[Sca-cooks] Baklava and Middle Eastern Dance

[Stefan li Rous]

Urtatim said:
<<< For one feast i did, i conceded and made modern baklava at the request of the sponsor/host/autocrat; not the standard recipe, it included sesame seeds, currants, pistachios. But i made sure it was clear in the feast menu each diner got that it was modern. >>>

For those who might be new and are interested in what we have found and discussed on medieval baklava, see this Florilegium file.
baklava-msg (70K) 1/21/08 Period baklava-like layered pastries.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-SWEETS/baklava-msg.html

Hmmm. Okay from the date, I think I have some new material to add to this file and will see about doing so in the near future.

<<< I avoid blatantly modern fabrics, as i keep reminding myself that i am trying to set an example, especially since "Middle Eastern" in my kingdom tends to be:
-- fantasy (inspired by TV and films, such as the horrible "Kingdom of Heaven");
-- ATS ("American Tribal Style") with its rampant mix of clothing and accessories, including stuff from Southeast Asian and Central America, as well as tassels that only decorated horses and camels until a generation or so ago American dancers started to wear them around their hips and other bodily locations; >>>

I didn't know this about the tassels.

<<< -- an SCA-specific style of pseudo-Persian/Ottoman "coat" with tightly fitted torso, deep cut neckline, and tippet-like sleeves which is popular and for which people get awards even though it is distinctly NOT period. I remember trying to encourage a reign a number of years ago to wear more period garb, but all the women in the court and retinue were dressed in this style. When i commented on the inaccuracy of the cut, i was reminded that several Laurels made them. I believe that has helped to proliferate this style, which is at least more peri-oid than ATS or fantasy. >>>

Oh? I wasn't aware that this "coat" might be non-period. Or perhaps I'm thinking of a different "coat".

If you, or someone else, would like to write me an article on "What is not SCA-period for belly dance/middle eastern clothing I would love to add it to the Florilegium. Or if you wish to be more specific, "Why the Persian/Ottoman coat is not SCA-period".

Much as I enjoy some of the modern belly dancing, I would love to help make the SCA versions of it more period. Unfortunately, both the periodish and modern "belly dancing" tends to have a divisive effect upon bardic circles and European medieval dancing at SCA events.  Here is what I do have in the Florilegium to try to direct folks to a more period style of "belly dancing".

Belly-Dance-art (22K) 12/25/07 "Re-Creating a 'Belly Dance' Persona in the SCA" by Rebba (Lady) Esther bat Baruch.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/DANCE/Belly-Dance-art.html

ME-dance-msg (48K) 5/13/08 Middle Eastern dance, "bellydancing".
http://www.florilegium.org/files/DANCE/ME-dance-msg.html

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
   Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/marksharris
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****