Sa'ada; historical Ottoman dance

Sa'ada's website: http://www.easternfelicity.com

An interpretation of what a dance might have been like in 16th/17th Century urban Istanbul in the Ottoman Empire. Based on illuminations and miniatures from the time period, the scholarly works of Metin And, and historical commentary, with influences from Turkish folkloric dances. (Kindly note: the underbust costume is not accurate to that time period, but it was worn because it was appropriate for the overall event.)

"Miserlou" played by the band WC Sadaqah which includes (from L to R): Brendan (bass, def, doumbek), Luther (guitar), Raccoon (violin), Djani (cura saz, riq, doumbek), Shareef (baglama saz, vocals, def, doumbek), Rashid (doumbek, vocals, def), Beth (kanun, vocals), Cooper (def), Groa (vocals, belltree).

Thank you to Katherine of "Silk Road Tribal" (http://www.silkroadtribal.com) for agreeing to video it on such short notice. It is shot in black and white due to the low light of the dance hall, and has the sounds of the people and families there present. It was recorded at the Empire of Medieval Pursuits event "Hafla al Madeena" in October, 2008.

Become a fan of Sa'ada on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saada/131651920850

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• dance
• belly
• bellydance
• folkloric
• emp
• hafla
• Turkish
• Ottoman
• history
• historical
• recreation
• renaissance
• sca
• period
• reenactment
• reenactor
• Istanbul
• middle
• east
• eastern
• music
• band
• riq
• doumbek
• guitar
• def
• drum
• sing
• singing
• song
• baglama
• saz
• cura
• belltree
• documentation

[beledigirl]

Great job! My sca dance troupe and I also attempt to do historical dance--it's really neat to see other people doing this as well.  I'll have a link to post at some point!

[easternfelicity]

I would love to see it!

[rajendrarokaya]

black eyed peas.....copied this tune

[dlayiga]

@ajbarish misirlou isn't actually an Ottoman song. it is a rembetiko, and was most likely composed in the late 1920's.

[Diwonusoio]

Beautiful performance! Small authenticity question: why that modern guitar in an Ottoman musical group?

[Paulynyc]

Misirlou.

[ajbarish]

Wonderful song !!! I didn't know it is an Ottoman song ! I first heard it sung by the famous Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, then in 2006 by a Western band , Black Eyed Peas. I really didn't know its origin. It's superb !

[crystabellbloodroze]

Ah, I really liked this! Very unique

[MikasMinion]

Very cool!

[liviapj]

Very interesting!!