funny you should mention it because just yesterday a thought came to my head and I did a quick search and found these two somewhat disparate links concerning zambra mora:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambra

www.geocities.com/alahabibi/

The controversy part of it is interesting but one I can't talk much about. I don't know anything about zambra mora or andalucia but this person might be an interesting place to start.

Pacita posted Ana Ruiz's Webpage on the zambra mora style of flamenco music, and I think it's pretty definitive. The author has done a lot of research on the subject, and continues to do so.

The piece you are describing sounds lovely, but 25-yard-skirts were never worn before 1600. They're definitely a 19th century thing.

For your Ottoman-style cotton fabric, have you tried decorating stores or the decorating fabrics at JoAnne's? Some of the patterns and styles can surprise you!

www.yoretekstil.com/ in ankara has a lot of great ottoman textiles, some printed and some embroidered. they only show a few on their site, but you can email them. they have some folks that speak english.

My first teacher, Habiba, gives workshops on medieval Andalusian dance:

www.associatedcontent.com/artic...k.html

Her costume, of course, is a very modern interpretation of what they wore, via Tunisia. You can e-mail at habibaraqs@aol.com for more information.

There is a traditional Tunisian style of music called "Andalusian."

www.emusic.com/album/Vari...79972.html.

Here is more about this style of dance, from a workshop with Amel Tafsout:

"The court dances originate from Arabo-Andalusian dance traditions and are performed exclusively by women with a very
traditional city background (Algiers, Constantine, Fes, Meknes, Tetouan, Tunis, Sousse) at various festivities such as weddings
or at the end of a classical Andalusian concert. The dancers wear very elaborate costumes and start the dance with small steps,
gently moving their hips and using beautiful arabesques with their hands or with scarves. This dance is very soft and gracious."

What you're seeing is the North African interpretation of Persian dance, brought there by the Iraqi Abbasids. The leading musician in medieval Muslim Spain, who established a school in Cordova that taught the definitive style of music and poetry, came straight from Baghdad:

www.theworldly.org/Articles...usic.html

I think the best person I know who dances Andalusian style is the Lovely and Most Honorable Mistress Isolde of the Barony of Seleone in the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann.

Her garb is amazing and I pale in comparison to her, but we both tend to wear skirts that "float" when dancing. I'm still doing quite a lot of research on the topic, but if you wanted, you could contact the Barony to contact her for further information.

Here is the link:
www.seleone.org/seleonepeople.html
If you scroll down towards the bottom, you can see a full length photo of her and what she wears :)

Yours in Service,
~Maria, mund. Amber