Not knowing what the lyrics are saying when you dance is like potentially country line dancing to hip hop. Many songs sound happy, but may have religious, political, or sexual innuendos that you may not want (especially Shabbi music). Imagine, dancing to a song at a wedding gig that says albi, my heart, habibi, my darling, and you’re dancing and signaling “I’m so happily in love”, when in fact the song is saying, “you broke my heart I never want to see you again, I’m better off without you”. Yikes!
In addition, knowing the lyrics is another tool to add dynamics and texture in your dance. Below is a list of common words I’ve compiled over the years as a cheat sheet to help me- and I’m sharing it with you!
| Word | Say as |
Means |
| Ana | ann-a | I or Me |
| Wa | Wah | With |
| Winta/Wintee | Wint-tah | You |
| Enta/Entee | Ant-a/ee | You |
| Shokran/Shukran | show-craan/shoe-kran | Thank-you |
| Afwan | aff-wan | You’re welcome |
| Ahlan | ahh-laan | Hello |
| Ana es me | Anna ess-mee | My name is |
| Alb, galb, halb | al-b, khalb | heart |
| Allah | ah-laa | God |
| Min-fadluk/min fudluck | min-fud-luck | I would like |
| Esayak/Esayek | Es-say-ack/es-say-ick | How are you? |
| Tamam | Tah-maam | I am fine |
| Ein | eeennn | Eye |
| Ayoun | eye-youn | Pair of eyes |
| Bahebak-Bahebik | bah-heb-back/bah-heb-ick | I love you |
| Balad | Bal-ead | Country, rural |
| El | L | of |
| Gamel, Gamil | ja-meal, gah-meal | Beautiful |
| Habibi/Habeeb, Habiba/Habibtee | hhah-bee-bee | Lover, my darling, oh baby |
| Hawa | Ha-Wa | Romantic love |
| Helm | hell-mmm | Dream |
| Hob | Hhub | Love |
| Kalam | Kah-laam | Words |
| Kifaya | kafii-yah | Enough |
| Layla-Leila | lay-lah,lay-al-ee | Nights |
| R’asa | rrruuhsuh | dancer |
| Roh | rrrough | Soul (upper belly) |
| T-alah/Talalee | Taah-alaah | Come here |
| ya | Yeah | O (get’s person’s attention) |
| Ya R’asanee | Rrraasa-knee | Dance for me |
| Ya-halelee | Ya-ahlaleigh | Oh the nights |
| Nour | Nor | Light |
| Ghani | Gah-han-ee | Sing |
| Shay | Shaaay | Tea |
| Asim | Ass-em | Improvise |
| Masculine | Feminine | |
| Ak | Ik | |
| A | E |
My favorite way to practice is to take note cards and put the Arabic term on one side and English on the other. Hint: most songs sing in the masculine form of each word out of cultural courtesy. I also listen to CD’s in my car (see resources below).
Additional resources for you:
Shira has a wonderful resource of song translations (and pretty much everything else!)
http://www.shira.net/lyrics.htm
If you are a visual learner, Leyla Lanty’s Habibi You Are My What? DVD
My favorite multi-CD set that I use in my car for conversational Arabic is called “Arabic on the Move”, which is now only available on Kindles, but sometimes on Amazon a used copy comes up.
Your local bookstore has many introduction to Arabic language books available at low cost. Make sure they are Egyptian or Conversational Arabic; most songs follow this rather than other versions taught in most colleges and universities. This other issue is like most Western Music, it is sung in slang.
As this year winds up, it’s time to reflect on 2011 and set your dance goals for 2012!
When it comes to your personal dance world, the word “life” can be substituted with “dance” in the following quote: “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Just as individuals burn out on many fitness goals by February, the same can happen with dance!
~Set small, manageable goals. Watch one video a week, practice 15 minutes three times a week outside of class, move your arms in different pose to a song each day, or even work on one costume an hour each week while watching TV.
~Self-evaluate. What do you do well, what needs work? Pick a few items and conquer! Find dancers to watch/learn from that will help you overcome your weaknesses. This is a great idea if you feel overwhelmed with the mass amount of dance workshops, classes, online media, and activities available to you; pick more events that help you improve weak areas.
~Tell someone! Having a support group or at least vocalizing your goal to others makes you more apt to do it!
~Work goals it into your classes, performances, and practice. If your goal is better arms, why not work harder in class holding your arms up in stronger or new positions (the way you practice is the way you perform). Next time you’re dancing, focus more on one specific problem move, technique, or position.
~Keep a dance journal. Bring it to classes, workshops, and even performances. Write down things you want to work on and open it up when you need new challenges.
~Don’t forget to leave time for you. Leave yourself a sticky note on the fridge, program time into your calendar, set a reminder on your phone. We all are busy, and the first thing that usually goes is time for you!
As part of your 2012 goal making, Raq-On is here to support you:
~In January we’ll have a goal board at t
he studio in which those who wish to take the challenge will write their name and goal on the board for the year. The goal doesn’t come down until it’s achieved! It doesn’t matter what style of dance you do, whether or not you take classes at Raq-On, or if you have even stepped into the studio before, stop on by and commit to dance in 2012!
~Create your own support group and rent the private lesson room and meet once a month. For example, for $5 a month (the cost is $15/hr) you and two of your fellow dancers can work on shimmies or watch one of over a 100 DVD’s of your favorite dancers! Still need help? Schedule a small group lesson on a specific topic.
~Request specific topics in January. Every January we take time to go over your goals for the year. Start brainstorming!
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