In the 8th Century Muslims managed to cross coming from Morocco into Spain (more precisely they entered Andalusia). They were led by their commander Gebal al Tariq (Gibraltar is a derivation of his name). The Quran of their time was very lenient and open towards other cultures, so this surely helped with a rather friendly acceptance of the conquering army. The city of Cordoba became the capital and many musicians went to "Al-Andalus", introducing Persian Music and fashion. Music instruments were adapted in a very interesting way to new requirements and thus it happened that the oud received a 5th string.

Muqaddam al-Qabri developped the music and many individual pieces were created, which - if played in sequence - made for music oeuvres of more than 40 minutes. Poetry in its tonal presentation, called Muwashshah, and the plural thereof: Muwashahat, which means something like stanza poem.

Very unfamiliar at first for dancers is, that contrary to "fix" rhythms like Saidi there are no categorically established rhyhtms, the stanza poems may be of even rhythm like 4/4 just as wwell as odd like 9/8. Many times you'll find a variation, in which the 1st, 6th, and 7th beat are accentuated. Any dance figure danced to such a beat is very interesting, if not easy to perform in beat with the music.

But: music would not be music, if there were no further development, and so it just happened that even in this traditional music we find a "modernization", and songs and rhythms got less complicated. This made it easier to take sequences of this dance, i.e. short "stanza" and incorportate them into a Raks Sharqi dance routine.

In Tunesia and Morocco this dance style still is widely spread, more so than e.g. in Egypt.

Classic costumes for Andalusian Dance are not noted anywhere on old script rolls, we know of them only through spoken lore. It was Mahmoud Reda and his dance troupe who took the lore as an opportunity to research this dance and to create as close to the original as possible  "Andalusian dance costumes", which are nowadays the base for most costuming ideas when others perform this type of dance.

Modern costuming only requires to wear for stage performances items like a long blouse or jacket with sash or peplum (best regards from emperess Sissi) and harem pants underneath. If the blouse is rather short, then a skirt is added on top of the pants, but it can end at the knees.

Very nice for us "princesses": there are variations of this dress style that hug the torso like old Turkish costumes, from the hip down the fabric flows in abundance. Sleeveless dresses are completed with long gloves, sometimes small veils are added to the shoulder part.

The chiffon we use today was of course not part of Andalusian times when this dance style became fashionalbe, but the fabrics they used back then would render such an original costume too costly: velvet and silk were used of course, but also cotton and brocade. Embroidery was done with metallic yarn in gold and silver, small glass pearls were added as well as sequins. Rich people could also use genuine pearls for the costume .... Dressed like that nobody would have thought these dresses improper in any of the royal households of Europe back then. Today such covering is something unusual, the costumes don't show every inch of flesh, but they appear to be chaste - with a little winking of course....!

This outfit will be completed with a small hat with veil - same as ladies at the beginning of the last century wore them! 

Accessories:
As known in Persian dance, small "hankies" made of a soft, supple fabric can be held in the hands, in order to stress the easy movements.

About the origine of the name Andalucía: in the 8th century the Moors invaded the country and called it Al-Andalus. The name itself has not really been explained distinctly, but it's considered sure that it was used for the entire area of Moorish dominion on the Iberian peninsula. In the year 715/717 the name was stamped on coins for the first time. 

Because of geographic condidtions (steep mountains which longtime were considered unconquerable) most of the "regular" great powers of the past had troubles to invade the country and stay. Among what nowadays would be called losers were the Romans, the French, Spanish and Arabs. Only the Moors were able to stay for at least long enough to leave their cultural stamp in the region. Some traditions and customs still are in use today.