Naima, Detroit Belly Dancer, Vintage Live Greek Belly Dancing

In the 1970's through the mid 1990's, many Greek Supper Clubs hired belly dancers. The style of dancing is what is now referred to as American Caberet, Vintage Orientale or Turkish. The music was typically a combination of Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern music while the bright, happy sounds of the Greek instrument, the bouzoukee, dominated. Routines were often done in 5-7 parts and consisted of an opening, veil, fast, floor work, fast, drum solo and finale. Veil work was often done to sensual rhumbas or boleras while floorwork was often done to hypnotizing chiftitellis and often incorporated turkish drops and berber walks. Playing zills was mandatory for the professional dancer. Performance is during the very early stages of my dance career and is at El Greco, in Dublin, CA, 1989 Touring with "Holiday in Greece".

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Vintage
• Oriental
• Belly Dancing
• Greek Belly Dancing
• Greek Tsfitelli
• Greek Belly Dancer
• Greek
• Classic Belly Dancing

[NormaDancer2]

I remember the dance group.

[NormaDancer2]

Thank-you! Too bad there are not more places like this now.

[NormaDancer2]

Yes, I danced at both Mykonos and Bouzoukee in Detroit's Greektown. Unfortunately, I do not have any video footage of those shows. I sure miss those clubs. Jimmy and Polivious ran Mykonos.

[maltanetworkresource]

interesting piece of history, thanks for posting it!

[NormaDancer2]

@maltanetworkresource

Thank -you! I wish I had other videos of when I danced in the bouzoukee clubs from 1985-1997.Alas this is the only clip I have. I'm sure others exist. Maybe one day someone will post one of my shows.

[kuntidevi]

this is the way my first teacher tout me to dance

[NormaDancer2]

@kuntidevi Yes it as old traditional style that is dying out. This was in California. But I worked many years in Detroit's Greektown. While Greektown still exists, the last club closed in 1997. So sad.

[pythia3]

Thank you for sharing! I also danced at both Mykonos and Bouzouki lounge back in the 80's. I was part of a dance group and we did Ethnic and cabaret style dancing. Jimmy and Polivios were both friends of mine. (I still see Jimmy occasionally - his wife, Sandy, was a very good friend of mine.)

[POMEDT]

This is wonderful!!!!!

[animeyurilover34]

Wow! Excellent..... I ve heard Polivio and Jimmy from the New Parthenon, Really brag about you! Didnt you used to dance at the famous club Mikanos too?? I heard that place was a legendary hot spot... Whatever happened to all of that? Oh yeah Gianni Pappas used to give us the low down on old Greek town.. I worked fro all of em for years...

[animeyurilover34]

@NormaDancer2  Polivio and jimmy from New Parthenon, used to really brag about you! Did you work at the famous Mikanos too?? I heard all the Greeks talk about that club. Why did it ever close anyway?

[BorbalaBellyDancer]

I remember visiting Greek Town Detroit in the early 90's and loving the belly dancers! It is truly an ancient art! Norma , history is important...thank you!

Too many young girls need to study the past before they criticize the future!

I so much enjoy your videos and try learning from them!