New Bedouin costumes for 2013

Here at Ya Raqs HQ we try to do our best to research all the dances and costumes that we put on show to the public. For this coming season we’re very excited by our new Bedouin costumes; one of which is beautifully modelled here by Tameri. In fact they are so new that only two of them are finished!

Meroe and Phoenece have been beavering away for weeks with their trusted sewing machines – or not so trusted in Meroe’s case as both sewing machine and overlocker have bitten the dust, but her mum has come to the rescue and has handed over a spare machine on long-term loan! But a lot of the detailing on the costumes, and all the decorative panels have been applied by hand, so lots, and lots, and lots of handstitching.

The basic Bedouin costume is a dress or thawb; this is a loosely fitting robe with sleeves and would have varied from region to region. Often this would have bands of decoration and decorated seams in colours that indicated that the wearer was either married, in which case red was used, or unmarried in which case the panels would be blue.

The embroidered ‘bibs’ or qabbeh on our costume are a mixture of shapes; some are square, which is more like the Palestinian style, others come to a point, which would have been more common in Syria.

On our heads we have a typical red and black veil or shambar, which would have been more common in southern Palestine. We’ve added a band around the veil for practical reasons, to help keep it in place while dancing, but in old photographs of Bedouin many of the women have head bands. Often these headbands are in addition to a saffe or smadeh; a band of coins over the forehead; an indication of personal or family wealth. Often these gold or silver coins would be their bridewealth money. The more coins, the greater the wealth and prestige of the owner. One observer noted that occasionally you can see a gap in a row of coins which have been the result of a doctor’s bill!

We decided that although it would be a great excuse to get even more jewellery, this might detract from the delicate embroidery and beadwork that Meroe and Phoenece have done, so this is going to be a fairly bling-free costume for us. But I hope you will agree that they will look amazing when they are all finished.

We’ve already got two routines up our sleeves that we can dance in these splendid costumes – one of which is new for 2013, but Meroe has even rather rashly promised a third. So watch this space!

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE YA RAQS DANCE TROUPE?

Ya Raqs are looking for new members for the 2013 season and you could be what we are looking for.

We provide Egyptian and north African dance at re-enactment events and fundraisers throughout the UK and already have a number of events lined up for next year including the HUGE Roman Festival - This is DEVA 2013 - in Chester and a Medieval event in Northamptonshire which, if successful, will become an annual event.

If you have between 2 and 5 years of belly dance experience, love performing folkloric style and can set aside two Tuesday evenings and one Saturday a month for training and rehearsals then get in touch.

We will be organising auditions so if you are interested, or if you want to know more, then please contact Susie on yaraqs@hotmail.co.uk

JoY for the Ya Raqs Girls, posted by Meroe

We’re tired and we ache all over – but in a good way. Four of the Ya Raqs girls have been away to JoY (Jewel of Yorkshire) in Saltaire for a fantastic weekend of music and dance and shows and …….. and sticky toffee pudding!

Jewel of Yorkshire – for those of you who don’t know – is an amazing event that happens twice a year. Some fabulous dance teachers from all over the world descend on the Victoria Hall, Saltaire to provide some incredible dance tuition in virtually every style of Arabic/Middle Eastern/Belly dance you can think of.

Some of the girls from Ya Raqs were treated to workshops including Lebanese raqs sharqi with Farah Nasri, and some intense torso work that not only challenged the muscles we didn’t know we had, but exercised the brain too with Saqra. Saqra also taught us a thing or two about the Ghawazee style. And last, but by no means least some absolutely wonderful classes on baladi, dancing to the music of Omm Kulsoom and learning some of the dance moves made famous by legends such as Mona Saeed and Nagwa Fouad by the one and only Mayodi.

Phoenece, Meroe, Kebi and Noor with Mayodi

There was a open platform stage for participants of the festival to strut their funky stuff on Friday night – which was great – and on Saturday the teachers and guest dancers showed us all how it was done. All in all a fantastic weekend. In fact we enjoyed it so much we’ve booked up already for the April JoY!

And what about that reference to sticky toffee pudding, I hear you ask? Well, absolutely nothing to do with dancing at all, but at the café in Salts Mill they served the most scrumptious sticky toffee pudding that kept those all important sugar levels up – couldn’t have done all that dancing without it and we highly recommend it!

Shake, Shake, Shake Danum - St Leger Festival, posted by Meroe

The good people of Danum (Doncaster) welcomed the Romans and Ya Raqs dancers back on the weekend of 8th and 9th September for the St Leger Festival.

We had glorious sunshine on both days – yes you read correctly BOTH DAYS – a miracle. The gods were clearly smiling on us for this event.

Our base for the weekend, in the sunshine

Having set up our little “home from home” we were ready to provide music and dance. We performed two sets each day and ran mini-me workshops for the budding young talent in Danum. The mini-me dress up was overwhelmed again, and there was a steady flow of dancing talent willing to perform with us in the arena. This year they all got a special certificate as a keep sake.

We did children’s temporary tattoos, henna, dancing, dress up and to top off each day there was the gladiator show with more dancing from our gorgeous Gladiator Dancers.

Tameri and Phoenece in their Gladiator Dance costumes

The Ya Raqs girls let their hair down on the Saturday evening after the show by going along to the White Swan and a Rock and Roll evening. Meroe surprised all of them by not only knowing all the songs, but singing along to every single song bar one! Not very Roman, not very Egyptian, but great fun.

Sunday marked another very successful day with lots of people coming along to see the Romans and their camp followers. To round the whole weekend off there was a special impromptu performance by all of the re-enactors – Roman soldiers, Roman women and dancers - and even a few of the stewards, as Aisha got them all up and dancing to Shake, Shake, Shake Senora!

A wonderful event and a great way to round off our summer season. Thank you to everyone in Doncaster for a inviting us back to a wonderful event and also the Premier Inn for keeping us well fed and watered and for the nice comfy beds – beats camping!! Hope to see you all again next year.

Chesters Fort, posted by Noor

This was a slightly different event for us. Roman Tours were staging a weekend of military displays and gladiatorial combat at Chesters Fort on Hadrian's Wall, and asked if the gladiator dancers could join them to take part in the gladiator show which formed the highlight of each day. Unfortunately, only Meroe and I were able to go.

Meroe in the Roman camp

Because this was not a dance event, we spent most of the weekend in Roman dress. In fact, we even went shopping for lunch in the local supermarket in Roman dress. Clearly the residents of Hexham are well used to Roman events taking place, because hardly anyone looked surprised to see us.

Shopping, Roman style

I had been warned that it would be cold and windy up there, and it certainly was. The cavalry regiment from northern Spain who occupied the fort in the third century must have wondered which deity they had offended, to be posted to such a place! Thankfully the lovely staff at Lucullus Larder, the café on-site, kept us supplied with hot drinks.

On Sunday, while the military displays were taking place, the girls strolled down to the remains of the Roman bath house to take some photographs. Don't be fooled by the words "hot bath" in the picture below!

The less-than-hot bath

We had a great weekend, and the fort and the small museum were fascinating. Apart from a brief school trip many years ago, I had never been to Hadrian's Wall. After this visit I definitely want to go back and explore more of the wall and the forts (but in warmer clothes).

A New Dance

Unfortunately, the weather gods were feeling fickle during This is Deva 2012. The weather held on Saturday, but sadly Sunday was a washout. We had planned to take photographs on the Sunday, so there isn't a lot to show for this event.

The one thing we did record was the debut of a new dance. This year's festival included live performances by Manike, and Meroe, Tameri and Phoenece performed the 'Dance of Hades', to a piece played by the group.

Phoenece, Tameri and Meroe

Brook Street Carnival, posted by Kebi

This year's Brook Street Carnival was bigger and better than ever. There were giants, and a dragon. The day started with a loud and lively parade led by a Chinese dragon. The Ya Raqs girls were followed by 5 Chester giants including William and Kate; there were Irish dancers and a fire engine as well. A truly international parade. And we all coordinated beautifully in red and black.

With the giants

Meroe, Phoenece, Aisha and Mish Mish

The residents of the Chester Lodge Care Home Gave us a rousing welcome as we passed. After the parade, we went down to the nursing home and gave a short performance of Bedouin dances. The audience of residents and staff were wonderful. I got a lovely kiss on the cheek from a gentleman resident. He really enjoyed the show.

The sun shone and everyone had a wonderful time. The music was non-stop on two stages. We danced to warm and appreciative audiences; a lively Bedouin set and later a couple of Ghawazee dances. Both times we had an enthusiastic group up dancing with us.

The temporary tattoos were a big hit with the children, and Aisha was kept busy with henna tattoos. We even made it into the local paper.           

It was a joy to dance for the residents of the nursing home. This carnival is fast becoming one of our favorite days of the year.

The biggest giggle we had was going down the slide. I haven’t laughed so much in ages. I did rather skin my elbow though!

Kebi and Meroe enjoy the slide