There have been a variety of fads and trends involving dance that have moved through every culture and society in the world. However, there has never been a dance that has lasted and produced more fascination than the ancient art of Arab belly dancing. This form of dance has been around since civilization itself and still continues to be practiced to this very day. What do we really know about this dance phenomenon?

The Beginnings of The Art

The term Arab belly dancing only came to be in the late nineteenth century. In traditional Arabic culture it is referred to as Raqs Sharqui or eastern dance. It is also sometimes called Raqs Baladi or folk dance. Whatever it is called it is a form of dance that has been passed down through the generations for its ritualistic and artistic nature. It has been traced through the civilizations of Alexander the Great and also Ancient Egypt. It is also seen in the history of India.

During the end of the Ottoman Empire the practice of this dance moved through the western world. The Arabic dancers were called upon to show their unique and powerful dance at world fairs and gatherings all over the world. The dance became more and more popular as more people were able to watch it performed. It began to see a slowdown when moral issues questioned the erotic nature of the dance. It became banished in many parts of the Arab world for many years.

The Look And Style

We have all seen the costumes that exist today for belly dancing. They don’t really resemble the costumes that were originally used. These current costumes seem to have gotten their popularity from Hollywood movies.

Whatever the type the costume is usually a bra top with a hip belt. The skirt is generally a layered skirt that is of many colors and patterns. The Hollywood version has added the veil that we often see with belly dancers today. It is meant to add an exotic flavor to the dance.

The Amazing Belly

Most belly dancers develop a dance that is unique for them. But most of them consist of a rolling circular motion in the belly. This coordination of the hips, shoulders and rolling the stomach muscles is incredibly difficult. There are men who can perform the same belly movements, but they usually use swords to turn the dance into a more masculine version of the dance.

The Benefits of Belly Dancing

It is very entertaining to watch a belly dancer perform their exotic movements. But in today’s culture of exercise and keeping fit, belly dancing has been discovered to be a great form of exercise. The flexibility that is displayed and the intense cardiovascular movements provide the practitioner quite a workout.

Belly dancing has come a long way from the culture of African countries. It has evolved into an art form and a fun exercise for all who practice it.

By Paul Easton Published: 8/22/2008

Why I Rarely Listen To American Music

Unlike us, the artists there have managed to keep old tradtional arabic sounds with the new arabic-pop-like sounds. So, you will hear arabic instruments mixed in with pop and dance beats and synths. The culture is just fascinating. 

Arabic Poetry Rediscovered

“It was important for us to use traditional instruments, but not to try and imitate a particular sound,” Scollo says. “Moorish elements have always been very typical for Sicilian music; it wasn’t hard to find a cross-over between them.

Muslim_music

Wind and string instruments, such as the Kora or Flute are generally preferred to percussion, although percussion instruments such as the talking drum and djembe are also widely played. … Sikiri (from the Arabic word "Dhikr" which means remembrance of God — performed by the Qadiriyya Sufi orders of waYao or Yao people in East and Southern Africa (Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa). Man fef zuma — moral songs performed in Ethiopia. 

Belly Dance in a Nutshell

Contrary to popular belief that belly dance is an Indian dance, belly dance is actually an Arabic dance. Contrary to another popular belief that belly dance is an erotic dance, it is not. In fact it is actually a traditional Arabic dance.

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From the tribes of Ghana, West Africa, the traditional Kpanlogo drum is associated with Kpanlogo music and dance of the Ga and Ewe tribes. The Kpanlogo is a member of the membranophone, or drum-head covered shell, or vibrating stretched membrane, family of musical instruments.

The Kpanlogo ensemble consists of a variety of percussion instruments including the Kpanlogo Drum in multiple sizes, the Djembe, and dunun drums, along with shekeres (shakers), metal chimes. and X.

The Kpanlogo drum head is usually made from antelope skin rawhide, but may also be made of cow, or less often, goatskin. Shaved antelope and cow skin heads sound nearly identical, and provide for a thick, strong drumming surface. The skin is tightened and tuned through the use of six wooden pegs. Through vigorous playing, tonal pitch may drop slightly. The tuning pegs allow for easy correction through simple tapping of the pegs with a rubber, wood, or leather (NEVER metal!) mallet until the desired pitch is achieved.

The appearance of the Kpanlogo drum is very similar to that of the Conga drum. The Kpanlogo shell is carved from a single piece of wood, such as the sustainably harvested Tweneboa, or schwenoha wood. Each drum has detailed symbols, or adinkra, carved into the sides. Adinkra are visual representations of social, religious, and moral attitudes and beliefs, and add a unique beauty to each drum.

By: Elisa Thorp

The Kpanlogo

The Kpanlogo,commonly called the ‘palgo’ drum, became very popular in the 1950’s in Ghana, especially among individuals in their teens and 20’s. Because of Ayindisa’s expert drum maker Dagando and his 20+ years of experience in hand … one size fits all shirts have color schemes that suit the laid back individual looking for a peaceful, relaxing, but most importantly comfortable time.

Rebirth of Ghana music 

When he felt ready for his first production, a friend led him to the Allan Family, a group specialising in kpanlogo, gome and other styles of Ga recreational music. He has since then created recording opportunities for many … I’m even considering the option of buying airtime on some stations solely for Ga music.” Jaham Productions and the other big-time music producers in the system face similar problems in relation to piracy, payola and the fluctuating sales patterns.

Smart Boys by Mustapha Tettey Addy MP3 Downloads

This time reknown Masterdrummer Mustapha Tettey Addy and his Obonu Drummers blend the songs of their childhood with the Highlife, Kpanlogo and Gome rhythms of their home country Ghana to build the foundation for the AFRICAN WAY OF ROCK’N ROLL ! … To purchase the album in protected WMA format, please download any track of the album, play it in Windows Media Player and choose “Buy Album” in the license acquisition window. 

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All percussion instruments fall under two broad groups tuned and untuned. Shakers and hand drums that produce undefined pitches belong to untuned category where as marimbas, steel pans, and xylophone that creates defined tonal ranges falls under tuned category. Today a variety of percussion instruments are available in the market.

It is widely believed that the percussion instruments are originated from African continent symbolizing their ancient culture. Djembe is one of the earliest versions of percussions. It is basically a large goblet-shaped drum carved of wood and fitted with animal skin. This instrument is played using bare hands and sometimes with sticks. Djembe is gaining popularity among western music lovers recently.

The thumb piano is a melodic percussion musical instrument having a carved wooden body and flattened nails or similar metals as keys. Tama or talking drum is tied with vertical strings across the body to produce changed pitches. It is believed to talk with skilled players while playing with curved stick.

Udu is a pot shaped percussion instrument made of clay with narrow mouth and a hole in the side. This instrument is played by beating the clay surface in one hand and moving the other hand on the hole and mouth producing magnificent sound effects. Gadam is a similar type of clay instrument widely used in Indian subcontinent while performing carnatic classical music.

Congas are the widely used Afro Cuban originated percussion musical instrument. Originally congas were made of wood staves and calfskin heads. Synthetic and fiberglass shells are used in modern congas which results in louder volume projection. Congas are normally associated with other two types of drums named tumba and quinto. Usually these three instruments come as a set and are kept in conga gig bags or cases for better performance.

Bongos are another kind of small hand drums originated from Cuba and are played in sitting position keeping the instrument between the legs. Timbales were originally iron vessels used in transporting sugarcanes. Steel or brass is used in modern timbales to produce powerful cutting tone which is suitable for any music styles like rock, Latin and fusion.

The xylophone is a kind of tuned percussion instrument made of wooden bars of various lengths with vibrating tubes below them with piano like keyboards.

Wooden, rubber or plastic headed mallets are used to play such instruments. Xylophones are used in variety of music styles including ethnic, jazz and classical.

By: Leon Groom -

May 18: African Percussion Workshop 

May 18: African Percussion Workshop with Russell Shumsky. This workshop is uniquely crafted for the Carnival Band and will be held at the Strathcona Community Centre on May 18th, from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. All are welcome to this event.

African and Japanese Percussion

ISAKU KAGEYAMA, award-winning taiko drummer, and WINCHESTER NII TETE, acclaimed African percussionist, meet for a conversation using the universal language of music. The duo’s music is deeply rooted in the traditions of Japan and Ghana.

Tony Allen meets Proust

Tony Allen is one of the senior statesmen of African percussion. Revered as a pioneer of Afrobeat with Fela Kuti, Allen has been making music since the 1950s and 24 years after leaving Fela’s band.

West African Dance in Boston

With Live African Percussion. This Uhuru Afrika will be a fundraising event for the non-profit Next Aid for their World AIDS Day initiative. 100% of profit from this event will be donated to Next Aid for their work in South Africa.

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