Egyptian Baladi and Shaabi Dance Styles

Last Updated on February 1, 2024

What Does Baladi Mean?

Baladi (also spelt beledi or balady), means my country in Arabic. This is a term used by villagers who emigrated from rural communities into Egyptian cities.

They referred to their culture and music as the music from their home, the villages in the countryside. Raqs Baladi is usually danced socially, during celebrations and gatherings. Nowadays it is also performed on stage.

Baladi Music

Traditionally, Baladi music has a framework divided into sections, during which musicians and dancers improvise. Generally speaking, these are the main sections:

1. Taqsim

melody without percussions, played originally on oud, more recently on accordion, sax or keyboard. The dancer dances on the spot with small and contained movements. Usually the dancer sways to long notes (this type of music is called awwady) and shimmies to tremolando sound.

2. Me-Attaa

The rhythm, played on tabla, is introduced gradually with a question and answer between the instrumentalist and the drummer. The dancer dances a bit faster but still conservatively. The rhythm gets faster gradually.

4. Maqsoum

This is an uptempo rhythm.

5. Tet

Tet is a nostalgic rhythm played on mizmar.

6. Me-Attaa

Another Me-Attaa, this time with fallahi rhythm.

7. Awwady taqasim

The music slows down gradually back to the initial awwady taqasim, until it stops.

Shaabi and Baladi Dance movements

In Baladi style, the dance movements are earthy and grounded, with simple step patterns (mostly on flat feet).

The arms are generally held by the side with elbows slightly bent, rather than flowing around.

Shaabi and Baladi Costumes

Dancers performing Baladi style wear a Galabeya or Baladi dress (a full dress not baring the midriff). The most traditional type, preferred for folkloric performances, is loose and simple, and the dancer wears a hip scarf around her hips.

The Galabeya used for cabaret performances is fitted, made with stretchy and shiny material, heavily decorated with fringes and beads.

Introduction and Origins of Shaabi

Shaabi, also spelt sha’abi, is a style of music and dance that has ancient roots in the folkloric traditions of rural Egypt, but which developed in the urban working-class neighborhoods of Egypt.

Shaabi (meaning of the people) is the music of the working class in Egypt and the lyrics of shaabi songs are usually about politics, personal life or love (often quite explicit).

Sometimes lyrics can even be total nonsense, such as the color of grapes or loosing glasses; in one instance a Viagra-type company used it for an advert and nowadays the emphasis is on DJ mixes.

Shaabi is often danced in Egyptian nightclubs like our Western pop music is danced socially in the West.

Music and Famous Shaabi and Baladi Artists

Shaabi is played using traditional instruments well as modern electronic synthesizers and its tone is quite playful. The urban variety of Shaabi became largely popular in the 70s with Ahmed Adawiya (also transliterated as Adawiyah, Adeweia, or Adeweya).

Ahmed Adawiya started his career as a cafe waiter but soon became a popular Shaabi singer. In his songs he uses the language of the streets of Cairo and, like may Shaabi singers, he specializes in vocal improvisation.

Other popular Shaabi singers include Hakim, Shaban Abdul Raheem, Sami Ali, Sahar Hamdy, Magdy Talaat and Magdy Shabin.

Shaabi and Baladi Dance styles

Dance-wise, the Egyptian Shaabi style is playful and flirtatious, a bit ‘cheeky’, with a strong folkloric influence.

The movements are earthier than in raqs sharki, without so many spins nor big traveling steps; steps are mostly on flat feet rather than on tiptoes. Shaabi style is not elegant but funky.

The movements are relatively simple but full of feeling. A dancer who can be used as an example of shaaby style is Fifi Abdo.

Her style was mainly baladi and oriental but the ‘fun/acting’ aspects of Fifi’s performance had elements of Shaabi.

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Dr Valeria Lo Iacono

Dr Valeria Lo Iacono is a belly dancer and a dance researcher with a PhD in dance and heritage. Valeria also teaches and performs as a belly dance but also enjoys learning ballet, jazz dance and other dance genres.

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