Oum Kalthoum

Just received a question concerning dancing to the music of Oum Kalthoum. The inquirer wanted to know if a dance artist only of a certain calibre is allowed to dance to this music and are there some pieces of music held with more reverance that should not be danced to at all.

My answer: It is relative who has the where-with-all to dance to Oum Kalthoum. It also depends upon the audience. An Arab audience will have a more discerning eye for the artistic interpretation of this music and a much stronger emotional investment. All of her songs are of equal importance - some are more famous and popular and many have been adapted for Bellydancers. It is said only a Maalema can dance to the music of Oum Kalthoum but that does not mean it has ever stopped anyone and everyone dancing to it. Who does the music justice is in the eyes of the beholder.

One may want to note a few points:

- Maalema = dance master (feminine), sometimes a teacher and/or director of an ensemble

- The music of Oum Kalthoum is often quite difficult with rhythm changes and thus a beginner dancer will find it difficult to apply short cut elements like combos that can easily be used with pop music

- The music is generally slow and emotional, often in a sad maqaam so emotional expression is an important factor

- Dancing to an original recording of Oum Kalthoum singing live may seem direspectful to some who revere her, it is best to use a recording by another singer or a musical arrangement

- Many of her songs are 1-2 hours long so often the musical arrangements that are popular are only a small part of the song, often the beginning or just the musical parts which do not include the melody of where her voice would be

- Non-Arab dancers should note that when an Arab audience is listening to the musical arrangement of Oum Kalthoum music, they hear in their head the memory of the original version with her live voice and the profound lyrics, just like you hear Robert Plant's voice when a cover band plays Stairway to Heaven

- Thus it is important to listen to the original before dancing to the musical arrangement so the dance artist can prortray the same emotion and musical nuance the audience is experiencing, otherwise the audience may feel the dance artist does not understand the music

- To know more about Oum Kalthoum, see the film "A Voice Like Egypt"