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About Al Farah - The association for oriental dance in Norway
“Farah” means joy, celebration and wedding in Arabic. Al Farah - the association for oriental dance in Norway is an independent association for anyone with an interest for oriental dance (belly dance). The association’s objective is to spread knowledge about and understanding for oriental dance, music and culture.
Al Farah was founded in 1996. Today, there are approximately 240 members, mostly Norwegian women who have been introduced to oriental dance through workshops, or by association with cultures from which the dance originates.
The Membership magazine
The Al Farah magazine is published four times a year and contains a variation of articles related to oriental dance. The purpose of the magazine is to be a source of information and to increase the reader’s knowledge about belly dance, through informative articles. It is a forum where Al Farah members may share information and experiences through exchange of opinions and observation. Also, the board of Al Farah will announce the association’s coming events. Read more about the magazine.
Dance Shows
Al Farah proudly organizes annual dance shows with a colorful and varied program – solo dancers and groups will present to you different styles of oriental dance. The dancers are professionals and amateurs and we usually invite one or several guest dancers, often from abroad. Read more about the dance shows.
Workshops
Although there are many skillful instructors in Norway, we all have a desire to develop our skills and to get new impulses. It may be through widely known instructors or choreographers who teach on an advanced level, or through instructors who specialize in styles that are not that widely focused on in Norway. Therefore, Al Farah organizes workshops with foreign guest instructors that normally are not available on the Norwegian market. Read more about workshops.
What is Oriental Dance?
Oriental dance covers different dance styles from North Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. It is the way people in these areas dance at their parties and celebrations (and the way women dance when they get together), certain specific folk dances and of course the type of dance that most Norwegians associate with the term “belly dance”; a more refined stage variant of these two, performed by a single female dancer in a beautiful costume Some movements are typical for a certain dance style, while most movements are used in all styles. The character of the movement will vary with the different dance styles and geographical areas, and the dancer will put her personal flare to the dance. Read more about oriental dance.
Oriental dance in Norway
Oriental dance is a woman’s way to express her celebration of life, her own body and being. It has many aspects, and Norwegian women choose and use the elements of the dance that they find give them the more positive experience. Some of the reasons to get involved in oriental dance are:
- An opportunity to express your femininity (and to dress up)
- A different and safe way to work out
- Acceptance of the female body – regardless of size and shape
- The female fellowship that occurs through the dance
- Contact with and access to other cultures
Still, the most important thing is the joy of dancing: Oriental dance is an expression of happiness and joy, it also makes you happy!
The advantages of being a member of Al Farah. Read more
Contact the Board of Al Farah, send an e-mail to any of us
We sell tapes of our dance shows and earlier issues of the member magazine at the Al Farah Shop.
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Copyright 2013 @ alfarah.no |
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