New to bellydance? Have you gone to a bellydance performance or a hafla and just didn’t know the terminology? While searching the web I came across this list of common words/vocabulary you will hear in bellydance. I edited it a bit and here it is for you to enjoy!
Al Jeel (ahl JEEL) – popular present day Egyptian music
Assuit (uh SOOT) – Mesh fabric with metal threads through it.
Awwady (uh WAHD dee) – free-form improvised instrumental solo with no underlying rhythm,
Bedleh (BED luh) – Two piece Cabaret beaded bellydance costume
Beledi (BELL uh dee) – popular belly dance rhythm
Canes - The cane dance is a dance for women imitating the men's victory dance while the men were away.
Candleabra or Shamadan (Sha ma Dan) - This is a prop used by bellydancers during wedding ceremonies. The Candelabra is balanced on the head.
Choli (CHOH lee) – a fitted midriff top worn under saris by women in India. Tribal dancers wear these a lot.
Debke (deb kee) – folkoric dance
Def - Middle Eastern frame drum which looks like a large tambourine.
Dumbek (Doom- beck") - A dumbek is an Arabic drum. May also be spelled Darbuka.
Ghawazee (guh Wah zee) – tribe of gypsies that settled in Egypt.
Habibi (hah BEE bee) – means my love or my darling (of a male). The female form is Habibti.
Hafla (Haf lah) – an Arabic word that means party, social dance gathering. In the bellydance community they are often hosted by instructors as a way for their students to perform for their friends and family. Often bellydance vendors are there to sell their merchandise and food and drink is usually provided.
Karsilama (kar si luh mah) - 9/8 rhythm used in Turkish music is the foundation of Middle Eastern music.
Mizmar (mizz mar) – musical instrument that produces a loud, blaring sound. Often heard in classic bellydance music.
Rakkas – an Arabic word meaning "the male dancer"
Rakkasah - an Arabic word meaning, "the female dancer".
Raks. ("rocks".) Means dance.
Raqs Sharqi (rocks Shark-EE) – translate as Oriental Dance, Cabaret-style belly dance.
Sagat (suh GOT) – (Arabic) meaning finger cymbals aka Zills
Saz (sahz) – a gourd-shaped Turkish stringed instrument.
Spoons - wooden spoons, dance prop used in Turkish Dance
Shaabi (SHAH bee) – refers to a type of modern-day Egyptian music and dance; this music is from the back streets of Cairo.
Tahtib (Tah TEEB) – aka stick dance, using long 4’ rattan stcks and dancing solo or in a mock fight. Tahtib is a martial art that originated in Egypt.
Taxim or Taqsim (tock SEEM) -an instrumental solo with no rhythm
Veil - used in middle eastern dance as an introductory prop and is usually dropped before the actual bulk of the dancing is performed. American bellydancers were the first to incorporate the veil for an entire dance performance.
Zagat (su got) – just another spelling for the Arabic name for finger cymbals. Deebah is shown here playing finger cymbals. .
Zaghareet (Zah Guh reet) - A Zaghareet is a high-pitched ululation done with the tongue. A Zaghareet is equivalent to clapping to express approval for whatever the bellydancer is doing at the time!
Zeffa (ZEFF huh) – Arabic wedding procession
Zills – Zills is a Turkish term, it means finger cymbals. (Aka zil for singular)
Al Jeel (ahl JEEL) – popular present day Egyptian music
Assuit (uh SOOT) – Mesh fabric with metal threads through it.
Awwady (uh WAHD dee) – free-form improvised instrumental solo with no underlying rhythm,
Bedleh (BED luh) – Two piece Cabaret beaded bellydance costume
Beledi (BELL uh dee) – popular belly dance rhythm
Canes - The cane dance is a dance for women imitating the men's victory dance while the men were away.
Candleabra or Shamadan (Sha ma Dan) - This is a prop used by bellydancers during wedding ceremonies. The Candelabra is balanced on the head.
Choli (CHOH lee) – a fitted midriff top worn under saris by women in India. Tribal dancers wear these a lot.
Debke (deb kee) – folkoric dance
Def - Middle Eastern frame drum which looks like a large tambourine.
Dumbek (Doom- beck") - A dumbek is an Arabic drum. May also be spelled Darbuka.
Ghawazee (guh Wah zee) – tribe of gypsies that settled in Egypt.
Habibi (hah BEE bee) – means my love or my darling (of a male). The female form is Habibti.
Hafla (Haf lah) – an Arabic word that means party, social dance gathering. In the bellydance community they are often hosted by instructors as a way for their students to perform for their friends and family. Often bellydance vendors are there to sell their merchandise and food and drink is usually provided.
Karsilama (kar si luh mah) - 9/8 rhythm used in Turkish music is the foundation of Middle Eastern music.
Mizmar (mizz mar) – musical instrument that produces a loud, blaring sound. Often heard in classic bellydance music.
Rakkas – an Arabic word meaning "the male dancer"
Rakkasah - an Arabic word meaning, "the female dancer".
Raks. ("rocks".) Means dance.
Raqs Sharqi (rocks Shark-EE) – translate as Oriental Dance, Cabaret-style belly dance.
Sagat (suh GOT) – (Arabic) meaning finger cymbals aka Zills
Saz (sahz) – a gourd-shaped Turkish stringed instrument.
Spoons - wooden spoons, dance prop used in Turkish Dance
Shaabi (SHAH bee) – refers to a type of modern-day Egyptian music and dance; this music is from the back streets of Cairo.
Tahtib (Tah TEEB) – aka stick dance, using long 4’ rattan stcks and dancing solo or in a mock fight. Tahtib is a martial art that originated in Egypt.
Taxim or Taqsim (tock SEEM) -an instrumental solo with no rhythm
Veil - used in middle eastern dance as an introductory prop and is usually dropped before the actual bulk of the dancing is performed. American bellydancers were the first to incorporate the veil for an entire dance performance.
Zagat (su got) – just another spelling for the Arabic name for finger cymbals. Deebah is shown here playing finger cymbals. .
Zaghareet (Zah Guh reet) - A Zaghareet is a high-pitched ululation done with the tongue. A Zaghareet is equivalent to clapping to express approval for whatever the bellydancer is doing at the time!
Zeffa (ZEFF huh) – Arabic wedding procession
Zills – Zills is a Turkish term, it means finger cymbals. (Aka zil for singular)
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