|
Follow Shaharazad
Dance Ensemble:
Above: Maelen, Zorina and Noura "pod up" during a lively Turkish dance. Please contact us! The troupe is available for performances at festivals, corporate events, parties and concerts in Western Washington.
Website by Shahrazad. Copyright © 2006-2011 Shahrazad Dance Ensemble - Page Updated 8.15.2011 |
|
 |
Shahrazad's Colorful Dance Lingo
We have been dancing together for a long time. As good friends sharing an intense activity, and as members of a subculture (folkloric dancers/belly dancers,) it is natural that we develop a specialized jargon of our own. This shorthand used among ourselves for describing some of our movements and configurations promotes our group cohesion. It saves time during our rehearsals, too.
We hope you have fun reading what our dance lingo means to us.
All skate
A term indicating that all dancers participate in a dance or join a formation during a dance. The term comes from 1960s/1970s roller skating parties. After a special activity by a small number of skaters ended, the rink announcer would give the OK for the rest of the skaters to get back on the rink by saying over the PA, "All skate now -- all skate."
Ambidancerous
A dancer who is able to perform on either side of a formation equally well with very little rehearsing is "ambidancerous." The term is an invented variant of "ambidextrous - able to use both hands equally well."
Crank
A position, often when executing a turn, where the posture calls for the ribcage to be tilted to the right or left; we also use this term when posing for pictures, and is a standing position with downstage foot on toe, knees and hips facing to the side and the upper body facing front.
Crossover
Yes, this is a dance step most dancers know. For us, it is also a dance in the Shahrazad repertoire that can be performed in bellydance shows but is also suitable for a "Wongo" show. For example, we may perform "Urmawi" for a belly dance show, as well as in a Wongo performance. The term is important for us since we keep what we do distinctly separate: we present exclusively folkloric dances in an ethnic performance; folk, belly dance and/or fusion as appropriate in a belly dance show; and for a Wongo "gig" there are also special Wongo dances.
Debke hand
The back of the hand is placed on the ilium, with tension in the wrist and arm to present a strong, attractive line.
Fred Astaire
A jazz exchange to the side, sometimes with a sweeping arm movement. Watch any Fred Astaire dance routine for an example as executed by the source.
Goddess in the middle
A dancer or group of dancers who perform a section of a dance standing in the middle of the formation, while other dancers stop dancing or execute parts of the dance that involve kneeling on the stage.
Local step
In the debke line travelling right, it's LF step, RF heel-catch step, LF step, RF step, lift left, lift right. Repeat. With appropriate debke attitude.
Mahmoud Reda hand
The hand is placed on the hip at girdle-line, with fingers forward, thumb to the back, and tension in the wrist and arm to present a strong, attractive line.
Pod (noun); pod up (verb)
Describing the place in the choreography that calls for the dancers to cluster into a tight group.
Scramble
Rearranging our configuration in the dance using just a few measures of the music, when the choreographer considers it the best way to get from here to there.
Shahmobile
We conserve resources by carpooling to rehearsals and performances whenever possible, thus saving gas, by planning our trips using Shahmobiles. Any vehicle carrying two or three dancers and our equipment and props, supporters such as our spouses and videographers is a Shahmobile.
Show book
A small notebook each dancer keeps in her dance bag and records performance dates and locations, the order of dances, and makes costume and prop notes. Most of us are on our third or fourth volume of our show books. We keep these, and they are a source of the troupe's history along with event programs, and video and photography of performances.
Spy
An arm
position with one arm bent at the elbow with the forearm held at approximately
nose level, or in front of the collarbone. 
Stunt team
The dancers in the troupe who perform the parts of dances that call for us to be down on our knees on the stage. Right: Maelen is on the stunt team while Zorina is a goddess in the middle, during the troupe's Moroccan basket dance. Photo © Tatsuki Kobayashi
Wax on, wax off
Describing the motion of the hands in various dances where the hands are held palms facing away from the body and moving in opposite circles in front of the body (from the movie "The Karate Kid.")
Vogue (verb); vogueing
This
term refers to a section of the choreography that calls for dancers to
do individual freestyle posing in time with the music.
Wongo
dance
A dance in the repertoire that we perform only in a show of our alternative troupe, "The Wild Women of Wongo." For example, "Bora KeKe" is exclusively a Wongo dance, while the "Snake dance" and "Urmawi" are crossover dances.