Your Egypt

[Winky]

8) There are many theories about the origin of belly dancing, but most agree that it became famous in Ottoman times, when the dance was frequently performed for the women of the harem, for each other.
Surprisingly the dance was not meant to be seen by male eyes !!!
http://www.bellydancephotography.com/
" Raqs Sharqi" is performed by women, usually solo. It is a woman's dance. Celebrating Sensuality and the POWER (We know about that one , girls ! ) of being a woman :!:
http://www.shira.net/
Sohair Zaki, Fifi Abdou, Lucy, Dina, all are popular dancers in Egypt and all above the age of 40, surprisingly maybe :o
In Egypt, there are three different forms of the dance Baladi, Sha'abi and Sharqi

I might not be alone in my fascination of this dance. I have seen it performed a few times in Oman ,once in Dubai and one month ago, in Cairo, which was the most amateuristic one. It had all to do with the venue ( a dinner cruise ) I know , my question is :
Where can one see the best performance in Cairo ?
http://www.belly-dance.org/ :wink:

[salome]

No, you are definitively not alone in your fascination :D .

I have another question:
Where can one get the best belly dance classes in Cairo?

[Winky]

Hi Salome, I was going to think I WAS the only one ! Look at the views and nobody can recommend a good venue :?: :roll: :?:
If you scroll down you will find several teachers in various areas of

Cairo. http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

I wish I was living there ,I would love to join you, taking classes, it is a great workout and involves the whole body And I like the music And I like dancing !!
Will you let us know how you are getting on, finding a place and so on ?
Please check out the photo link they are very artistic and beautiful! :wink:

[Adoula]

Well, I think belly dance is an enjoyable and healthy way to build self-esteem, confidence, and to please Adoula..............lol

I think U don't need to come to Cairo to get the belly dancing lessons, U have in Spain. Los profesores incluidos en el listado que hay a continuación son independientes al grupo Alarde.

http://www.alarde.com/

I have some friends living in Prague, and taking their lessons there.

[Winky]

:lol: You are funny.

But Adoula, Madrid is about 4 hours drive from here ...

[Neofret]

Another theory is that belly dance originated as a sacred birth ritual. Women would gather around a woman in labor and do certain abdominal movements, encouraging her to do the same. These were movements that would ease the birth. Over the centuries these movements lose their sacred connotations and become a social dance. During the last century, Western influence in some countries broke down the traditional barriers and men and women can socialize in mixed company. Another factor is the entertainment industry.
In Egypt and Morocco there is the custom to hire a belly dancer for a wedding and the bride and the groom take a picture with their hands on the belly dancer's stomach. This suggest a relation between the dance and the fertility cult.

I have seen it performed in Morroco in Marrakesh and in Egypt, but not in Cairo, it was during the Nile Cruise and in Hurghada. I enjoyed it, especialy the dance with the candelabrum and the one with the sword.

[Winky]

:) Thanks Neofret for the contribution.
If you are interested in reading more about the connection of the slower movements of Oriental dance and the act of giving birth, here is a link :
http://www.casbahdance.org/give2lite.html

[Neofret]

Thanks for the link Winky! Interesting article! :D

[salome]

Winky wrote: Hi Salome, I was going to think I WAS the only one ! Look at the views and nobody can recommend a good venue :?: :roll: :?:
If you scroll down you will find several teachers in various areas of

Cairo. http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

I wish I was living there ,I would love to join you, taking classes, it is a great workout and involves the whole body And I like the music And I like dancing !!
Will you let us know how you are getting on, finding a place and so on ?
Please check out the photo link they are very artistic and beautiful! :wink:

Dear Winky,
thanks for the tip. Over the last two years I've been spending hundreds of hours on shira.net and it's links.
Answer to your question: Yes, I will let you know. At this very moment, I don't feel that I am able to dance, as I am recovering from a serious illness (broken heart :D ) but I'll get back to belly dancing ASAP. I've heard a lot about the healing effect of this dance (both to body and soul) and I know that some people in some cultures express through music and dance not just happiness, but sorow as well (fado, blues, tango...) however, I can sing only when my heart is singing and dance only when my heart is dancing (this sounds so pathetic :oops: ) and I've missed many (paid in advance) belly dance classes because of this atitude. I guess I can never be a professional belly dancer.

[salome]

Winky wrote: Hi Salome, I was going to think I WAS the only one ! Look at the views and nobody can recommend a good venue :?: :roll: :?:
If you scroll down you will find several teachers in various areas of

Cairo. http://www.shira.net/directory.htm

I wish I was living there ,I would love to join you, taking classes, it is a great workout and involves the whole body And I like the music And I like dancing !!
Will you let us know how you are getting on, finding a place and so on ?
Please check out the photo link they are very artistic and beautiful! :wink:

Dear Winky,
thanks for the tip. Over the last two years I've been spending hundreds of hours on shira.net and it's links.
Answer to your question: Yes, I will let you know. At this very moment, I don't feel that I am able to dance, as I am recovering from a serious illness (broken heart :D ) but I'll get back to belly dancing ASAP. I've heard a lot about the healing effect of this dance (both to body and soul) and I know that some people in some cultures express through music and dance not just happiness, but sorow as well (fado, blues, tango...) however, I can sing only when my heart is singing and dance only when my heart is dancing (this sounds so pathetic :oops: ) and I've missed many (paid in advance) belly dance classes because of this atitude. I guess I can never be a professional belly dancer.

[Winky]

:) Oh Salome, a broken heart vibrates around the whole body, the pain seems to paralyze you.
But spring is here, a new beginning, you will get out of this hole and much stronger for it, just wait for what is around the corner . Your time will come too, girl ! :wink:

[salome]

But Winky,
that's the worst - SPRING... without love :cry: . Nevertheless, you are right, it's time for a new beginning, and thank you for your kind words.

As I understand from your post that you have a problem finding a local teacher - do try to learn from belly dance DVDs/videos. I think Tanyeli's is esspecially good for the beginners.

[Winky]

Thanks Salome I might get hold of that DVD if only to amuse my audience ! :lol:

[Winky]

:)Just found this link, Music , video's and books from AMAZONE;

http://www.bellydancing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/html/shop.html
:wink:

[Winky]

8) This is what I had been looking for originally, but was not able to and then I am searching the net for something totally unrelated and it spits out this gem ;
You will need Window Media Player ( I just upgraded mine yesterday )
Click on photo/video and you will be able to see several clips also the one with candles and swords.
Again you will find a list of instructors in your country and advice, about how much to charge if you were going to give performances ( click; Bare minimum )
:wink:

http://www.orientaldancer.net/