GC Members’ Q&A – August 28 2019

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Check out the August members' Q&A, Part 2 with Ranya at the Ginger City home studio! We dig into the baladi here - music, dance, culture, personality and more. Ranya also does a great Long Island accent - which believe it or not also ties into the baladi! We even answer the question "Who is Ranya?" 

In this live session we covered topics including...

00:02:06 - What does "ashera baladi" mean?

00:02:24 - Culture notes on Egyptian music, musicians and dancers in relation to baladi (and Saidi)

00:19:49 - When a dancer dances the baladi, is he or she playing a character?

00:22:15 - How to use the GC forum

00:025:33 - How does one distinguish a baladi-style song (like Takhtil Shibbak) from a baladi progression- and what about shaabi songs?

00:26:55 - How do you tell a baladi song from a raqs sharqi song - and what about shaabi?

00:30:06 - Why are some maqamat more frequently used in baladi - nahawand, hijaz, ajam - and how do musicians switch between them?

00:38:58 - Ranya's July 2019 performance in NYC where she starts with Nebtedi and goes into a baladi (click here to watch a clip)

00:40:15 - The mysterious nature of seeking baladi knowledge!

00:45:30 - Is there a storytelling element in baladi?

00:51:30 - Are there times when the characterization of the "baladi girl" becomes negative or in bad taste?

00:53:59 - Changing dance style to fit the venue or audience

00:58:02 - Do you dance as "Ranya"? (And who is Ranya?)

00:58:48 - Ranya reflects on the struggle to "get it right" culturally and recording the Baladi Salon Series.

01:03:47 - Bellydance as a balancing act between comfort and discomfort