used. (Turkish & Persian terms for music, French for dance). Use varies by region. "Big name" dancers in Egypt tend to pay a musician to play for them these days. In the States, zills are de rigueur. In New Zealand many professional dancers use them only occasionally.

Also see: Common Arabic Words and Phrase

For more information on the Arabic language here is a link to a number of simple dictionaries. It also includes links to sites which explain Islamic terms.

References