Karolinka Belly Dance Cane/Assaya to Fares Karam UF Arabic Cultural Association

I (Karolinka) was honored to represent a "facet of Arabic culture" for the University of Florida Arabic Cultural Association at UF's annual "World Fair" in Gainesville, Florida, USA, November 20, 2008. This clip was the second piece in my belly dance (bellydance) set. The music is Lebanese, a contemporary composition in traditional style, by a favorite artist, فارس كرم Fares Karam (شفتا Shefta, from the album وعدني
W'edni).

For me, good belly dancing is a two-way experience; there is a communication the dancer has with her audience, a common language and sharing. Being up on a stage, far away from the people watching me, sometimes with lights shining in my eyes so I can't even see them, isn't my preference - although a good dancer can make a connection even under these circumstances. In this clip, though, I do what I love to do -- get down with my audience! I had two "volunteers," both were outstanding, and thankfully, not shy!

My full set opened with an Egyptianl orchestral magency number, followed by this assaya, a traditional balady akkordion with a drum/tabla/derbekke solo, a slow modern piece to a 2008 song by Haifa Whebe, and an uptempo Egyptian shaabi song accompanied by zill (finger cymbal, sagat) playing (by myself). Only the opening and the assaya made it onto video. Costume by Hanan (Egypt). BellyDanceWithK.com; pro costumes for sale at BellyDanceWithKBoutique.com; on FaceBook I'm "karolyne also karolinka."

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• bellydance
• belly
• dance
• lebanese
• egyptian
• oriental
• karolyne
• karolinka
• cane
• assaya
• stick
• Fares
• Karam
• Shefta
• arabic
• raqs
• sharqi
• raks
• danse
• orientale
• University
• of
• Florida
• Arabic
• Cultural
• Association
• iamkarolinka

[MasriKhaleejDancer]

This is Debke! Wrong costuming to the wrong music! It would be perfect if it was Saidii w/ Assaya.....

[iamkarolinka]

@MasriKhaleejDancer - la! begaaaaaaaad????? dabkeh? shu "dabkeh"? sometimes you don't have time to do a complete costume change, and it's ridiculous to be so uptight that you have to label every song as a "type" and ONLY dance in a certain way to it. ana filustinniyyia - far removed but this is my dance. at parties (not "haflas" put on by many lovely and well meaning but very white belly dancers, ...con't next comment

[iamkarolinka]

@MasriKhaleejDancer - but hafli bel arabia) 'they' will often grab my sticks to ANYTHING, including 'dabkeh', & THEMSELVES use them. I believe I've video here (sorry don't have time to go look, but pretty sure) of one of my bosses, 100% Palestinian, dancing w/stick, w/me, to another dabkeh song. *oh the shame!* he should know better! lol! Would you like to tell him he's doing it "wrong"?

I appreciate all comments & thank you & realize my facetious tone, not directed at you - con't

[iamkarolinka]

@MasriKhaleejDancer - continuation #3 of one comment in 3 parts, 2 and 1 below - at you. it IS a peeve of mine when people make comments about things being "wrong" that reflect they likely - not necessarily, i could be wrong - but likely have learned this dance (possibly very well) OUTSIDE of its current cultural context.

Thank you again, and happy dancing!

[afrah143]

yalla yalla Karolinka :D

very nice dance:)

5 starz:)

[iamkarolinka]

@afrah143 - alf shukr!!!!

[Colombiana129]

Sorry but shes no good,

[1400deadwood]

I thought the dance was excellent and the costume very striking. But as 'purist' (if one may use the term), I do not like the idea of you inviting a man to dance. I see the dance as strictly for ladies and appreciate when you invited the lady to share the performance with you. This makes it all the more enjoyable for everyone.

[parkman35]

Karolinka....barefootin'....

[iamkarolinka]

@nairabelly - thank you!! it's a Hanan - i should prob sell it, had it a while (for me), & by chance it's ended up in a number of photo and video shoots, so, like, it's SO DONE, lol! but i love it. i'm not a fan of most of Hanan's more recent stuff, beautiful of course but not for me... i like her cleaner, less baroque designs. blah blah blah. love the shiney stuff. thanks again!

[nairabelly]

beautiful costume!