I believe the first dancer was Farheda Mahzar Spyropoulos. According to a quick genealogy search, was born in 1875 in Egypt and Syria in some documents. She was the daughter of Mary and Elias and went by "Freida" on the census records. She died in Chicago, April 5th, 1937.
Her husband, Andrew Spyropoulos, was born in Greece in 1881 and was naturalized 1926 in Chicago. No children on the record.
Can't find much on Fatima Djamille, the second dancer, supposedly filmed in 1907.
Little Egypt dance Middle Eastern Dance. Several women used her hame and stole her style of dance. it wasn't "exotic" thats just what out of work dancers made it in the US its called "Belly Dance" look up the history connected to the Chicago world Fair. I don't think this is the real (the first) Little Egypt
Little Egypt dance Middle Eastern Dance. Several women used her hame and stole her style of dance. it wasn't "exotic" thats just what out of work dancers made it in the US its called "Belly Dance" look up the history connected to the Chicago world Fair. I don't think this is the real (the first) Little Egypt
1893. Thomas Edison's eyes nearly popped out when he made one the first movies of all time. Did I say eyes? Ha! Some things never change. We always think we were the first generation to discover something, but face it, ever since we became bipeds, this is what makes the world go round. Love them forward thrusts. Love that shaking hind end. Glad there's a discreet name for it -- "dance". Funny, Edison's first movie was just like Quicktime 100 years later, a few frames a second.
I believe this is one of Mutoscope's short cinematic productions filmed in 1893 at The Columbian Exposition in Chicago at the Midway's "Algerian Village" in "The Egyptian Theater Cafe" where Ghawazi (Egyptian Folk dancers), and Raks Sharqi Egyptain, Moroccan, and Algerian dancers performed several shows a day. The dancers were signed on in Alexandria, Egypt by Promoter Sol Bloom who was one of the proteges of the famous P.T. Barnum. Litte Egypt, also known as Fatima, (Farida Mazar Spyropoulos).
From what I can find, Little Egypt's real name was Fahreda Mahzar . She originally used the stage name "Fatima" but wound up with "Little Egypt" because of her size. She is sometimes confused with Fatima Djemille, who also danced at the Columbian Exposition and Coney Island.
I found it interesting that parts of this video show the inside of an Edison kinetoscope machine. Does that mean that these films were made at his studio? Not sure but I certainly intend to check into this.
I found it interesting that parts of this video show the inside of an Edison kinetoscope machine. Does that mean that these films were made at his studio? Not sure but I certainly intend to check into this.
Hey that was great!! Thanks for the post, the movements were ALOT more suggestive than I had been led to believe. As several commentators have noted, no wonder the dance was a huge shock to Western society back then.
If a modern American belly dancer moved like the first belly dancer did (big, expressive hp circles and thrusts) she'd be snubbed by other dancers. It's funny, the lengths we go to in order to try and desexualize this dance...
oh wow, this is awesome footage, thanks for posting! Was this from the 1893 Worlds Fair? It's pretty wild to think that this particular event is how 'bellydance' got it's nickname soooo long ago.
This dance does incorporate traditional movements from East and Central Africa...Egypt is in Africa by the way and I am certain that the originals that started this dance did not call it Raqs Sharqi. Orient is latin, in western terms deliniates countries of eastern asia, however eastern and arabic definitions it means to rise or where the sun rises. That does not only mean a direction , but in what...MAN. Rise what? consciousness the divine within, serpentine fire, etc.
Although she probably used more vulgar moves to get attention and be an exhibitionist of sorts, you cannot say that it has nothing to do with Raqs Sharqi. Real raqs sharqi It is not the stylized dance that you see today. If you take a look at its origins, there is a lot of sexual innuendo and pelvic thrusting, as seen in gypsy dance, which many agree to be the origin of oriental dance.
The origins of Oriental dance are with the people of Egypt, not India. Yes there are some Central Asian elements in the hands and arms, but the torso movements are indigenous to East Africa. If you look at the movement vocabulary of East African countries like Somalia, Kenya and the Swahili coast, as well as Congo and Uganda, you will see all the undulations twists and shimmies that you see in Egypt. Egyptian dance is just a variation on a continental theme.
You can see similarities between Rom dances everywhere they migrated, from Africa to Europe, & between these & Indian dances, including those particular to bellydance like hip accents, pelvic movements, soft hip movements, finger cymbals/castanets, & hand movements. Moves from East Africa and Central Asia are used in Oriental Dance. If however, it was a local dance originating in Africa, they wouldn't call it Raqs Sharqi, dance of the orient, meant to differentiate it as a dance from elsewhere
I already explained to you in detail why they called it Eastern dance It has nothing to do with indicating where they believe the dance originated. its a term they use to distinguish themselves,(easterners), from Westerners I dont see why its so hard for people to accept that Egyptians are actually the ones responsible for creating their own folk dances. By the way did you know that less than 1% of dance is done by professionals there. This is a tradition that originates with the ordinary peoplr
Wow.. I have been hearing about Little Egypt since I first started bellydancing.. I had no idea how tribal her style was. More African style than classical Egyptian. Arms out and legs open like that. That must have blown people away back then seeing it in America.
Besides the fact that she is obviously playing up the risque in her dance, you should realize that bellydance in its rudimentary form is not like classical egyptian. "classical egyptian bellydance" may as well mean a modern, stylized/invented branch of the dance. Tribal belly dance is also a new fad, so she was not dancing tribal.
I didn't mean "American tribal style" I was referring to when different tribes around Africa danced a style that was particular to their tribe. You should know that "tribe" is a very old word used to describe a small group within a culture, and that each small group had a particular style. Forward pelvic thrusting is particular to African tribal dance. Turkish dancers still also use pelvic thrusting, but I am sure you already know this since you are so well informed about belly dance.
I know what tribe means. Of course african tribes use pelvic thrusts but it is not particular to their dance. The romany people of india ( that migrated to turkey and the middle east and egypt) use/used pelvic thrusts. so you were right about it being a "tribal" thing, but then in essence, belly dance is a tribal thing, and especially at the time of this video, tribal moves should be expected, not "classical egyptian."
Classical Sharki developed in the nightclubs of Cairo in the late '20's and early '30's. All they did was blend some elements of ballroom dance with the local social dance you still find in Egypt today. If you want to see Egyptian dance in in its purest form, you have to look at the way the ordinary people dance at parties and weddings. To see what the Ghawaze dancers at the fair danced like, look at Khiryah Mazin watch?v=NeblxiR-pKY she's the last of her family tradition but now mostly retired
Oriental dance specifically means "dance of the east," which obviously doesn't refer to Africa. Granted, there are many characteristics of oriental dance that borrow from african customs. But the very dancers you are recommending that I watch, the Ghawazee, have origins in India. Many movements can be traced to Indian dances. Maybe it would be appropriate to say that it is a hybridization of Indian and local dances, but it is the gypsies who are responsible for creating this hybridization.
The dancer in this clip is an American imitator from the turn of the century. The real dancer was the one shown the least. Even from the few seconds of footage shown, you can see there's a big difference in the spirit and presentation of the two.
Yes the original Little Egypt was a Syrian woman named Spyropoulos who performed at the 1893 World's Fair. The other one is Ashea Wabe, who used the name Little Egypt in 1896. Wabe is the one that appears in most photos.
There never was any one person named little Egypt. The dancers at the 1893 Fair were Egyptian Ghawazee and there was a whole troupe of them. Their names are known and there are several photographs of them. There's a great book on the subject called "Looking for Little Egypt", by Donna Carlton IDD Books Bloomington Indiana. She mentions Fariha Mahzar who married a Greek named Spyropulos and most likely was one of the troupe members of the Egyptian dancers at the fair who stayed behind.
Do a search on Little Egypt,it is pretty interesting stuff. Even more interesting is the history of the 1893 Chicago World Fair. You really can't imagine how big it was,and in so many ways is still with us today. Seriously its worth the time!
Excuse me snorky500 but bellydance is not soft porn but rather an ethnic dance taken out of context. Please don't makke ignorant comments about this beautiful art form.
Does anyone have any idea where this original footage came from? Is there more? I've seen one of the clips before . . . I'd love to get my hands on an original copy of . . . whatever it is. I love the history of belly dance. Can anyone help?
I found it on youtube and reposted it and I wonder if the original dvd the footage is from ("Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time") has that music as well....
@nefabit i actually was looking this up because i was reading in some scholarly articles about how controversial this was. this is as much information as i have but it was "Little Egypt" (her stagename), she was Fatima performing a belly dance called the hoo-chi-coochi at the Chicago world Fair in 1893.
If I am not mistaken, it was Thomas Edison, inventor of the motion picture camera, who shot this footage in 1898 or 1893. It was one of the first moving pictures, if not THE first. Funny how the first movie just happens to be a soft porn flick. But please correct me if anyone knows otherwise.
Sitting here alone when its dark and hearing this music with the footage is a bit discomforting. Its interesting to see this actual footage of Little Egypt but, Im going to keep the mute on.
I found it on youtube and reposted it and I wonder if the original dvd the footage is from ("Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time") has that music as well....
@ekocentric There is a GREAT book out there called "The Belly Dancer" about little egypt and how she came to be. It's by a lady named DeAnna Cameron and is AMAZING. You'll get a good look into the thoughts of those ladies.
@Promthanius Hey there. Thanx for the info. I just went on amazon.com and ordered the book from a company called; Purple Whale123 for the huge sum of 1 penny and .$3.99 postage. I appreciate it.
@3rifily i actually was looking this up because i was reading in some scholarly articles about how controversial this was. this is as much information as i have but it was "Little Egypt" (her stagename), she was Fatima performing a belly dance called the hoo-chi-coochi at the Chicago world Fair in 1893. just in case anyone else asks
Hey this is great -- I love how her dance is juxtaposed with how Victorian (Edwardian?) women were dressed at the time. What year was Little Egypt made? Thank you for posting it!
To footage to exw brei ston internet kai enw den eimai 100% sigourh nomizw oti einai apo to dvd "Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time" pou mporeis na breis akoma kai sthn amazon!
I believe the first dancer was Farheda Mahzar Spyropoulos. According to a quick genealogy search, was born in 1875 in Egypt and Syria in some documents. She was the daughter of Mary and Elias and went by "Freida" on the census records. She died in Chicago, April 5th, 1937.
Her husband, Andrew Spyropoulos, was born in Greece in 1881 and was naturalized 1926 in Chicago. No children on the record.
Can't find much on Fatima Djamille, the second dancer, supposedly filmed in 1907.
BorbalaBellyDancer 5 months ago
Little Egypt dance Middle Eastern Dance. Several women used her hame and stole her style of dance. it wasn't "exotic" thats just what out of work dancers made it in the US its called "Belly Dance" look up the history connected to the Chicago world Fair. I don't think this is the real (the first) Little Egypt
SCV2011 5 months ago
Little Egypt dance Middle Eastern Dance. Several women used her hame and stole her style of dance. it wasn't "exotic" thats just what out of work dancers made it in the US its called "Belly Dance" look up the history connected to the Chicago world Fair. I don't think this is the real (the first) Little Egypt
SCV2011 5 months ago
1893. Thomas Edison's eyes nearly popped out when he made one the first movies of all time. Did I say eyes? Ha! Some things never change. We always think we were the first generation to discover something, but face it, ever since we became bipeds, this is what makes the world go round. Love them forward thrusts. Love that shaking hind end. Glad there's a discreet name for it -- "dance". Funny, Edison's first movie was just like Quicktime 100 years later, a few frames a second.
Balertwine 8 months ago
wow can that woman gyrate! LOL! i really appreciate seeing this and where my belly dance roots started THANKYOU! x
lilmisschuckles 8 months ago
I believe this is one of Mutoscope's short cinematic productions filmed in 1893 at The Columbian Exposition in Chicago at the Midway's "Algerian Village" in "The Egyptian Theater Cafe" where Ghawazi (Egyptian Folk dancers), and Raks Sharqi Egyptain, Moroccan, and Algerian dancers performed several shows a day. The dancers were signed on in Alexandria, Egypt by Promoter Sol Bloom who was one of the proteges of the famous P.T. Barnum. Litte Egypt, also known as Fatima, (Farida Mazar Spyropoulos).
fatimaza2008 10 months ago
There's a good book called The Search for Little Egypt, about the dancers at the Chicago 1893 fair- and their imitators.
tanfoukdance 10 months ago
From what I can find, Little Egypt's real name was Fahreda Mahzar . She originally used the stage name "Fatima" but wound up with "Little Egypt" because of her size. She is sometimes confused with Fatima Djemille, who also danced at the Columbian Exposition and Coney Island.
TheNicneven 11 months ago
One of the women in this clip is Fatima Djemille, who also danced at the Columbian Exposition. She and Little Egypt were widely imitated.
TheNicneven 11 months ago
Check out some of Maria Shashkova's clips on youtube.
RATkins741 11 months ago
great video!
olive2g 1 year ago
gosh that music is creeepyy. but love the vid nonetheless
africangoddess707 1 year ago
I found it interesting that parts of this video show the inside of an Edison kinetoscope machine. Does that mean that these films were made at his studio? Not sure but I certainly intend to check into this.
gayeavec 1 year ago
I found it interesting that parts of this video show the inside of an Edison kinetoscope machine. Does that mean that these films were made at his studio? Not sure but I certainly intend to check into this.
gayeavec 1 year ago
must admit as amazing as it may be there is a strong eerie element to this footage
arabique 1 year ago
Unfortunate choice of music. So much good music to use with a little common sense and research.
ClariceVance 1 year ago
Very interesting indeed....I was under the impression that "Little Egypt, darling of the Nile"'s real name was Fahreda Mahzar.
RainbowBrite80 1 year ago
igula es como un poco grotesco su baile
marilelix 1 year ago
GENIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKSSSS 3rifily!
HazineBellydancer 1 year ago
Hey that was great!! Thanks for the post, the movements were ALOT more suggestive than I had been led to believe. As several commentators have noted, no wonder the dance was a huge shock to Western society back then.
cqsteve1 1 year ago
I really liked the use of the music with this video -very freaky!
abz48 1 year ago
If a modern American belly dancer moved like the first belly dancer did (big, expressive hp circles and thrusts) she'd be snubbed by other dancers. It's funny, the lengths we go to in order to try and desexualize this dance...
missbearlockholmes 1 year ago 2
oh wow, this is awesome footage, thanks for posting! Was this from the 1893 Worlds Fair? It's pretty wild to think that this particular event is how 'bellydance' got it's nickname soooo long ago.
beledigirl3 2 years ago
This dance does incorporate traditional movements from East and Central Africa...Egypt is in Africa by the way and I am certain that the originals that started this dance did not call it Raqs Sharqi. Orient is latin, in western terms deliniates countries of eastern asia, however eastern and arabic definitions it means to rise or where the sun rises. That does not only mean a direction , but in what...MAN. Rise what? consciousness the divine within, serpentine fire, etc.
ZenAuraRaks 2 years ago
What is this track?
theblahs 2 years ago
Where can I watch Khiryah Mazin ?
TaoJamilahLailah 2 years ago
Incredible vintage footage of this time! Great shot @ 1:16 and 1:29 of the contrasting culture. Pity the original soundtrack is missing.
fusiondancing 2 years ago
um this video totally seems removed of its content.
i'm really just into the song.
or more so, the belly dancing isn't really exemplified
just moves well to the music
davidelder 2 years ago
Comment removed
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
Do you know where she is dancing in this clip? Is she dancing for foreigners, tourists, etc?
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
Although she probably used more vulgar moves to get attention and be an exhibitionist of sorts, you cannot say that it has nothing to do with Raqs Sharqi. Real raqs sharqi It is not the stylized dance that you see today. If you take a look at its origins, there is a lot of sexual innuendo and pelvic thrusting, as seen in gypsy dance, which many agree to be the origin of oriental dance.
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
The origins of Oriental dance are with the people of Egypt, not India. Yes there are some Central Asian elements in the hands and arms, but the torso movements are indigenous to East Africa. If you look at the movement vocabulary of East African countries like Somalia, Kenya and the Swahili coast, as well as Congo and Uganda, you will see all the undulations twists and shimmies that you see in Egypt. Egyptian dance is just a variation on a continental theme.
TRUTHTEACHER2007 2 years ago
Comment removed
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
You can see similarities between Rom dances everywhere they migrated, from Africa to Europe, & between these & Indian dances, including those particular to bellydance like hip accents, pelvic movements, soft hip movements, finger cymbals/castanets, & hand movements. Moves from East Africa and Central Asia are used in Oriental Dance. If however, it was a local dance originating in Africa, they wouldn't call it Raqs Sharqi, dance of the orient, meant to differentiate it as a dance from elsewhere
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
I already explained to you in detail why they called it Eastern dance It has nothing to do with indicating where they believe the dance originated. its a term they use to distinguish themselves,(easterners), from Westerners I dont see why its so hard for people to accept that Egyptians are actually the ones responsible for creating their own folk dances. By the way did you know that less than 1% of dance is done by professionals there. This is a tradition that originates with the ordinary peoplr
TRUTHTEACHER2007 2 years ago
Wow.. I have been hearing about Little Egypt since I first started bellydancing.. I had no idea how tribal her style was. More African style than classical Egyptian. Arms out and legs open like that. That must have blown people away back then seeing it in America.
Kataynagirl 2 years ago 2
Besides the fact that she is obviously playing up the risque in her dance, you should realize that bellydance in its rudimentary form is not like classical egyptian. "classical egyptian bellydance" may as well mean a modern, stylized/invented branch of the dance. Tribal belly dance is also a new fad, so she was not dancing tribal.
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
I didn't mean "American tribal style" I was referring to when different tribes around Africa danced a style that was particular to their tribe. You should know that "tribe" is a very old word used to describe a small group within a culture, and that each small group had a particular style. Forward pelvic thrusting is particular to African tribal dance. Turkish dancers still also use pelvic thrusting, but I am sure you already know this since you are so well informed about belly dance.
Kataynagirl 2 years ago
I know what tribe means. Of course african tribes use pelvic thrusts but it is not particular to their dance. The romany people of india ( that migrated to turkey and the middle east and egypt) use/used pelvic thrusts. so you were right about it being a "tribal" thing, but then in essence, belly dance is a tribal thing, and especially at the time of this video, tribal moves should be expected, not "classical egyptian."
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
Classical Sharki developed in the nightclubs of Cairo in the late '20's and early '30's. All they did was blend some elements of ballroom dance with the local social dance you still find in Egypt today. If you want to see Egyptian dance in in its purest form, you have to look at the way the ordinary people dance at parties and weddings. To see what the Ghawaze dancers at the fair danced like, look at Khiryah Mazin watch?v=NeblxiR-pKY she's the last of her family tradition but now mostly retired
TRUTHTEACHER2007 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Oriental dance specifically means "dance of the east," which obviously doesn't refer to Africa. Granted, there are many characteristics of oriental dance that borrow from african customs. But the very dancers you are recommending that I watch, the Ghawazee, have origins in India. Many movements can be traced to Indian dances. Maybe it would be appropriate to say that it is a hybridization of Indian and local dances, but it is the gypsies who are responsible for creating this hybridization.
Chimpanoo1 2 years ago
If you mean Negro then say Negro.
Germanicus666 2 years ago
I felt like I was tripping as watching this.
ARavenDances 2 years ago
The dancer in this clip is an American imitator from the turn of the century. The real dancer was the one shown the least. Even from the few seconds of footage shown, you can see there's a big difference in the spirit and presentation of the two.
TRUTHTEACHER2007 3 years ago
Yes the original Little Egypt was a Syrian woman named Spyropoulos who performed at the 1893 World's Fair. The other one is Ashea Wabe, who used the name Little Egypt in 1896. Wabe is the one that appears in most photos.
Germanicus666 2 years ago
There never was any one person named little Egypt. The dancers at the 1893 Fair were Egyptian Ghawazee and there was a whole troupe of them. Their names are known and there are several photographs of them. There's a great book on the subject called "Looking for Little Egypt", by Donna Carlton IDD Books Bloomington Indiana. She mentions Fariha Mahzar who married a Greek named Spyropulos and most likely was one of the troupe members of the Egyptian dancers at the fair who stayed behind.
TRUTHTEACHER2007 2 years ago
funny... Spyropoulos is a Greek name...
3rifily 2 years ago
What ever happened to Little Egypt? Any history on where she came from and her real name?
meilee44 3 years ago
Do a search on Little Egypt,it is pretty interesting stuff. Even more interesting is the history of the 1893 Chicago World Fair. You really can't imagine how big it was,and in so many ways is still with us today. Seriously its worth the time!
easystreet123 3 years ago
that was creeeepy
Brounty404 3 years ago 8
Excuse me snorky500 but bellydance is not soft porn but rather an ethnic dance taken out of context. Please don't makke ignorant comments about this beautiful art form.
happydancertoo 3 years ago
one of the first belly dancers to come to U.S. to introduce us to belly dancing. Her name is Little Egypt
Greexicana 3 years ago
Does anyone have any idea where this original footage came from? Is there more? I've seen one of the clips before . . . I'd love to get my hands on an original copy of . . . whatever it is. I love the history of belly dance. Can anyone help?
nefabit 3 years ago
I found it on youtube and reposted it and I wonder if the original dvd the footage is from ("Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time") has that music as well....
3rifily 3 years ago
@nefabit i actually was looking this up because i was reading in some scholarly articles about how controversial this was. this is as much information as i have but it was "Little Egypt" (her stagename), she was Fatima performing a belly dance called the hoo-chi-coochi at the Chicago world Fair in 1893.
broadcastpirate 11 months ago
"This must be jelly 'cause jam don't shake like that."
ekocentric 3 years ago 2
If I am not mistaken, it was Thomas Edison, inventor of the motion picture camera, who shot this footage in 1898 or 1893. It was one of the first moving pictures, if not THE first. Funny how the first movie just happens to be a soft porn flick. But please correct me if anyone knows otherwise.
snorky500 3 years ago
Sitting here alone when its dark and hearing this music with the footage is a bit discomforting. Its interesting to see this actual footage of Little Egypt but, Im going to keep the mute on.
LeandreaLeialoha 3 years ago
I agree, fabulous footage, bad choice of music though. :)
twinks76 3 years ago 2
Yes indeed...
I found it on youtube and reposted it and I wonder if the original dvd the footage is from ("Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time") has that music as well....
3rifily 3 years ago
Sometimes I can see 'Striptease' in the lower right corner.
icecreamberry 3 years ago
Oh MY GODDDD! Could you imagine what the ladies in "polite society" thought of this???
I can just hear them..."oh, Mrs Updike has fallen in the salmon loaf"...lol
And the men, must have headed for the nearest bordellos.
Thanx for showing this one. I always wanted to see her in action.
ekocentric 3 years ago 9
@ekocentric There is a GREAT book out there called "The Belly Dancer" about little egypt and how she came to be. It's by a lady named DeAnna Cameron and is AMAZING. You'll get a good look into the thoughts of those ladies.
Promthanius 3 months ago
@Promthanius Hey there. Thanx for the info. I just went on amazon.com and ordered the book from a company called; Purple Whale123 for the huge sum of 1 penny and .$3.99 postage. I appreciate it.
ekocentric 3 months ago
really! the music is totally what does it for me.
any chance you know the artist/song
davidelder 2 years ago
@3rifily i actually was looking this up because i was reading in some scholarly articles about how controversial this was. this is as much information as i have but it was "Little Egypt" (her stagename), she was Fatima performing a belly dance called the hoo-chi-coochi at the Chicago world Fair in 1893. just in case anyone else asks
broadcastpirate 11 months ago
yeah, i think i'm going to have nightmares because of the music
sammie928 4 years ago 2
Hey this is great -- I love how her dance is juxtaposed with how Victorian (Edwardian?) women were dressed at the time. What year was Little Egypt made? Thank you for posting it!
umbaleki 4 years ago
1897, I believe.
katiekawaii 3 years ago
Petro, de mou afhses to thlefwno sou!
To footage to exw brei ston internet kai enw den eimai 100% sigourh nomizw oti einai apo to dvd "Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time" pou mporeis na breis akoma kai sthn amazon!
3rifily 4 years ago