The women of the harem invite a female guest to their quarters and amuse her and themselves with dance, music, comedy and similar forms of entertainment.

During the classical period of the Ottoman Empire, the sultan organised public entertainment and ceremonies to mark important dates and events.

Ceremonies and entertainment events at court demonstrated political prowess; public entertainments organised by the sultan helped to reduce social tension.

The guilds made efforts to show off their more powerful and most surprising innovative technical discoveries according to their own professions.

Women used the hammam to socialise and chat and impromptu and organised entertainments were also provided.

One of the most popular entertainments of Ottoman society was the shadow play, which were frequently performed at coffee houses during Eid celebrations and at other public festivals.

The ‘ud or lute was a popular instrument that was played at court and during public events.

The buzuq, typically played as a solo instrument, was used in both folk and urban contexts in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.

The 18th-/19th-century Romantic movement in Europe popularised the traditional dance forms of the Arab and Ottoman world. The performances were often accompanied by traditional instruments.

During the Orientalist period, traditional Arab and Ottoman instruments, dance and musical compositions were introduced to European audiences.

The mijwiz, which literally means “double” in Arabic, was a very popular instrument in Lebanese music and dance culture.

The Ardha is a traditional sword dance from Qatari folk culture, which usually begins with two rows of men who stand facing each other.

The Razeef is a dance performed by men and boys who hold blunt ornamental swords that they lift up and down, moving slowly around, while singing.

In the 19th century, folk musicians played regional variations of the violin whose style was based on Western instruments.

Replete with movements and images inspired by the “East”, “Story ballets” were particularly popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The coffee house was an important social hub in the Arab and Ottoman world that was largely populated by men. Here, patrons exchanged news, enjoyed various entertainments and smoked tobacco from pipes known as nargile.

In the Ottoman palace the women studied music and learned to play an instrument so that they could play a part in the entertainments held in the harem.

The impact on the Parisian public of “Eastern”-inspired ballets created waves of Orientalist-inspired creations throughout the fashion and art worlds.