Choreography
Ya Banat Alexandria (Eskandarani with Melaya)
Eskandarani style choreography to a folk song Ya Banat Alexandria by Shadia.
This song is also called “Ya banat Eskendereyya” (the girls of Alexandria). It is mostly known from an Operetta -theatre play (“masra7eyya”) with Shadia that was set in Alexandria. First recorded version was from 1985, composed by Baligh Hamdi, although it's a traditional song, so some parts may be even older. (Special thanks for Morjana for these details about song history).
You can find this song on itunes under name "Ya Banat Alexandria" by Shadia.
During opening demonstration I'm wearing a dress from Yasmina of Cairo which was adapted to Eskandarani feel. This is not the exact representation of typical Alexandrian dress, but if you simply search Eskandarani dance videos on Internet, you'll be able to find plenty of examples of the most traditional designs. :)
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Navigate the video easily:
Part 1 at 10:07
Part 2 at 32:50
Part 3 at 46:55
Part 4 at 58:40
*Record a video dancing this choreo, and post it on Instagram with a hashtag #ianadanceclub. Don’t forget to tag @iana_dance to be featured on Iana’s IG stories! :)
Suggested Technique Drills
Shoulder Shimmy - Drill 215
Undulation Vs Camel - Drill 183
Half Turn Through the Back - Drill 158
Side Launch - Drill 80
'Side Slide' Step - Drill 74
Moving From Your Hips - Drill 55
Pas de Bourrée (Pa De Bure) Step - Drill 47
Egyptian Loose Shimmy - Drill 42
Cross Turn - Drill 09
Hip Drop Variations - Drill 06
The girls of Alexandria
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
والمصاغ†مشغول†بلولى
W alm9a4 mash4wl blwly
And the jewelry are adorned with pearls
ولا†الماظ†من†الاصولى
Wla almaz mn Alan9wly
Or pure diamonds
والياقوتى†و†المتوتى
W alya8wty almtwty
And the saphires and the topaz
تبقى†تحفه†وميه†ميه
Tb8y t7fh w myh myh
It is a 100% masterpiece (meaning that jewelry and stones are pure)
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
تدخل†الشبه†بعدلها
td5l alshbh b3dlha
And she (woman) is becoming beautiful
تترفع†نسبة†جمالها
ttrf3 nsbt gmalha
More and more beautiful
بلمحزق†والملزق
blm7z8 w almlz8
In her newly purchased clothes
تبقى†تحفه†وميه†ميه
tb8y t7fh w myh myh
She is a 100% masterpiece
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
يا†بنات†اسكندريه†مشيكم†فى†الزنقه†غيه
Ya banat askendryh mashykm fy alzn8h 4yh
Hey, Alexandrian girls like to go to the Alzn8h (name of the famous market in Alexandria)
زنقة†الستات†مزاجكم
zn8h alstat mzag
The women want/like to go to this market (literal translation: The women’s mood is to go to Alzn8h)
فيها†كل†الى†فى†خيالكم
Fyha kl aly fy 5yalkm
It (market) has everything in your imagination
من†الملايا†للمرايا†للطرح†للجلابيه
Mn almlay llmraya ll6r7 llglabyh
From melayyas to mirrors and scarves to jalabiyas (gallabeyyas)
والمثل†اى†بوصه†بلزواق†تبقى†عروسه
W almthl ay bw9h blzw8 tb8y 3rwsh
It’s the proverb
Dressed up stick turns it into a bride (it’s a proverb referring how you cn change the appearance of a girl by dressing her up)
والياقه†والعياقه
W alya8h w al3ta8h
They are stylish and elegant
طبع†مخلوق†في†الصبيه
Women are naturally that way
يا†بنات†اسكندريه
Y abnat askndryh
Girls from Alexandria