Turkish Oryantal and Roman Havasi

This weekend we were fortunate enough to have Ozgen, famous Turkish choreographer here in Miami. Saturday he taught a Turkish Oryantal choreography and Sunday Roman dance technique and choreography. Both days focusing on the Turkish 9/8 rhythm. He debunked a few myths most notably that Karshilama and Roman Havasi are not the same dance. When I first began belly dancing in NYC in 1999, and taught the Turkish 9/8, it was taught as a Karshilama with the disclaimer that the basic was what the NYC dancers interpreted from what they saw and felt with the rhythm. Mr Ozgen cleared that up by explaining that Karshilama is a male folk dance.

If you are looking for some great Roman Havasi music, there are the classics Rompi Rompi and Mastika. But also new pieces available such as Romantica from the album Didem and many selections from Kibariye. A favorite being Yanayim