Arabic Dance

Algerian Folk Dances

Silk Road Dance Company includes Chaoui and Kabyle dances in our repertoire. These video clips are from SRDC's performance at the celebration of Algeria's 50th anniversary of Independence.

Al Ward Al Foll

Al Ward al Foll means 'the perfume of the rose.' In this playful Saidi style Egyptian dance, rose sellers entice market visitors with their beautiful flowers.

Choreography and costume design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Debke

Arabs of the Levant are known for a genre of energetic line dances known as debke or dabka that are central to communal celebrations. Silk Road Dance Company has two different debke -- a traditional Lebanese dance and a contemporary fusion musical selection depicted in the YouTube link below.

Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Desert Rose

This contemporary group veil piece is set to the song by Sting with Cheb Mami.

Sweet desert rose,
each of her veils
a secret promise.
This desert flower,
no sweet perfume has ever
tortured me more than this.

Choreography and costume design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Ghawazee: Egyptian Folklore

'Ghazia', or ghawazee, families have entertained countless generations of Egyptian natives and tourists alike with complex hip articulations, finger cymbals and jaunty attitudes. The costumes, modeled on those worn by the famous Banat Maazin sisters, are 20th-century descendants of the outfits worn by
Egyptian entertainers at European and American World Fairs and expositions of the 1880's and 1890's.

Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Iraqi Samal : Fever

This contemporary piece is set to an ancient text by Iraqi poet Abul Tayyar al Matanabee. The poet bewails the torments of fever brought on by his nightly visitor - but does he sing of illness? the specter of death? or the sweet torment of love?

Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Khaleegy

In Arabic, khaleegy means ''gulf'' and refers for the lands of the Arabian Gulf. Both men and women of the region have unique dance. Adorned in spectacular traditional dresses called thobe nashal, women enjoy dancing together in all female settings. With graceful motions, they manipulate the fabric of their garments, but perhaps the most distinctive element is the manner in which the dancers toss their hair.

Choreography: Debra ''Annalise'' Pacheli

Momo's Arabesque

This elegant choreography in the classical Egyptian style was created expressly for Silk Road Dance Company by legendary Egyptian dancer, choreographer and performer, Momo Kadous.

Ouled Nail

A source of fascination for European travelers, the dancers of the Algerian Ouled Nail tribe were favorite subjects for photographers who visited the region as early as the 1870s. Garbed in elaborate jewelry and copious lengths of fabric, these independent women earned their dowry money as entertainers.

Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray

Raqs as-Assaya

The origins of the Egyptian cane dance can be traced back to Pharaonic times and was originally a men’s combat dance. The women’s version is playful and flirtatious. Costumes purchased for Silk Road Dance Company in Egypt.

Choreography: Laurel Victoria Gray

Shukulata

''Shukulata'' is the Arabic word for chocolate -- and everyone loves chocolate!
Costumes purchased in Cairo.

Choreography: Laurel Victoria Gray

Zeffa and Raqs Shamadan

The Zeffa is a procession traditionally performed at Egyptian wedding and is also the name of the distinctive rhythm associated with it. The Raqs hamadan feature the dancer’s ability to balance a heavy candelabrum while performing isolated movements and acrobatic feats.