A Blog history of bellydance…….Part 2

Part 2- Linking Flamenco and Bellydance

In 1500 flamenco developed when moors escaping persecution fled to the Spanish mountains. The Moors had ruled in Andalucía for about 900 years and during this time the local folk dances and the gypsy dances (which may already have been influenced by Turkish dance) would have taken on board elements of the music and dance of the new ruling power.

A 'Moorish style of flamenco' was performed barefoot and the very word 'flamenco' itself comes from Arabic ' fellah al mangu '. "Ole" became the chosen cry after the Spanish Inquisition when crying out Allah would have invited the severe punishment of death- thank god religious tolerance has grow from that – at least in most places in the world.

Tahire Carioca was a famous dancer in Cairo (1936-52) during reign of king Farouk. If you look to the old films she appeared in, many of her arm movements have a very definite 'Spanish' feel to them. Whether it is because she took inspiration from flamenco- or whether she was taking it from the same roots flamenco developed from who can say, but what followed was a very powerful and graceful style which made her the star she became.

Great Arabic musicians such as Farid al Atrache and Mohammed Abdel Wahab often put Samba, Bossa nova, Cha cha and other such rhythms into their compositions. Even today many of the dancers in Egypt will take inspiration from other dance style from around the world. Latin rhythms, both in music and step, feature highly in modern Arabic dance