Dancing Isis Dance!

Raqs Sharqi

Raqs Sharqi – The Art of Egyptian Dance

The Raqs Sharqi’, means Oriental or Eastern Dance. The name has been used for centuries but no one knows for how long. This is also the name given to modern /classical Egyptian female solo dance. It is an important aspect to any celebration and has been danced publicly by women for eons.

The Egyptian people’s dance of the street, of the home, of the cafe, of the wedding, of celebration, is ‘Baladi’ or ‘Sha’abi’. Baladi means of the people. Sha’abi means, folk or popular.

Foreigners have always been intrigued by the dance and we think that the French were the first to name it Danse Du Ventre which translates to Belly Dance. And as the name was a foreign invention so are many of the influences on Belly Dance today. The dance was taken to America on the late 19th century and was viewed as very risqué even though the dancer was covered from head to toe.

The stereotypical belly dance costume that most people are accustomed to seeing is also another western invention which has also been adopted by Egypt and other countries of that region as has the influence on the dance and music. The dance has been imported and exported, exported and imported and has evolved with time. It is performed in nearly all Western countries and in many different ways. Some have developed the dance coming from a traditional base and others have taken it somewhere else.

Some regard Raqs Sharqi as an alternative name for Belly Dance, some as a major influence of Belly Dance, and some choose to disassociate it from Belly Dance altogether. I regard it as a major influence and that in its purest sense, it is more concerned with the dance as an art that comes from a traditional base and draws on the beauty and strength of the traditional styles of Egyptian Dance. I also wish to steer the dance away from the perception that it is a form of male titillation and choose to embrace the dance as entertainment for everyone.

Raqs Sharqi in its essence is an expression of the masculine and feminine – the yin and yang. It is a constant play in contrast of soft, flowing, feminine movements that can be expressed through curves, circles and spirals and sharp rhythmic masculine movements that can be expressed through the punctuation and vibrations of the hips.

Traditional Sha’abi’s – with it’s rural origins include the simple songs and dances of the Fellahin (farming communities) as well as the dance and music of the Saaid (Upper Egypt). There is also modern Sha’abi which is danced to modern pop songs and can successful incorporate the traditional style of dance to suit the more modern beat which is often accompanied by a drum machine.

Baladi (my favourite)- the most recent form of Raqs Sharqi, was born in Cairo in the late 19th to early 20th century. The Music is akin to Western blues or jazz or Spanish flamenco or Greek Rembetica which were evolving at the same time. Baladi is improvised and follows a structure like jazz does. It is an exciting fusion of Egyptian folk traditions and western musical instruments that were introduced to Egypt during the English occupation. Baladi is the constant play between the melody the drum rhythm and the dancer. The dancer becomes one with the intermittent weaving in and out of the different modes and feelings of each section of the piece and the instrument being played.

Sharqi is the classical form of Raqs Sharqi . The form is the descendant of courtly music and dance. More recent sources include the purist art music ensembles and ‘Awalim’ (learned ones) dances. Classical is much a more expansive form of dance usually accompanied by Classical Arabic music. Depending on which school you belong to there are many forms of classical interpretation. The influences include Classical ballet, modern dance, the Dances of the Silk Road, Indian, Turkish, cabaret and more. Shaabi and Baladi are the dance form mostly danced for entertaining at celebrations and festivals and public functions. Sharqi is much more a theatre dance to be performed on a stage.

Zaar : There is also another dance form which is called the Zaar. Zaar is a from of trance dance that brings one closer to the divine and is also used to rid one of physical or spiritual aliments.

For me, the spirit of Raqs Sharqi also draws from the essence of the ancient times of Isis. Where there were no religions or conservative morals to taint and distort the Dance. Raqs Sharqi connects us to our primordial celebration ofthe human form as a vessel for the spirit, and connects us also to mother nature and the cycle of birth, life, death and the divine.