Hayat

We offer performances, lessons and workshops of belly dance, Zambra Mora (gipsy belly dance fusion), and performance of sevillanas - flamenco! The fusion of belly dance and flamenco that we know today is called Zambra Mora, after the flamenco music is developed by Sabicas. Zambra Mora has the same proud posture of flamenco, floreos (isolated wrists rotations), heavy travel steps and some characteristic turns. From Arabic dance, Zambra Mora borrows undulations, shimmies and hip and chest circles. Zambra Mora is a form of flamenco music with Middle Eastern melodies and rhythm, which is sung or played on guitar. Master guitarist Sabicas (1912-1990) is the one who gave its name to this form of flamenco music (from ancient Moors celebration) and made it popular and developed it. When the Gypsies began migrating to Spain, they were easily identified with the the Spanish Moors' Oriental dance style, incorporating some of their dance and music forms that could have been flamenco in its early phases and not yet fully defined. The Zambras of Granada united the persecuted Gypsies and Moriscos in dance and song during such tempestuous times in the country's history (think "Spanish Inquisition"). The Gypsies not just borrowed the title ‘Zambra’ from the Moors by incorporating it into their Zambra Gitana, but presented the Zambra Por Moro with a earthy, pulsating rhythm quite similar to the Tarantos and Tangos. Of all the flamenco forms, it's the Zambra Mora which has the strongest Arabic feel. It isn't to be confused with the medieval sounding Zambra Granadína. Come to enjoy the dance of the air, belly dance, and the dance of the fire, Zambra Mora!