Egypt bellydance

[taheya]

Hello Outi or anyone else in the forum who is based in Egypt! Can you tell me where are the best places to go in egypt for dance stuff, im assuming cairo is the place but is there a specific area which is good to visit for dancers?
Im thinking of going in the new year and would really like to go somewhere i can see some good dancing, go shopping for costumes and perhaps take some dance lessons.
Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[elle21]

Yasmina of Cairo has a "Cairo bulletin" on her website that gives an idea of who is dancing where. Worth checking out!

http://www.yasminaofcairo.com

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Okay, this is definately low budget, but sooo much fun, especially if you want to see the locals dancing and having a good time.

Across from the Nile Hilton on the Nile are these party felucas. You cant miss them because they're rigged out with neon lights and blasting music, and of course, the big crowds milling about.

It only costs 2 pounds for a 15 to 20 min spin, so you can spend a whole evening hopping from boat to boat all night and not spend 10 dollars.

Thursday night around 9 or 10:00 is the best time because that's when all the wedding parties are out. Check out the boats before they push off. The ones with the people dancing and goofing around before they push off are sure to be full of life. The boats further up the street are the best. That's where the crowd is thickest.

You will have a blast!

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Also try to see Soraya. she is Brazillian, but I think she is the best dancer in Cairo right now and her style and feeling are 100% Egyptian. Asmahan is also popular and Lucy performs in her club the Parisiana on Pryamid Street. She can run hot or cold depending on her mood, but she's a great dancer and performer and her band is out of this world! Hearing them alone is worth the price of addmission.

Another top must see is the Dervish show in Khan el Khalili. They're in a new location on the right side of Azhar Bridge. I think they perform on wed or Thursday nights. Just ask at your hotel, they should be able to tell you, if not, you can find them by going across the street. Just go to Al Hussain Mosque. Walk down the ally on the left side of the mosque. Right behind it you'll see, a small coffee shop. The guys there will know when the show is. On Friday evenings they play live music. Most of the guys playing there are in the show, or know them.

 

[taheya]

Thanks for that great info Tarik, im so excited now! Thanks Elle too i willcheck out the yasmina site

 

[Outi]

A little warning: Yasmina has been so busy lately, so the site can be out of date, at least part of it.

I think that hottest dancer at the moment is Randa. I would recomend you to go see her instead of Suraya.
Then there is some new dancers like Egyptian Fatima and Nancy. Foreing dancers like me and Leyla.


Where did you get the prizes for felluca? 2 EPG or something else? Because 2 EPG is nothing. Felluca ride is fun though.

What kind of costumes you like to see? There so many different places for different styles, budgets etc...

And what kind of style teaching you like?

 

[Tarik Sultan]

A little warning: Yasmina has been so busy lately, so the site can be out of date, at least part of it.

I think that hottest dancer at the moment is Randa. I would recomend you to go see her instead of Suraya.

Actually, Soraya is a very good dancer and you will enjoy her show. I would say not to limit yourself to just seeing one dancer. see as many as you can. Suraya, Randa, Asmahan are big names now among the newer dancers. Then of course there's Dina and Lucy. They are all different and that's the important thing to see. You will learn a lot more if you see a variety of dancers.

Then there is some new dancers like Egyptian Fatima and Nancy. Foreing dancers like me and Leyla.

Then there's the girl who dances on the Nile Pharaoh boat from Argentina.

Where did you get the prizes for felluca? 2 EPG or something else? Because 2 EPG is nothing. Felluca ride is fun though.

I travel toi Cairo just about every year and thats what they charge. I'm not talking about the nightclub boats like the Pasha. Those are the Markabat. I'm talking about the small fellucas across from the Hilton with all the neon light and the loud shabbi music. These boats cater to the local Egyptian crowd and although 2 Le is nothing to you and me, for the average Egyptian living in Shubra, Ezbekiyah, Ain Sira, Muski, anything more than 2 Le would make it too expensive for them. Considering that most people go out with their families. So if you have 4 kids, plus your self and your wife, that's 12 Le, plus food or snaks for the kids. It adds up.

Some people look down on these people because they're not wealthy, but if you really want to see the real Egypt and see what real Egyptians dance like, these are the people you have to hang with, not the ones tryin g so damn hard to be American they would know their own culture if it ran up and bit them on the ass.

Just sit next to all the women, dress modestly, and if they invite you to dance with their circle of women, take your clue from them, keep it simple and don't direct your attention to any of the guys. If the guys try to dance with you and the women see you resist, they will automatically take you in to the protective custody of their group. You will love the experience!

 

[taheya]

Thankyou both for all the advice i definately will try a boat trip, i do want to experience the egyptian culture and dance. The type of classes im interested in are egyptian oriental mainly or baladi. Costumes i am looking for cabaret mainly, not too expensive but value for money. Is there a particular area i should go too? Any contacts for classes etc?

 

[Outi]

Actually, Soraya is a very good dancer and you will enjoy her show. I would say not to limit yourself to just seeing one dancer. see as many as you can. Suraya, Randa, Asmahan are big names now among the newer dancers. Then of course there's Dina and Lucy. They are all different and that's the important thing to see. You will learn a lot more if you see a variety of dancers.

Soraya is a good dancer. I loved to see her many times. But during the last year I have been disapointed couple of times. She used to be better. I hope she will be great in future again. But yes, go to see as many dancers as you have time and money!

Then there's the girl who dances on the Nile Pharaoh boat from Argentina.

Not any more. Haven't been in last year or so. There are dancers from Finland, USA, Egypt, Syria and Portugal, one from each country.

I'm talking about the small fellucas across from the Hilton with all the neon light and the loud shabbi music. These boats cater to the local Egyptian crowd and although 2 Le is nothing to you and me, for the average Egyptian living in Shubra, Ezbekiyah, Ain Sira, Muski, anything more than 2 Le would make it too expensive for them. Considering that most people go out with their families. So if you have 4 kids, plus your self and your wife, that's 12 Le, plus food or snaks for the kids. It adds up.

Yep, I know what you mean. But it still sounds cheap. During last year prizes has gone up, especially traffic. They have raised the price of petrol. Even Metro is now 1 le, instead of 75 p. Taxis want one or two pounds more than half year ago.

But any way it will be fun to go if you can and prices can't be bad for foreign people.

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Not any more. Haven't been in last year or so. There are dancers from Finland, USA, Egypt, Syria and Portugal, one from each country.

Ooops my mistake. She's not from Argentina, she's from Portugal. Joanna I think is her name. I'm really bad with names.

Yep, I know what you mean. But it still sounds cheap. During last year prizes has gone up, especially traffic. They have raised the price of petrol. Even Metro is now 1 le, instead of 75 p. Taxis want one or two pounds more than half year ago.

But any way it will be fun to go if you can and prices can't be bad for foreign people.

Well as of July this summer the price was 2LeI doubt that it wiill go up more than that. At the most it would be 1Le especially since their customers are the average Egyptian people, not tourists. They are not going to make the price out of their customer's range. Besides, when you consider that they can full each boat to capacity and they go out for 15 to 20 minutes and they run all night long, those captins are making good money.

 

[Sara Abou Farhat]

Hi everyone,
when I took my last group to Cairo, we went to the Palmyra Nightclub - in escort

We had a lot of fun, the dancers got better as the morning came and we enjoyed dancing to live music.

We were staying at the Victoria, ask anyone on the reception there and all are very helpful & informative.

Happy dancing,

Sara Abou Farhat

 

[taheya]

Thanks sara! I think im doing a workshop with you in december at fantasia...looking forward to it!

 

[Sara Abou Farhat]

You're welcome Taheya and I'm looking forward to meeting you

 

[Maria_Aya]

Thanks for all the up to date info

I'm leaving for Cairo (nilegroup fest) in 2 weeks, and since last time saw Lucy wanted to see others now, thanks again

Maria Aya

 

[Sara Abou Farhat]

Good morning all,
am really looking forward to reading your report about the Nile Group Festival Maria Aya. Am thinking of taking a group there next year so I'd appreciate any feedback

HAppy dancing,

Sara Abou Farhat