The normal sound of fair-time revelry was interrupted for an hour Saturday by Middle Eastern music, tambourines and finger cymbals.

Monday, August 06, 2001

The normal sound of fair-time revelry was interrupted for an hour Saturday by Middle Eastern music, tambourines and finger cymbals.

Raks Sharqi, a belly dancing troupe that performs across the region, whirled and swayed gracefully in front of a crowd of curious onlookers at the Freeborn County Fair’s Entertainment Square.

According to troupe member Chela, from Blooming Prairie, Raks Sharqi means &uot;undulating dance&uot; in Arabic.

&uot;Undulating is a good way to describe the style in belly dancing,&uot; she said. &uot;The idea is to make smooth alluring movements.&uot;

Raks Sharqi is an unusual group of dancers because their routine is more coordinated, Chela said. Though each dancer has her own signature solo dance, the troupe likes to choreograph several pieces together.

&uot;That’s only possible because we dance together almost every week, and we perform frequently,&uot; she said. &uot;Even though we live all over – Austin, Albert Lea and other places – we make that commitment to meet as often as possible.&uot;

With roots in Persia, Morocco, Spain, Greece, Turkey and elsewhere around the Mediterranean Sea, belly dancing has a tradition dating back at least 5,000 years, Chela said.

&uot;I think it’s so beautiful. We try to teach it to people through classes as well as performing,&uot; she said.

Each dancer of Raks Sharqi, whether one of the troupe’s nine core members or one of their many students, chooses a dance name to help them change into character. Chela said it’s a tradition that helps the creative process, but also protects their privacy.

The troupe performs regularly at fairs, festivals and school events. Chela said the group uses live musicians, but is always on the lookout for new music to spice up their performances. Belly dancing is experiencing a revival in the country, she said.

&uot;It’s such a unique form of expression with such a long tradition. We really enjoy the chance to show people what belly dancing is about,&uot; she said.