Layali Orientale
Escape from the cold and damp of a Yorkshire winter with Layali Orientale, a one-night-only performance of Arabian Oriental belly dance. Featuring award-winning dancers and live drumming.
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Saturday 25th Feb Stage@Leeds Theatre, Leeds University Campus, Leeds Doors open 7pm, show starts 7:30pm Tickets £10/£8 conc To book Book online now from Stage@Leeds Call the box office 11am-3pm Mon-Sat onl 0113 3438730 Directions and parking Jump to directions and parking information |
If the word belly dance summons up images of harem girls, you might want to think again. Belly dance is a Western nickname, often used to refer to any and all dance from the Middle East. In reality this vast part of the world encompasses a multitude of dance styles.
One of these is “Raqs al-Sharqi” – Dance of the Orient. Found in the path of the old Ottoman Empire, curving round the coast from Turkey through to Egypt, it began as a social dance for all – men, women and children. By the 1950s an elegant yet sensual performance version had blossomed from these folk roots, particularly in post-colonial Egypt, and Oriental dance was soon captivating hearts the world over.
Now for one night only, Stage@Leeds theatre will play host to Orientale Dance Company for a night of authentic and fusion Oriental dance and Egyptian folkloric dance.
Creative Director and award-winning Oriental dance artist Helena commented “When people think of belly dance, they usually imagine scantily clad girls gyrating for the sultan – an image that comes more from Hollywood fantasy than any real dance found in the Middle East.”
“We want to show that there is so much more to this beautiful dance style than those hackneyed fantasy images. Our dance will incorporate both authentic and fusion styles, with everything from finger cymbals, an instrument found in the tombs of the Pharaohs, to modern Western innovations such as “Isis wings” and fan veils.
Stage@Leeds theatre is on the Leeds University campus - view directions on foot, by public transport and by car. Parking is available free in the evenings in the University carparks, which can be accessed at the entrance near the large white clock tower, the Parkinson building.
To get to the theatre walk in through the pedestrian entrance to the left of the Parkinson building and follow signs for the Student Union building, which is straight ahead and well sign posted. As you reach the SU building head down the left of Student Union building and over the bridge to the Stage@Leeds building. The box office and theatre is accessed from the rear.
