OUM (mother)

New Arabesque DVD and CD available now!
ONE HOUR OF NEVER BEFORE RELEASED CHOREOGRAPHIES and MUSIC
Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra Pays Tribute to the Mother of Arab Music
OUM explores the music of Oum Kalthoum and the essence of Middle Eastern art
Arabesque choreographer and company founder Yasmina Ramzy has created a swirling, undulating tribute to the timeless music of Oum Kalthoum set to a glorious montage of the Egyptian singer's most memorable musical moments arranged by musical director Bassam Bishara.
Enjoy Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra's versions of 6 of Oum Kalthoum's timeless classics plus a wicked drum solo, a powerful Zaar, a fun and lively scene at a coffee shop, a performance by Yasmina Ramzy and Tahtiib performed by three male dancers.

Bellydance Movement Foundation

With Yasmina Ramzy (65 min)

This instructional video delivers an in depth explanation of the elements of Bellydance movement. It includes ten kinds of isolation accents, chest and hip shimmies, undulations, body waves, hands, four kinds of figure eights, two travel steps and three kinds of hip and chest circles.

It is an excellent introduction for the beginner who seriously wants to learn the dance, and a great refining tool for the advanced student. This video is the first of the Arabesque Academy Instructional Series and a prerequisite for all other videos in any of the Instructional, Workout and Choreography video series.

Read review: Celebrations Bellydance

Bellydance Technique Volume 1

With Yasmina Ramzy (65 min)

This instructional video is geared towards Bellydancers of all levels who have mastered the video or DVD entitled Bellydance Movement Foundation in the Arabesque Academy Instructional Series. It delivers detailed description and demonstration of walking undulations and body waves, walking forward and backward figure eights, walking fish and maya and undulating fish, walking hip circles and six kinds of hip kicks. Different variations are presented for each of these dance steps.

All Arabesque Academy instructional videos/DVDs offer a solid foundation for the beginner student while challenging the professional dancer. Each volume is a grouping of Bellydance steps. The volume number has no correlation to levels of difficulty; it represents only the order in which they are released. The only prerequisite for any volume number is Bellydance Movement Foundation. The instructional series is a good prerequisite for the Choreography and Workout Series.

Bellydance Technique Volume 2

With Yasmina Ramzy (75 min)

25 different steps utilizing the 3/4 shimmy technique with in-depth breakdown and demonstration. Explanation for both beginners and professionals who have mastered Bellydance Movement Foundation.

Bellydance Choreography Volume 1

With Yasmina Ramzy (85 min)

This video offers a performance and step- by- step breakdown of three very different choreographies by Yasmina Ramzy. The first is a fast-paced and technically challenging drum solo, the second, a slow and emotional piece set to the music of Oum Kalthoum, and the third is a vibrant Oriental Opening using a veil.

1. Amer's Drum Solo-music is track #2 on the CD entitled Oyoun by Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra
   
2. Huwwa Sahih-music is track #4 on the CD entitled Oyoun by Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra
   
3. Khod Elbi-this music is out of circulation but may be purchased through Arabesque Academy for a nominal fee.
   

Technique is not taught on this video. A definite prerequisite to help the student follow the Choreography Series is Bellydance Movement Foundation in the Arabesque Academy Instructional Series. Any of the other Instructional videos will enhance and perfect performance.

Bellydance Choreography Volume 2

With Yasmina Ramzy (60 min)

Complete breakdown in multiple sections and full performance of two choreographies:

• Bitgannin Kidaho - Sassy Mohamed Ali Street Style
• Ashshimtini - Sensual and dripping with Egypt

Bellydance Choreography Volume 3

With Yasmina Ramzy (60 min)

Complete breakdown in multiple sections and 2 full performances both in studio and live at an Arabic party of the very challenging and fast paced 6-minute choreography of Majnun Yasmina. Music from track 3 on Nawaem CD by Arabesque Dance Company.

The Night Club Performance - Bellydancing to Live Arabic Music

With Yasmina Ramzy (120 min)

A double DVD set

• DVD 1: 60 minutes of chapters include explanation and demonstration of the primary traditional Arabic musical instruments, nine primary Bellydance rhythms and how they are used, five common folklore rhythms and their dance styles, keys to improvising to live music, entrances, finales, exits and bows, drum solo breakdown and the experience and work of being a Bellydancer
• DVD 2: 60 minutes with Yasmina Ramzy in a variety of live performance situations
  
  

Descent of Ishtar

Performance by Arabesque Dance Company (45 min.)

Premiered in April 1998, Yasmina Ramzy's groundbreaking choreography Descent of Ishtar features 20 dancers of the Arabesque Dance Company. Its concept dates from Yasmina's first intensive study of Ancient Egyptian mysticism 24 years earlier. This exploration introduced her to the art of Bellydance and from 1980 she was performing professionally in the Middle East and North America. Her awareness of the celebrated Dance of the Seven Veils dates from her earliest study. Introduced to this dance as an ancient ritual with deep and profound power, she began to explore the meaning of each veil and how the different styles of the Middle Eastern dance could express these ideas. After long hours of experimentation with the help pf the Arabesque Dance Company dancers, the Zaar, Tannoura, Floorwork and Bellydance isolations took on new meaning and Descent of Ishtar was born. This is not just a dance used to seduce kings, but rather a ritual depicting the journey of Enlightenment. See a clip of Descent of Ishtar on YouTube.

Oyoun

Performances by Arabesque Dance Company to live music (40 min.)

• Oyoun
• Huwaa Sahih
• Walla Zeman
• Bambi Saiidi
• Ma Eli Wa El Telu
• Amer's Drum Solo

Based in Toronto, Canada, the critically acclaimed Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra perform a wide variety of Egyptian and other Middle Eastern dance styles. The music is performed with traditional acoustic instruments- qanoon, naye, violin, oude, dumbek, riqq and daff – plus the beautiful vocals of Najwa Tannus and Nabeel Shahadeh. With choreography by Yasmina Ramzy and musical direction by Dr. George Sawa, this video presents a Cairo-style Raks Sharqi and Saiidi-style dance of Upper Egypt. The Arabesque international touring company has a lengthy repertoire including groundbreaking choreographies Descent of Ishtar and Isis.

Video clips:

• Oyoun
• Bambi Saiidi

Malika

Performance video with seven choreographies of Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra. Malika, Ghana El Hawa, Ma Eli Wa El Telu, Ikaa, Lissa Fakr, El Dom Fein and Fii Youm Wa Leila. Bonus DVD features include Include Arabesque Dance Company Highlights 1996-2002 and commentary by Yasmina Ramzy.

Video clips:

• Malika
• Ghana El Hawa

ASALA 1

ASALA which means "origin" or "roots" in Arabic. The latest production by Arabesque Dance Company is filled with traditional dance styles, flavours, sounds, costumes and character of the Middle East.

Video clips:

• Inta Omri
• Yasmina Ramzy/ Hezzie
• Tannoura
• Arab Habibi
• Percussion Mania
• Binti Bahari
• El Binti Beida (Saiidi)

ASALA 2

ASALA which means "origin" or "roots" in Arabic. The latest production by Arabesque Dance Company is filled with traditional dance styles, flavours, sounds, costumes and character of the Middle East.

Video clips:

• Walauu
• Nawaem
• Yasmina Ramzy- Hezzie/Nibtidi Menein El Hikaya
• Hagallah
• Kalaatny ya Booy
• Khatarna Alla Ballak
• Mashkelni

Arabesque Dance Company Highlights 1996-2002

See 35 different choreography clips of Arabesque Dance Company. 27 min.

This video contains excerpts of 35 choreographies by Yasmina Ramzy between the years 1996 and 2002 performed by the Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra in Toronto, Canada. From traditional Egyptian folklore, to Cabaret to groundbreaking innovative choreographies such as Descent of Ishtar, Isis and In Search of the Almeh, these samples give the viewer a glimpse into the broad ranger of Middle Eastern dance through the unique talents of the members of Arabesque Dance Company.

Legendary Aida Nour

On March 4, 2006, Yasmina Ramzy, Artistic Director of Arabesque Dance Company was very proud to present her teacher and mentor, Aid Nour. This DVD presents two full length performances of Aida at her finest. The first performance is to prerecorded music. For the second performance Aida is accompanied in an improvised solo by the acoustic arabesque Orchestra featuring Dr. George Sawa, Prof. Bassam Bishara, Suleiman Warwar, Ernie Tollar and George Barbas. Special bonus performance of Arabesque Dance Company performing Nawaem (composed by Prof. Bassam Bishara), choreographed by Yasmina Ramzy.

Descent of Ishtar

Oyoun

Selected MP3 sound clips:

Oyoun
Amer's Drum Solo
Zaar

Nawaem

Selected MP3 sound clips:

Nawaem
Darwish
Alilos

Beyond Rhythm

Selected MP3 sound clips:
Dungeon
Hezzie
Asil

ASALA 1 Live

• 1-11 Inta Omri
• 12 El Binti Beida (Saiidi)
• 13 Hezzie (drum Solo)
• 14 Tannoura
• 15 Binti Bahari (Milaya)
• 16 Arab Habibi (Port Said)
• 17 Oude Taqsim
• 18 Percussion Mania

ASALA 2 Live

• 1 Nawaem
• 2 Beini Ou Beinak
• 3 Darwish (whirling)
• 4 Nibtidi Meniem El Hikaya
• 5 Mashkelni (Khaleegy)
• 6 Walauu (drum solo)
• 7 Kalaatny Ya Booy
• 8 Tahtiib Fight
• 9 Courting Hagallah
• 10 Hagallah
• 11 Keyboard Taqsim
• 12 Khatarna Alla Ballak